Science Fiction and Fantasy Books

Like everyone else on this list, I read this book over and over when I was a child and then misplaced it. I can honestly say that I never forgot it, though I did forget the title and twenty-some years later I was still going online from time to time and doing random hopeless searches for it. But - !I came across my battered old cover-less copy in a storage box over the weekend and reread it, and it is just as lovely as I had remembered, and the illustrations are even lovelier. It is a very simple but beautiful story; I highly recommend it for every little girl. I'm so pleased to have finally found it, and doubly pleased that it's been reissued.

I first read this book when I was eight years old (in the late 60's) and still have my copy of it. It is a great book about a long lost doll that is finally found after many years. I always wanted a grandfather clock because of the one in this story and mine has a proud place at the top of my staircase too. Wouldn't it be neat if there were hidden treasures in every aunt or grandma's house! This is a must read if you love spooky, but not too spooky, old fashioned stories.

bought one for myself and my sister. My first copy was from the Scholastic book sale at school in 1973. This is a very delightful and innocent mystery that captivated me as a child. This is a beautiful book to share with your daughters, nieces, granddaughters,etc. It is nice to sit back and remember when it was very cool not to be whiny, materialistic, over exposed and selfish..when it was wonderful to just to be a sweet, kind, helpful and respectable little lady.
Metaldiva Sez: Buy as many as you can for all the little girls in your family..great book about a tantalizing and gentle mystery..

I had to buy this book! I read this book as a child, but misplaced my copy decades ago! When I realized that I could find it on amazon, that it wasn't lost to me forever, and that I could have my daughter read it, I felt like I was being given a gift. There is nothing like a truly good book when you're a child, and this book is a timeless wonder. I bought one for my daughter, for her third grade teacher, and for her second grade teacher whose daughter is named Elizabeth. Now its magic will inform further generations.

I read this book over and over as a kid of eight or nine - it was an especially good book to curl up with when I was feeling lonely or blue. My dog-eared copy gave out finally, and I never could find another. Often I have been sad that I couldn't share some of the most beloved stories populating my imagination as a kid with my daughter. Imagine my joy when this lovely book came available again! I'm not ashamed to say I was emotional and shed a few tears of happiness (a good book will do it to me every time). And, of course, I bought a copy for my little girl, to whom I'm going to read it aloud.

This book is sweet without being cloying, it's an adventure mystery without villains or violence, it's a puzzle to be solved without competition, it's a "growing up" book without preachiness. It's charm is boundless. Adults will enjoy it, I think, as much as their children. Good reading!

I bought fours books of the series thinking mostly on my daughter, I thought my really boy 6y son (who likes Ricki Ricotta kind of books) wouldnt want to read them. I was so wrong!! We read two tonight and he is taking the other two to class tomorrow to share with everybody!!
I absolutely loved them.

All these books are amazing. My grandmama read them to me; and I read them to my children. All four of us (including Grandmama) loved these precious stories. I love the moral at the end; it helps me and my three year old talk about how the moral applies to the story and our lives. The large text and beautiful pictures help children with shorter attention spans stay engaged in the story; and it helps young readers read on their own. These are classic stories that should be on everyone's shelves.

This book made a huge impact on me as a child and I've never forgotten it. There was something about the combination of illustration and story that made this very memorable. As my daughter reached the age where books with a moral lesson became more relevant I was thrilled to find that these books by Stephen Cosgrove were still in print! If you read my other reviews you'll see that illustrations are very important to me -- a book has to be visually interesting to appeal to small children. The illustrations in this book are so crisp and just plain cute! Also the story is a fun and easy night time read and has several great messages. The story of a unique pink creature named Serendipity promotes individuality, self esteem, and a sense of social responsibility.

I absolutely adored this series as a child. They share timeless messages and morals that I think we have lost as a society. My mother gave me the book that contains 7 of the stories and that made me really want to track down and find them all again. I was so excited to find them on Amazon.com after not finding them at any other book stores. I plan to begin a career of working with nursery school children and these books will provide the perfect stories just before nap time. Anyone who has never read these stories is truely missing out on a gem of children's stories. I highly suggest collecting the entire series, I know I'm going too!

The book contains a morale about beauty can bloom anywhere, I think it might be Lady Rose but not sure. Its a Serendipity book for certain. There is a rose that blooms on ice or iceberg I think. Does this sound familiar to anyone if so then please E-mail me at Arcimedes8@yahoo.com . I really want to find this book. Please help =)

this is one of my favourite charmed books!!! as it shows true halliwell spirit. basically prue gets the oppertunaty for a front page photo. but the camera she uses sends all the models and pheobe into hades. in the effort to get there sister back piper and prue have to go through loads of greek mythology gods and creatures. this book is a must have for all charmed fans

As far as I'm concerned, ALL other good Charmed books (The Queen's Curse, Whisper's from the past, Dark Vengeance, Mystic Knoll, Inherit the witch, Something Wiccan [just to name a few]) are small potatoes in comparison to this superbly penned Charmed book!!! NO other Charmed novel could possibly be better than Soul Of The Bride!!! Elizabeth's work here, is a masterpiece!!!!

