wdkilpackiii's reviews
564 reviews

I gave it four stars because it is such a clear and well orchestrated picture of a specific time and lifestyle. The writing is masterful. It didn't get the fifth star from me because the lifestyle is something that annoys me. I hate the pretension and the conspicuous consumption that is central to the storyline. It's a classic but, had it not been required reading in high school, I would never have chosen to immerse myself in something that rubs me the wrong way this much.

This is a classic. I don't agree with everything in it (there is a time and place for anything, no magic bullet for everyone and everything) but it's a great foundation for learning how to improve your interactions with others. It's a short, quick read, with good general guidelines. Highly recommended!

After reading a couple other books by Heinlein, I was both shocked and energized by Starship Troopers. Who would've thought that Heinlein would write military sci-fi? It has a hard SF edge, running through military training and leading into combat against a truly overwhelming foe. The element of refusing to surrender is truly motivating. There is great storytelling and the characters are very real (some you love, so you hate, and you enjoy doing both). Highly recommended!

I read this the first time in junior high and really enjoyed the gritty depiction of life in a brutal, winter climate. It really took me there and planted the seed for a lifelong fascination with Alaska and Canada. I read it again in high school and was amazed at how a few years of life had allowed me to appreciate elements of the story that had previously eluded me. When younger, I had enjoyed books about dogs (Where the Red Fern Grows, White Fang, Snow Dog, etc.) and this certainly felt like a progression from those types of stories to a more grownup world. If you liked those types of books, this will have a sense of familiarity. Highly recommended!

The idea that the Emperor was a racist was shocking, considering all the races in the Empire, but he was so evil, why was I so shocked? Moreover, after his death, why would an alien villain step up and prove that he's actually more capable than even Darth Vader? Thrawn is just that. This and the books that followed are very good (and quick reads), but I think I would've been feeling a little left out if I wasn't already an avid Star Wars fan. Kevin J. Anderson's Star Wars books have more detail. All the same, Thrawn is one of my absolutely favorite villains in any universe. Highly recommended!

Neuromancer, if it didn't invent cyberpunk, certainly established it as a subgenre of science fiction. I had seen little bits of storyline like it, but as elements of backdrop in other sci-fi stories. This was the first that immersed me in it. The vision required at the time to conceive of such a strong intertwining of man and machine that was not just a warmed-over bionic man scenario was truly groundbreaking. It was fascinating in its depiction of how machines not only influenced a character's abilities, but the character as a person. This is common nowadays with the proliferation of technology, but in 1984, Gibson was a prophet. Brilliant writing. Highly recommended!

I really enjoyed Paladins. It was my first time reading Rosenberg's work and he did not disappoint! the interplay of three paladins and their differences in personality and levels of devotion were fascinating, reminding me of Musketeers to a certain degree. By the end, I felt like I really knew the characters and cared for them. Highly recommended!

I read this in Honors English my sophomore year of high school and it changed my life. First, the people are so real that I still feel like I knew them personally. Second, the depiction of a life and time (living in hard conditions, working the mines in South Wales, all with repercussions that could easily be fatal) that was so different from my own really helped me appreciate and empathize with others ever since. Third, I hated reading books that were required, simply because they were required. This book forced me to acknowledge that my teachers might actually have something to teach me. The impact must have been significant, because I've made a life of teaching to this day, as a college professor. It's extremely well written and gripping. Highly recommended!

Battlefield Earth had an incredible impact on my life, both as a person and a writer. First, I had never read anything before this came out where the Earth had been subjugated to an alien power. I had read plenty where Earth was attacked, we fought back against unbeatable odds, won out as the ultimate underdogs, etc. In Battlefield Earth, we fought, we lost, and we never stood a chance. I remember thinking, "Whoa! The good guys lost!" Enter Johnny Goodboy Tyler, who then takes on that underdog role, enduring excruciating circumstances, to finally avenge humanity. Very well written, a great hero, a great premise, just a great novel! If you have seen the movie and hated it, not to worry. The book and the movie really don't have much to do with each other. Highly recommended!

Jack King's "Beyond Blood" is an enjoyable read! I watch a lot of police procedurals on TV and I could see Husto's sleuthery fitting right into that mix! That end of the story was my favorite, outlining the police work, the cooperation between different police departments, and just good, solid police work. Particularly in recent years, there doesn't seem to be enough of that. Another part of the story is the "origin story" of a serial killer, which I found to be gritty and, in some places, even disturbing. One thing King did well was providing an explanation without making me feel sympathetic for a truly evil individual, which I also appreciated. I give it four stars for two reasons: one, I saw it coming. Maybe the author showed a little too much of his cards or maybe it's because I watch so much of this on TV, but that's the biggest reason. The other is that I would have liked to see more Husto. Recommended!