The Last Round Up Concludes
The last of the books consumed in 2004. The reviews will be very short, so I can turn my attention to books consumed thus far in 2005. If you want to learn more about any of the books, click on the link to Amazon.com or leave a note in the comments.
78. Sharpe's Prey - Bernard Cornwell
Serviceable entertainment. Richard Sharpe battles a foe of high birth but treacherous nature, kills Frenchmen, gets the girl, and saves the day.
79. Crazy Horse - Larry McMurtry
A solid little biography form the Penguin Lives series. McMurtry does an excellent job, considering the sheer dearth of facts available on the Sioux leader.
80. Winston Churchill - John Keegan
Another entry from the Penguin Lives series. Longtime Churchillians will find little new here, but Keegan's book would serve as an admirable introduction for someone unfamiliar with the great man's life.
81. The Light Fantastic - Terry Pratchett
This book marks my first encounter with Pratchett, who, if you're unfamiliar with him, is kind of a Douglas Adams-type writer that works in the fantasy genre instead of sci-fi. That said, my short-hand doesn't really do justice to a story in which my favorite character is the Luggage.
82. J.R.R. Tolkien: Author of the Century - T.A. Shippey
This collection of essays about Tolkien, mainly delving into religious themes in the man's work, can be safely avoided by all but the most hard-core Tolkien geeks.
83. The Archer's Tale - Bernard Cornwell
The first in a trilogy of historical novels set during the Hundred Year's War, this book will seem rather familiar to readers of Mr. Cornwell's previous works. The protagonist, of humble origins but possessed of great military skill, battles nobly born but treacherous foes, kills lots of Frenchmen, and gets the girl.
84. Vagabond - Bernard Cornwell
See above; this is the second volume.
85. The Dante Club - Matthew Pearl
Kind of like Se7en for the literary set.
86. Heretic - Bernard Cornwell
See above; this is the third volume.
87. Wellington: The Years of the Sword - Elizabeth Longford
Bernard Cornwell acknowledged relying on this book for much of the research he did in writing the Sharpe series. I came away from this book informed but necessarily entertained. Frankly I'd expect a biography of the Duke of Wellington to be a more exciting read.
88. The Knight - Gene Wolf
I plan on reading the sequel (because I'm the type that needs to know what happens) but I can't recommend this one whole-heartedly.
89. The First World War- Hew Strachan
Strachan is working on a magisterial history of the Great War - this book is not part of it, but is in fact a companion to a BBC documentary. Readers are better of seeking out John Keegan's book of the same name.
90. Off to the Side: A Memoir- Jim Harrison
Prior to reading this memoir I had not read of any Harrison's fiction. I'm still not in any hurry to do so, but I would love to have dinner with the man, especially if he's as fine a raconteur in person as in print.
91. The Far Side of the Stars - David Drake
Solid space opera.
78. Sharpe's Prey - Bernard Cornwell
Serviceable entertainment. Richard Sharpe battles a foe of high birth but treacherous nature, kills Frenchmen, gets the girl, and saves the day.
79. Crazy Horse - Larry McMurtry
A solid little biography form the Penguin Lives series. McMurtry does an excellent job, considering the sheer dearth of facts available on the Sioux leader.
80. Winston Churchill - John Keegan
Another entry from the Penguin Lives series. Longtime Churchillians will find little new here, but Keegan's book would serve as an admirable introduction for someone unfamiliar with the great man's life.
81. The Light Fantastic - Terry Pratchett
This book marks my first encounter with Pratchett, who, if you're unfamiliar with him, is kind of a Douglas Adams-type writer that works in the fantasy genre instead of sci-fi. That said, my short-hand doesn't really do justice to a story in which my favorite character is the Luggage.
82. J.R.R. Tolkien: Author of the Century - T.A. Shippey
This collection of essays about Tolkien, mainly delving into religious themes in the man's work, can be safely avoided by all but the most hard-core Tolkien geeks.
83. The Archer's Tale - Bernard Cornwell
The first in a trilogy of historical novels set during the Hundred Year's War, this book will seem rather familiar to readers of Mr. Cornwell's previous works. The protagonist, of humble origins but possessed of great military skill, battles nobly born but treacherous foes, kills lots of Frenchmen, and gets the girl.
84. Vagabond - Bernard Cornwell
See above; this is the second volume.
85. The Dante Club - Matthew Pearl
Kind of like Se7en for the literary set.
86. Heretic - Bernard Cornwell
See above; this is the third volume.
87. Wellington: The Years of the Sword - Elizabeth Longford
Bernard Cornwell acknowledged relying on this book for much of the research he did in writing the Sharpe series. I came away from this book informed but necessarily entertained. Frankly I'd expect a biography of the Duke of Wellington to be a more exciting read.
88. The Knight - Gene Wolf
I plan on reading the sequel (because I'm the type that needs to know what happens) but I can't recommend this one whole-heartedly.
89. The First World War- Hew Strachan
Strachan is working on a magisterial history of the Great War - this book is not part of it, but is in fact a companion to a BBC documentary. Readers are better of seeking out John Keegan's book of the same name.
90. Off to the Side: A Memoir- Jim Harrison
Prior to reading this memoir I had not read of any Harrison's fiction. I'm still not in any hurry to do so, but I would love to have dinner with the man, especially if he's as fine a raconteur in person as in print.
91. The Far Side of the Stars - David Drake
Solid space opera.
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