What makes this story stand out from the other Charmed books is her impeccable blend of Greek Mythology and the Charmed ones tale aptly blended in. She mixed the two geneologies flawlessly, very well blended, I should add. Every single tiny detail added in is beneficial for the Charmed ones, and that's what stands out in this book. Alot! For example, the part where Piper takes a quick glance at Prue and realizes that she is still wearing Piper's necklace, makes Piper remember that she had to pay Charon the fee to take them over to the other side of River Acheron, which is taking the letter opener and mother-of-pearl inkwell, just in case. Turns out that the letter opener is useful in impaling the Sirens!!!

I'm not going to reveal details of the story, but I guarantee, whether or not you know about Greek Mythology, you will definitely enjoy this story. Soul Of The Bride is a must-have for all Charmed fans!!!!!! My fave bit is when Phoebe is determined not to give up and succumb to the tasty grub kept in Hades, only to realize they are tainted to make people an empty-headed party animal. Also, all 3 sisters had a vital part to play, and with their team work, girly (and sisterly) support, all the loose knots are tied, the i's are dotted and its a happy ending for them.

My only thumbs-down about this story is just that its seems like a pretty huge coincidence that Nikos had known about Prue's photo shoot and sent Mitchell to make sure Prue's topic is on Victorian Portraiture, using Greek Mythology, which then lures Phoebe to Hades. In the Charmed Universe, coincidence is extremely rare, unless Nikos had known it all along, and places a spell on the them to find out.


But other than that, it is 100% recommeded, you WILL love it, like I did!!!
I paid $9 for this book and every single cent was worth it!!!!

This one of the best Charmed books ever written. I loved the combination of Greek Mythology and Charmed. Unlike the 'Oh My Goddess' episodes, this book blends both genres together effortlessly. The writing is top-notch... it really pulls you into what's going on. I had a hard time putting this book down (finished it in a couple days.. even with work).

HIGHLY recommend this to Charmed fans. You won't be disappointed :).

I am a huge, HUGE fan of charmed, I love the series, but ANY OTHER BOOK PALES IN COMPARISON TO THE SOUL OF THE BRIDE!!! It follows the story of the power of three flawlessly!!! If you are interested in any kind of mythology, or even if you're not, the soul of the bride is a MUST-HAVE!!!!

i have read all the books in the charmed series and this is one of my favorites. it combines the greek mythologies with modern day life, which i think is quite creative. i highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys greek myths.

In true form this book was a wonderful read, most difficult to put down.
Action all the way, as the books say you'll never view the weather as before, makes you wonder!! The next book is a must read!!

Love this whole series. This author is just great. Rachel Caine came highly recommended by Jim Buthcher, author of the Dresden Files. If you've read any of her Weather Warden series, you just have to read Book 4 to keep up with the characters and find out what happens to them.

The story starts off w/ Jo and her efforts to make a living as a normal person. Unfortunately things kept getting in the way of that. Like her job as a weather girl and the humiliation she went through just to make ends meet. Her sister barges into her life out of nowhere. David is not in the best frame of mind and strength. In fact he keeps siphoning off her strengths and is bleeding her dry magically. Jonathan makes two tough decisions after all the threats he's made to Jo don't work. The outcome of those decisions are extraordinary. I love the ending of this book and can't wait to pick up the next.

other books I enjoy: Kim Harrison- Rachel Morgan series, Jenna Black-Morgan Kingsley series, Larissa Ione- Demonica series, Ilona Andrews- Kate Daniels series, Richelle Mead- Georgina Kinkaid series and Dark Swan Series, Audra and Stella Price- Eververse series, Yasmine Galenorn- Sisters of the Moon series, Vicki Pettersson- Zodiac series; Jackie Keller- Hell on Earth series, T.A. Pratt- Marla Mason series; Mark Henry- Happy Hour of the Damned

Rachel Caine's 4th entry in the Weather Warden series is a page-turner deluxe, and a highly enjoyable way to spend a few hours. The scenes depicting Joanne's job at the TV station make this book well worth your time, even if you were to skip over the magic, romance, intrigue, and humor. One of the things that makes this such a good series is the rich cast of supporting characters, added to in this book with the addition of Joanne's sister. This is almost becoming as humorous a series as Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum's series!

I have been putting off writing this review since February. Why? I didn't think I could put into words how amazing and fantastic this book truly is. It wipes the floor with the three previous Weather Warden books, which is a feat in itself as those books are among the best ever written. Windfall is even better.

But now I'm finally writing the review. Expect it to be rambling and full of me gushing about how much I love this series and this book in particular.

I love Windfall so much, I've borrowed it from the library four times in succession, and even got an overdue fine because I didn't want to take it back. The books aren't available to buy here, so I have to rely on the library. But it's worth the fines and the borrowing since the book is so damned good.

If you've read the other reviews, you'll know the basic plot - Joanne has moved back to her hometown of Florida after quitting the Wardens, has a new job as a TV weather girl at a local station, and is trying to find a solution to her problem. What's her problem? Her Djinn lover David is draining her power. In Chill Factor, he was turned Ifrit, and is slowly wasting away to full Ifrit state. On top of this, Jo has a police officer from the Las Vegas police department on her case (he wants information about his dead partner Quinn from Chill Factor), master Djinn Jonathan has given her an ultimatum - heal David or else, her older sister Sarah turns up homeless and wanting to shack up with Jo (and meets a "cute British guy" who is not what he seems), Jo is still pregnant with a Djinn child forced onto her by David and she is forced to wear stupid foam outfits at her job and is continually hit on her by her sleazy weatherman co-star.

