A personal review of books, the only link between them is that there is NO LINK!
by Wu Cheng'en ISBN: 978-0-241-75240-1 First published: 16th Century 104 pages Translated by Julia Lovell Publisher: Penguin Archive part of http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com 6 / 5 Stars A wonderful short extract from the longer work "Monkey King : Journey to the West". It has been compared to both Don Quixote and the Canterbury Tales. What makes the… Continue reading Monkey King Makes Havoc in Heaven
by Ursula K. Le Guin ISBN: 978-0-241-95687-8 First published 1972 131 pages Publisher: PENGUIN Fiction Designed by Edward Bettison 6 / 5 Stars The second book of the quartet, written 3 years later. An intriguing story, different from the first book, 'A Wizard of Earthsea'. Less chasing, less fighting, we see less of the world.… Continue reading The Tombs of Atuan
by Ursula K. Le Guin ISBN: 978-0-241-95687-8 First published 1968 167 pages Publisher: PENGUIN Fiction Designed by Edward Bettison 5 / 5 Stars Ursula K. Le Guin started with a map, before writing. The titular hero of the book then visits many of these islands. The world Ursula creates is one where ocean covers most… Continue reading A Wizard of Earthsea
by Sosuke Natsukawa ISBN-13: 978-1529081480 First published 2021 217 pages Publisher: http://www.picador.com Cover illustration by Yoko Tanji Translated by Louise Heal Kawai 4 / 5 Stars Interesting book about a journey of self-discovery using the concept of a labyrinth to help guide us and the protagonist towards their goal. But on a deeper level it… Continue reading The Cat Who Saved Books
by Jean-Yves Ferri and Didier Conrad ISBN: 978-1510-100466 First published 2015 48 pages Publisher: http://www.hachettechildrens.co.uk 4 / 5 Stars At first you might think 'an underwhelming title', until you realise that the book references Caesar's great work 'Commentaries on the Conquest of Gaul' Then you realise this 'comic' book addresses the real question, what would… Continue reading Asterix and the Missing Scroll
Crazy runs in the family by Max Bemis (Writer) and Jacen Burrows (Penciller) ISBN: 978-1-302-90937-6 First published 2017 193 pages Publisher: marvel.com Cover illustration: Jacen Burrows 4 / 5 Stars A great introduction to Moon Knight. A billionaire with a split personality, 3 of them actually; Steven Grant - Wealthy and stylish entrepreneur (think Bruce… Continue reading Moon Knight
The dark side of childhood rhymes and stories
by Markus Heitz ISBN:978-1-84149-572-9 First published 2003 736 pages Publisher: orbitbooks.net Translated by Sally-Ann Spencer Cover image : Unknown and not specified 4 / 5 Stars Great book, vast in scope but with attention to detail. Interesting idea to have lands that contain magic and lands that don't. Great characters. Good versus Evil.… Continue reading The Dwarves
by Ben Aaronovitch ISBN: 978-0-575-09758-2 First published 2011 390 pages Publisher: http://www.gollancz.co.uk Cover illustration: Stephen Walter Cover design: http://www.patrickknowlesdesign.com 3.5 Stars An enjoyable 'holiday' read of a Constable investigating supernatural crimes. Loosely based on the old 'Punch and Judy' puppet shows, it is a fast paced dash through London. Each of the rivers of London… Continue reading Rivers of London
by J.R.R.Tolkien ISBN: 0-04-823186-X First published 1954 442 pages Publisher: Unwin Paperbacks 4.5/5 stars A thrilling continuation of the saga first started in The Fellowship of the Ring. Each chapter has its own story arc, and has a self-contained plot. This book contains the original stories Book III: The Treason of Isengard Book IV:… Continue reading The Two Towers
by J.R.R.Tolkien ISBN: 978-0-00-820553-9 First published 1964 58 pages Cover design by Iain Craig Publisher: http://www.tolkien.co.uk 4/5 Stars A fascinating story by Tolkien, one that came to him in a dream. Dreams come from the unconscious mind, and the conscious mind is an observer of them. To write the story of a dream must mean… Continue reading Leaf by Niggle
by J.R.R.Tolkien ISBN: 0-04-823185-1 529 pages Publisher: Unwin Paperbacks Cover illustration: Unknown 6/5 Stars A wonderful book that defines what a 'fantasy story' is. We follow a party of Hobbits from the Shire to Rivendell, and then a party of all the races of Middle-Earth on an epic quest. The book covered two volumes, originally… Continue reading The Lord of the Rings : The Fellowship of the Rings
13 visions of the future Edited and translated by Ken Liu ISBN: 9-781786-692788 383 pages Publisher: http://www.headofzeus.com Images: Shutterstock 3-5/5 Stars 13 stories and 3 short essays covering a variety of science fiction genres - from 'hard' or 'Golden Age' science fiction (similar to Asimov and Clarke) to more dream-like visions or dystopian futures. The… Continue reading Invisible Planets
Maker of Universes By Philip José Farmer ISBN: 0-7221-3514-9 158 pages Publisher: Sphere Science Fiction Cover illustration: Mark Harrison 4/5 Stars A 'Golden Age of Sci-Fi' story written by a master storyteller. The World of Tiers is the private creation of a 'Lord', his own playground. However, this 'Lord' has gone missing, to be replaced… Continue reading World of Tiers
By Jeph Loeb ISBN: 9-781401-22317-5 First published 2002/2003 (single comic format) 320 pages Publisher: DC Comics Penciller: Jim Lee Inker: Scott Williams 5/5 Stars A well thought-out and well crafted murder mystery, beautifully drawn and inked by Jim Lee and Scott Williams. Batman as detective, Batman as super-hero. With a wonderful assortment of characters. Poison… Continue reading HUSH
The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West By Gregory Maguire ISBN: 9-780061-350962 First published 1995 519 pages Publisher: harpercollins.com Cover Art by Wicked LLC Illustrations by Douglas Smith 3/5 Stars An adult book with fantastical sketch board images by Douglas Smith (5/5 Stars). The first illustration is a map of Oz,… Continue reading Wicked
by Norton Juster ISBN: 978-0-00-745568-3 First published 1965 153 pages Cover illustration: Mel Grant Publisher: HarperCollins.co.uk 4/5 Stars 3 short stories from Norton Juster the write of The Phantom Tollbooth; Alberic the Wise She Cries No More Two Kings You never know what to expect from these short stories. Clever modern fables, with a style… Continue reading Alberic the Wise
by William Goldman ISBN: 9-780747-590583 First published 1973 317 pages Cover illustration: Gino D'Achille Cover design: John Fordham Publisher: Bloomsbury 4/5 Stars The book of the film, or rather, the book that the film was made from. William Goldman also wrote the screenplay for his own novel. The film follows the book very closely. The… Continue reading The Princess Bride
by Philip Pullman ISBN: 978-1407-153-30-8 First published 2000 522 pages Cover illustration: Unknown Publisher: Scholastic UK 5/5 Stars A book that has no end to its ambition. A children's book that deals with life, death, and the destruction of GOD. Following on from The Subtle Knife and before that the Northern Lights, each book is… Continue reading The Amber Spyglass
by Philip Pullman ISBN: 978-1-407154-18-3 First published 1997 325 pages Cover illustration: Unknown Inside illustrations: Philip Pullman Publisher: Scholastic 5/5 Stars Fantastic, fast-moving fantasy adventure story, set in this world and 2 others - like it but different. The second in a trilogy, it reads easily and the plot flows freely. Balloonists, witches, Oxford gardens… Continue reading The Subtle Knife
The Eclectic Book Review 