All these plot elements add up to one fantastic story - and this is only the tip of the iceberg. This all escalates into something much larger as the book goes on. It seems like too many storylines to follow at once but it's all woven together easily and will keep you riveted.

On the character side of the things - all the favourites are still around. I was glad to see that Lewis still had a major part in this story, he's one of my favourites. I'm also glad Rahel is still in it, and I'm surprised at how much I like Jonathan (I hated him in Heat Stroke & Chill Factor). The new characters are great too - even though Jo's sister Sarah is annoying, it's hard to hate her. Cherise, Jo's sidekick in weather presenting hell is one of the best new characters introduced to the book in ages! She's cute, perky and hilarious. Her and Jo's banter lightens the more darker serious tone of the book (I'm so glad she's going to be in Firestorm!). Eamon, otherwise known as "cute British guy" (a name given to him by Jo and Cherise) is a two dimensional character who is very very interesting. What disappointed me is that Marion was left out of this installment, and that they brought Kevin back. Kevin REALLY annoys me, he's so tiresome.

Some scenes of Windfall left me in tears - especially most of the (limited unfortunately) scenes with Jo and David. I'm a David fan, so to see him transform into something horrible is just awful - their relationship is heartbreaking and one scene near the end of the book had me crying. I'm kind of worried that it's over for them now, but we'll find out in Firestorm. This book is much darker and much more serious then the previous books, and is full of action. It's non-stop, there's no boring scenes. The humour is still present - most of Jo and Cherise's adventures at their job are amusing, and the "great mall expedition of 2003" bit had me laughing.

Well, I did ramble and say how much I loved this book. I truly do. It's the best of the series (maybe to be surpassed by Firestorm?), and Rachel Caine continues to impress me with her writing skills. The Weather Wardens are my favourite book series of all time, and Windfall definitely is one of the best books I've ever read. You absolutely need to read the previous books before cracking into this one, they provide backstory for the events of this one.

I'm eagerly anticipating Firestorm (September 5th!), and more from our fiesty heroine Jo. Well done Rachel Caine!

Occasionlly I find a book I never want to end. James Byron Huggins is a new writer for me, but I'll be on the lookout for his books from now on. I was captivated by the bravery of Saul, King of the Hares, and Wingate, his friend. I was in awe of Aramus, the great silver wolf, as he overcame his fears and uncertainties to follow the Lightmaker even though it meant a battle to the death against the Dark Lord and the dark council.
A beautifully written story of the epic struggle between good and evil. Some books are to be treasured, savored, and read more than once. This is that kind of book. A Wolf Story is a keeper. Strongly recommended.

[...]
In each life there comes a time when we must choose who we will follow. Will we stand up for what we believe in or blend into the crowd? A young wolf is forced to make the life-changing decision. A Wolf Story will remind readers of "White Fang," or works by CS Lewis. While the lead characters are animals, the reader will easily see human traits. The plot is powerful, filled with action and searing emotion. James Byron Huggins has captured the essence of sacrifice, love, and giving of one's self. Well written with strong Christian values, A Wolf Story will become a family favorite.

Reminds me (in a good way) of a great many favorites: White Fang, Watership Down, Call it Courage, The Chronicles of Narnia, etc. Great characters that are well-drawn. Interesting dynamics between the different types of animals. Great spiritual element that doesn't overwhelm a fun adventure story. Wonderful themes that you want to share with your children - honor, courage, faith. Put down Harry Potter and read this to your kids tonight! You'll enjoy it as much as they do.

Huggins is one of those authors I discovered by chance a few years ago. I have read most of the books he has written, my favorites are Reckoning and A Wolf Story. Both are worth your time and effort.

A Wolf Story is an allegory in the style of Narnia or Lord of the Rings. In part it is a coming of age story, and part the story of good vs. evil. Long long ago, the inhabitants of the deep deep woods were given a choice. A choice that each of them in turn must make for themselves. Those who were about to make the choice would always face trials, temptations and fears. This difficult choice was either to follow the Silver Wolf and his lord, the Lightmaker or else they would join the dark Council and become part of the forces for evil.

The choice has become all the more difficult for the forces of light have been decimated, and the Dark Council is at he door of eternal victory. It is the story of a young wolf, who must choose and has been left alone to make that choice.

In this epic final battle between good and evil, the questions becomes is it really a battle of strength vs. strength, wits against wits, wills against wills. It is a path to the future but will that be a future in darkness and oppression or a path to peace, a peace won through sacrifice and pain. A peace hard won. Tis story is an allegory of the Christian life, told in a way that will captivate readers both young and old.

James Byron Huggins was born in 1959. He is a novelist, journalist, religious activist, and police officer; all these titles appear on his resume. A graduate of Morgan County High School, and Troy State University, Huggins began his career as a journalist with the Hartselle Enquirer. In the late 80's he smuggled Christian materials into Romania. He was a beat cop for 5 years before returning to writing fulltime. His first three novels Reckoning, A Wolf Story, Leviathan were Christian best sellers. Then he broke into the main stream science fiction with such books as Cain, Hunter, Rora, Nightbringer, The Scam, Sorcerer. Both Cain and Hunter have been optioned to be movies and are suppose to star Stallone and Willis respectively.

I read this when it first came out and it has continued to be one of my favorite books. I see it as an allegory, beautifully depicting the spiritual struggle between God & Satan in the form of the animal world.

Unforgettable characters make this book easy to read and keep you on the edge of your seat. They include the wise old hare king Saul and his colony; the brave Windgate, Saul's good friend who becomes king after Saul; young Aramus, the silver wolf still learning to live his faith who meets Saul under terrible circumstances yet that meeting changes him forever; the king of the gray wolves, Giavanel, Aramus's father, strong & wise; other brave creatures who all serve the Lightmaker and because of their faith are under constant attack from the evil Dark Council, servants of the Dark Lord.

This story captures you from the beginning and has you feeling & fighting with its characters along the way. Yet it is also laced with wisdom that can be applied to our own lives. We need more books like this. Harry Potter can't touch the life and death, good and evil struggles that Mr. Huggins has portrayed in "A Wolf Story".

Every family needs to read this book to their children!

Someone on Earth has put a spell on Score. Helaine and Pixel must return there friend home, and defeat the spell before it kills him. This story is so good it makes me anxious to the read rest of the series

John peel created a work of art with this book. the other books in the seiris don't even come close to this. you have got to read this one!

The action, the plot...
John Peel has a way with words!
What really is surprising is how the relationships are curving between characters!(You'll have to read to know, Sorry!)
I sure hope a movie is coming!(According to my scrying pool)

Diadem is one of my favorite series along with Mindwarp and Animorphs. It is a great mix of suspense and fantasy. Once you start reading you can't put the book down. You just have to keep reading. The books actually make you feel like you're there with Helaine, Score and Pixel. The only thing that angers me is that John Peel stopped at book #6 and left the series hanging! Mr. Peel, please write more!!!! :(

John Peel is one of the best authors in the world! This is my favorite book out of the diadem series, and it was really hard to pick a favorite. If you know that he's going to be writting more books, please E-mail me. And take my word for it, after you read one of the books, your hooked!

Like others reviewers before this, I'm rather surprised how obscure this wonderful, quirky book truly is.

The story revolves around Toseland, a young child who goes to live with Mrs. Oldknow. He goes to live in a big manor in a country estate (think the estate the Pevensies go to live on in Lewis' THE LION, THE WITCH, AND THE WARDOBE). He soon realises there's something odd about the house, and is puzzled why Mrs. Oldknow talks about the history and past inhabitents of the place like they were around only yesterday. It turns out the house is inhabited by children of the past, and he learns of an evil gypsey named Green Noah who he ultimately must confront. This final confrontation is rather scary, and Green Noah is one of literature's most memorable villains that I've encountered in a long time.

The book is a rather charming blend of supernatural meets reality, and there is something very delightfully English about the whole affair. The author's Catholocisim is rather apparent n the book, and she fits a lot of different allusions to literature, music, and history.

For those looking for good Children's fiction, this is a powerful story. It's too bad it's not well known.

I found this to be an excellent novel not only for children but also for adults. There is enough intrigue to hold the reader's interest throughout the novel as well as being a lovely, warm family story.

I first read this book when I was a child (in the 60's) and immediately fell in love with it. It has everything I adore in a book; a little magic, a little ghostliness; an English castle; lovely animal companions; characters from times past; people with manners, morals and down to earth values and last but not least--love. I have re-read this book many times and have just finished listening to an audio-version. This is forever a beautiful and enchanting book.

The book I'm going to talk to you about is called; The Children of Green Knowe, by L.M. Boston. I didn't really like this book. It was a little confusing and hard to understand. There just wasn't a clear point. There was not middle, or a climax and resolution. I thought this book was about a mystery or a ghost story, by the cover and the blip from the back. I was very disappointed in the ending, and that it was appoint-less fantasy, that bored me half to death!

The Children of green knowe was about a boy named, Tolly, who was the age of 8-11,whose parents die (they don't say how),so he was sent to live with hisGreat-Grandmother in Penny Soaky. Her house was called Old Knowe.
Three children, Alexander, Toby, and Linnet, died in Tolly's(the boy's name), Great Grandmother's house many centuries ago. They started appearing around the house just days after their death. They played with Tolly, and went on great Adventures. Enjoy one of Granny's stories every 20 pages, and learn about Tolly and Granny's love for the flute andthebirds.

Other reviewers have praised the book. But then, they also liked Harry Potter, and "Series of Unfortunate Events" as well, so that clearly showed me, as a College Prof, now HS dad, that I might not like this book, as the excesses of sardonic humor, death, magic, and evil, are all too prevalent in this day and age, to encourage the reading of fiction to stuff yet MORE garbage into my children's (or my!) head. As it is said, "Sufficient to the day is the evil thereof...".

But Green Knowe is different- perhaps because it was written in a gentler, kinder time. While there is fantasy, and a sense of the blurring of the dimensions (ghosts that are not evil, a world within our world that has connections to the past, and the interpenetration of them all) overall, this work has as much depth as Potter's does for the adult reader, without all the preachiness of 'PC' dogma which has so marred Rowling's later writings, and has influenced all of the film treatments. One really does not need to rehash Shirer's work on WWII in a Children's fantasy novel, which is all Rowling's works have become at the hands of her American editors...

Boston's world is alive- with literature, history, music, and artistry, which Rowling's is not. For adults, the references to the Restoration, Cromwell, Purcell's music, Anglican Church, and British Christmas customs provide a wealth for any HS parent discussing the period 1660-1700. But, as another reviewer noted, she never GOES anywhere- unless just BEING is enough. Her world is one to inhabit, not to holiday through, as if it were an itinerary of sights to check off. The ONE confrontation is scary, and could frighten younger audiences...but a vision of a redeemed world shines through. I was reminded while reading Boston, of Jame's novella, that Britten set to music in the opera, "Turn of the Screw." NOT "cheery" stuff, that!

If I seem ambivalent, it is because, while there is much to recommend in her writing, and the pictures she paints are very vivid, and full of life, the theological issues of the spirit world interacting with the real world, the malevolent curses of a gypsy long dead, and the subtle hints of either a strong genetic lineage, or a nascent reincarnationalism, coupled with clear Christian imagery and pious sentiment (Do ghosts really sing Christmas carols, without malevolent intent?) bothered me.

Is the book magical? oh yes, in many ways. Is it troubling, as say, Wind in the Willows is not? Oh, yes.. in equal measure. Is it a good read? Definitely. But the rest? I'm not sure....

Containing an excellent portrayal of Worf, this novel manages to pull together a number of loose ends of his life after the war, and coming to terms with the death of Jadsia. He is now a diplomat for starfleet, and is sent to resolve a conflict of a world which is under Klingon rule, much to the dismay, and anger of this worlds inhabitants. His old friends on the Enterprise make an apperance as they escort him to his mission, but do not take part in the mission byond that. Worf must manage to pull off a settlement which is agreeable to the Klingons, who will accept nothing less than Klingon rule continuing, and the factions on the world who will accept nothing less than freedom, and Klingons leaving thier planet for good. Among this the constant harrasment by other Klingons and challenges of his honor are present. A good read.

This may be DeCandido's best book so far. The plot is intricate: Worf has to find a middle path between the demands for independence of the natives and the political necessity of keeping the Klingon Empire intact. The Captain of the Gorkon doesn't trust him, the local governor is a ruthless, arrogant incompetent, and the natives are less than ecstatic to discover the Federation representative is a Klingon. There is a fair amount of action scenes in this book, both space and ground combat, and they are very good, although not to the level of the best in the Gorkon books. The dialogue and the character interaction are where the book really shines. The language is witty and incisive and wonderfully entertaining. All the characters are vividly and thoroughly portrayed, including several that lack such vividness in the Gorkon series.

After a long string a reading mediocre books (like Do Comets Dream?), I find myself looking at one that is truly a pleasure to read. Keith R.A. DeCandido has certainly outdone himself here. This was the first time I've had the experience to enjoy his work, but I will definitely be getting more of his titles, namely the upcoming I.K.S. Gorkon duology and Gateways - 4 of 7 - Demons Of Air And Darkness.

Now, there are two main things this book is about. One is to introduce (I think anyway) the I.K.S Gorkon crew, which is a new ship in the Klingon fleet. The other is to show some of Worf's new challenges as Federation Ambassador to the Klingon Empire. For the former point, Keith goes past the typical Klingon archetypes and really makes this crew come to life. In fact, the Captain (Klag) reminisces about how strange and unique his crew is compared to typical Klingon vessels. The crew is very likeable and is engineered so that interesting and natural conflicts arise throughout the story (and, no doubt, future stories). For the later point, we get to see how Worf deals with the losses of the Dominion War and accepts the new challenges that await him as ambassador, which provides a lot of rich character development throughout the story. Even in diplomacy, his honor and his ability to remain a warrior are constantly tested. It's interesting that a quote from season 4 (spoken by Curzon) says, "The only people who can really handle the Klingons are Klingons". That is very true in this book, making Worf a very logical and natural choice to handle the intense diplomatic situation that unfolds.

What makes this book really special is not just the plot (which is very good), but that it's true to the characters (old and new). When you read the words of Worf, Martok, Riker or any of the other characters, you can really hear the actors speaking the dialog in your mind. Keith goes much further than that, though. While the story remains in the 3rd person, Keith does a great job letting you know how the characters think and reflect on the situations around him. Even Riker's experiences aboard a Klingon vessel in TNG's season 2 are of key importance to his actions in the story. Most of the time, I couldn't help but smile as I was completely absorbed and convinced that these characters were exactly as I remembered them from TNG and DS9.

The book is also true to established continuity as well. There are many times where Worf reflects on the death of Jadzia or Kah'lar, as they have a direct and significant impact on the story itself. Worf's history in Starfleet and the aftermath of the Dominion War are also big events that this story has drawn from. It makes everything fit into place very nicely as you get the feeling that the story is a logical consequence of these events, yet interesting enough that you'll want to read about it.

Commander Riker and Dr. Crusher also make appearances, as they do have a history with several of the crew members of the I.K.S Gorkon. Rather than some books just putting them in for the sake of familiarity, or perhaps for marketing reasons, Keith takes a different approach. Since this is a book about Worf and the I.K.S. Gorkon, the author makes sure he develops the *right* characters. In each case, Crusher helps bring out the passions of B'Oraq, the Chief Medical Officer aboard the ship, and likewise, Riker helps make Klag into more than just a one-dimensional character (which seems like a one-purpose adversary to Worf at the beginning of the book).

Another aspect that I really like the book is that every paragraph is important to the plot or its characters. I'm not a big fan of books that use so much description that you could just remove it from the book and it wouldn't change a thing. I think the English language can be somewhat clumsy if it's used incorrectly, trying to describe every detail as if you were really trying to show a picture or a movie. But no, Keith doesn't do that. Every paragraph is relative to the plot or explains why the characters are reacting or thinking the way they do. Every plot point is intelligently graphed into the whole. I guess the best to describe it is that it's efficient yet emotional and captivating at the same time, which is typically the writing style I enjoy best.

So if you haven't read Diplomatic Implausibility now, you should definitely pick it up. While I'm not sure if the plots in this novel correlate to the Left Hand of Destiny (which I'm reading that now), there is lot to like here and it's an excellent addendum to the shows. This could have been very well been a real episode, as there was no indication that it was a case of bad fan fiction or contrived storytelling at all. This is one is great.

This novel is great for a couple of reasons. First is Worf's great portrayal. I liked his discomfort with the Ambassador title and him dealing with his diplomatic responsibility. Second, the wonderful crew and captain of the IKS Gorkon. This crew, especially Cpt. Klag, grew on me, and as a result I became a sucker and went out to buy the other adventures of the IKS Gorkon in the Brave and the Bold Book 2 and the other two Gorkon books.

DeCandido is a great author. I first read Demons of Air and Darkness by him, and then a couple SCE stories, and then went back to his first book to check out where Worf had gone after the DS9 finale. In fact I read this book knowing it was, in sorts, a continuation of DS9 in the Relaunch form. Having read up to the Gamma books, it was a welcome change to see another DS9 crewmember that had gone a different way. (Now where's my Rom story!)

The plot deals with Worf having to confront his allegiance between the Federation and Martok and the Klingon Empire. My only confusion is why Worf would have overall command of the mission being a Federation, not Klingon, representative.

So Captain Klag is an awesome character that prompted me to wanna read the rest of his adventures. His crew is interesting, and the Klingon characterizations are fitting. Worf is particularly spot-on, especially with some of his classic one-word responses.

The story and characters flow naturally; nothing is forced. The battles are good; the story is decent when compared to awesome plots like in the DS9 "Millennium" Trilogy. The conclusion sort of came on me too fast to appreciate it, and the lack of twists or climax is what made me rate this a 4 and not a 5. Keith should have written another 30-50 pages to create a totally unique, intriguing conclusion.

Characters from the Romulan prison that Worf rescued are on board the Gorkon... as well is Worf's mind-altered brother Kurn, now Rodek. His pathetic character makes one want to know wtf is bugging him, which is another reason to buy the other Gorkon books. It was great seeing Worf in his holosuite program from Season 1 TNG, seeing Beverly with an old Klingon radical doctor, and Riker reunited with Klag getting hammered despite taking an alcohol-suppressant. Passed TNG and DS9 characters are well integrated and feel natural and not forced or over-the-top like in other novels. Oh, and then there's Martok's pathetic son who Worf beat up on DS9... his character is intriguing. I also liked the continuity with the Emperor of the al'Hmatti and how he didn't just have a miraculous change-of-heart, but fit in with his character until his end.
The good thing is the tension between the crew, just as I would expect from a unique Klingon vessel with distinctive people. Most evocative is Klag's distrust of Worf due to his perception that Worf got his position only for being in Martok's house. It's also good to see Worf still mourns Jadzia's loss. The thing about DeCandido that I've come to realize is you really get into the heads of his characters, and for those we have seen on the screen, you will have no problem visualizing the different people speaking (in their unique voices) the words Keith has written. Kudos to the author indeed!

All in all an excellent cast of new and old characters, with a decent plot and some fun solid action. Reading it definitely makes one want to keep reading the adventures of the crew of the IKS Gorkon, especially with its one-armed Captain!

One missed opportunity: More involvement from the Enterprise crew with Worf. They were pushed to the background, but seeing as this is a Worf novel it was somewhat suitable. However, it is excellent to see that Worf, alone, solves the crisis on taD, and that no one from the Enterprise comes to his rescue. Chalk one up for Worf the Diplomat.

Oh, and those claiming this should be a DS9 book and that it was labeled TNG cause it sells better are mistaken. DS9 is hardly in this novel; TNG is. And in all fairness Worf was aboard TNG longer and keeps joining the TNG crew in the movies. So shutupa yer face about marketing ploys.

In conclusion, I recommend this book for TNG, DS9, Klingon and Worf fans. But also, surprisingly, for non-Trek fans, since the author does a good job recounting the crucial parts of Worf's history in a continuity that is quite suiting for the novel.

This work, though easily read as a standalone, does feel like a pilot book introducing the IKS Gorkon. But for me, that's okay, because it makes me want to read more about them. I'm glad characters weren't fully developed and resolutions didn't just appear out of thin air. I can hardly wait to read more from Keith in the future. I do agree the Rodek-Kurn/Worf relationship needed to have some conclusion, even if not complete, because it does beg one to ask what Worf felt about the whole situation. I sincerely hope it is resolved, or at least addressed in future novels.

Worf is definitely one of the most interesting Trek characters, yet in reflection I find myself comparing this novel to Garak's, "A Stitch in Time", and I find that as standalone novels basing itself mainly on one main character, Garak's novel is vastly supreme. Then again it is much longer. Thus, it is with great difficulty that I rate this novel a 4 and not a 5. Had it been slightly longer, I know it would have given me reason to rate it perfect.

PS, the glossary of Klingon terms is reason enough to buy it!

"Diplomatic Implausibility" is author, Keith R.A. DeCandido's first full length novel in the Star Trek genre. From his work in the Star Trek S.C.E. (Starfleet Corps of Engineers) e-Book series one could tell that he was going to become a major influence in the Star Trek genre which has proven quite true given his breadth of work since this, his first outstanding Star Trek The Next Generation novel.

DeCandido's work stands out with great flare as its originality in the story telling is quite clear, his knowledge of the Star Trek universe is extensive and most importantly, the story is extremely well balanced between pace and narrative!

Pocket Books has done a great job over the last few years in bringing in authors such as Keith R.A. DeCandido who are not only authors but fans of Star Trek which, in this reader's opinion, is quite integral in the pursuit of being able to write a decent Star Trek story such as this novel.

The Premise:

Fresh off the heels of the events depicted in Star Trek Deep Space Nine's final episode, "What You Leave Behind" where Lt. Commander Worf, after defeating the Klingon High Chancellor Gowron and giving the Chancellorship to General Martok, is then offered the opportunity to be the Federation's Ambassador to Klingon which he gladly accepts.

Some two hundred years ago, a mineral rich world known as taD was conquered by the Klingon Empire and its inhabitants became slaves of the Klingon Empire. When the Klingons were mislead by the Dominion into attacking the Cardassians the people of taD, seeing a shortage in Klingons guarding their world, seized the opportunity and retook their world for their own and called upon the Federation for assistance however, the Federation could not and would not intervene due to the potential political ramifications.

With the end of the Dominion war came the Klingons retaking of taD and its inhabitants renewed efforts to gain protection from the Federation comes the need for Ambassador Worf who is now called into the situation to negotiate between the Klingon Empire, the Federation and taD's inhabitants...

I highly recommend this numbered Star Trek The Next Generation novel as you will find it to be among the best of the numbered novels and in it, a truly knowledgeable and crafty author who stands out in the genre. {ssintrepid}

I read this book when I is was in 8th grade but I still like to go back and read things over it is a wonderful book if you like fantasy dragons and a girl hero.

Since I am not good at explaining things I will type what it says on the back of the book:

There is a story about Kara and dragons. When she was four, she came down with vermilion fever. Her parents, thinking there was no cure, left her in a cave to die. A month later she walked back into her parent's home as healthy as if she had never been sick. It is said that a mother dragon lived in that cave, and she nursed young Kara back to life. Now, eleven years later, the only reminder of Kara's illness is a small scar on her cheek. Of her contact with the dragon, there is more. Her eyes, which once were blue, are now green. And she can call down birds, which many believe is a sign that she can also call down dragons, for the two are distant cousins. Only Kara has her doubts. How can a beast as huge and terrifying as a dragon be related to a sweet, gentle bird? But could this explain why the king has sent for her? Does he think she has powers over dragons? For Kara, the answer to this question means life or death- not only for her, but for all the dragons, also.

I loved this book. Susan Fletcher has done it again. However, I did prefer the first and third books to this one. But this book is very important to the series, and it's amazingly good, too. This is the best trilogy ever written!

:-)

The story is about a young girl named Kara,who is sick as a small child and was brought to a cave to be buried. Instead of dying,dragons fed her milk,which nursed her back to heallth. This milk also gave her speial powers. Kara meets the royal family ofthe land of Krag because of her powers, which throws her into the middle of a of a blood war between dragons and this royal family. Kara has mant adventures as she
tries to do the right thing for the family and the dragons. The prince of this
famly,Rog,threatens to kill two childrenif Kara doesn't sumomon dragons for him to kill. She gets help from the kiing and his army,the birds that she summons,and her friends. They defeat Rog,and her falcon flies off with dragons. Kara goes back to the king dom of Krag with king Orrik as his summoner.
I like this book because there are plenty of suprises. It issuspenseful and exciting.

I enjoyed this second book of the Dragon Chronicles more than the first for several reasons.

Susan Fletcher does very well with the first-person narrative of Kara, and the language used by the character makes the story all the move believable. Its a more intelligent read than the first book, with a more interesting range of vocabulary. Also, Kara as a charcter is much more interesting to read about than Kaeldra. Kara's pride and her fears, and even her hypocracy at times, make her a real human being. And what's more, she has a fire-cracker temper that I found refreshing after reading about the droll,ho-hum, stick-in-the-mud Kaeldra.

In this second book, there is a bigger cast of characters and Fletcher does well to make sure these people all have personalities of their own. (The first book, had more character 'types',and less characters with personalities.)

I agree, the book's main relationship is a little stale. It wouldn't have been if we had not seen a similar build up in "Dragon's Milk"'s major relationship. If they had not been mirror images of the same stormy and mistrusting courtship then I would have been much more entertained.

All and all, "Flight of the Dragon Kyn" was a better written book with a more interesting array of charcters. Well worth the read.

A Review by Jessica

One day log ago a girl named Kara got Vermillion fever and almost died, but a dragon saved her. This book takes place many years after this incidence. The thing is that Kara remembers nothing that happened. The only things that remind her of the dragon is a name, Flagra, which she screamed in the middle of the night and the gift of being able to call birds down from the sky. A king named Orrick sends for her to come to him, and she dose. What Kara doesn't know is he wants her to call down dragons. The Problem is that Kara has never seen a dragon let alone call one down from the sky. Kara and a group of warriors go out to seek dragons. Kara calls for Flagra and she comes what she doesn't know it that the men are going to kill this dragon, the one that saved her life. As the dragon becomes visible the arrows rise to the deep blue sky and they shoot.

In this book I really enjoyed the suspense and adventure. The main character, Kara tells this story in first person. Susan Fletcher is a great author. One thing I like in her books is there is a little hidden love story within them. There is one in this book. It is between Kara and one of the king's men named Kazan. I also like the extreme detail that Susan Fletcher uses. An example of detail is when she describes a falcon she calls. Kara says, "I steeped back startled, the gray falcon screamed, tightened her grip on my hand. One wing clouted my head, and then she was flying." The vocabulary in this book is not too hard but not to easy. I also found the dialogue to be very easy to follow.

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a good adventure with suspense and action. It's a real great read! This book keeps you in the edge of your seat the whole time your reading it.

This is the prequel to the Tales of the Otori series although it was written last. As are all the books in the series, this novel is well written and rivetting as are the others.

Heaven's Net is Wide is Lian Hearn's stunning prequel to the Tales of the Otori saga. This book tells the story of young Otori Shigeru and his rise to become Lord Otori, head of his clan, amidst triumphs and tragedy, friendship, love and betrayal. Hearn's alternate historical version of Japan is as beautiful as ever and her writing adds depth and detail to the picturesque scenery carried through all her novels.

I really enjoyed how Hearn stayed true to her multi-character storytelling. Though the story was Shigeru's, I appreciated the chapters devoted to mysterious Tribe members Muto Kenji and Muto Shizuka, and also the background of Lady Maruyama Naomi and the members of the Hidden. Heaven's Net is Wide would be a great starting place for those new to the Otori series, but it is equally enjoyable as the final book in the Tales - bringing the story full circle to where it all began.

This book is up there with the many great books I've read - and I've read a few. Of course it's all down to opinion and taste but I found this book magnificently written - so well written I can't describe it with the acclaim it deserves. It is a HIGHLY, HIGHLY underatted book.

As I had read the first two books in the Tales Of the Otori Trilogy, when the prequel came out I decided to read the series from the start (From the prequel to the trilogy to the sequel). This proved to be a good decision as I (and I know this is very cliched) just couldn't put the book down! Because I had read the first couple of books and knew the characters - or for that matter of past characters that died before book one, to be able to read of things discussed in the trilogy actually happening before my eyes (because that's how well it is written) was an absolute treat.

But what I marvelled at most, was how well Hearn planned out the series. I just could not believe that events fell into place so well at exactly the right time, in exactly the right places.

Hearn creates a world where there are animals you'd find in from Europe to Asia to the Americas. There is talk of creatures like Goblins and Demons aswell as Spirits and Gods of various elements all set in feudal, mythical Japan with a magnificent touch of ancient history - of warlords and clans, of religions and beliefs, and of the struggle the women had and the dominance of the men.

Yet it is written and described quite subtly so that the loyalist of fantasy fans will enjoy it alongside the firm general fiction readers.

I suggest you read the trilogy and also if you want, the sequel first, so you can get the sense of appreciation for Lian Hearn's work and get an even more amazing read out of such and underated tale.

I believe this book alogside the trilogy and sequel, although it has some sex scenes, would be suitable for boys and girls, men and women alike above the age of 12.

Lian Hearn has created a world. It resembles Japan in the 16th century, but with added imaginary elements. The writing is exquisite - elegant, precise, rich and evocative. Once you start reading the Tales of the Otori you don't want to quit.

The ability to project yourself into a different personality set in a different culture and period, and do it convincingly and movingly - that is the mark of a very good writer indeed!

After reading the first four books-- Across the Nightingale Floor, Grass for His Pillow, and Brilliance of the Moon, Harsh Cry of the Heron (which, truth must be told, I don't know if I could read again... I got too angry at the end... Stupid Kaede!)-- I fell in love with the world and the characters. Heaven's Net is Wide is a MOST welcome expansion upon the character and story of Shigeru. He had been somewhat of an enigma in the first book- we never quite knew what he was thinking- but HNiW explains his personality and actions beautifully.

The fact that I can't reread Harsh Cry of the Heron because it is literally too painful speaks volumes for the author's abilities, and Heaven's Net is Wide definitely showcases those abilities as well. Both books made me feel for the characters so acutely it translated into real physical anguish. I knew, from reading the other four Tales of the Otori books, what would ultimately occur, and in Heaven's Net is Wide, I could see the characters make the decisions that would put them on the path to that end, and it nearly killed me. I actually found myself yelling at the book a couple times, as ridiculous as that sounds.

In all, a very well executed return to the beginning of the events in the Tales of the Otori series. Most definitely recommended.