Vulcan's Soul Book 3: Epiphany (2007)

Vulcan's Soul Book 3: Epiphany (2007)
("Star Trek" novel)
Josepha Sherman and Susan Shwartz
([LibraryThing] [Amazon])

Third book in the "Vulcan's Soul" trilogy (follows Exodus and Exiles). In this final novel in the Vulcan's Soul trilogy, we see the fate of Karatek and his people stranded and enslaved on the frozen half of the Romulan twin world, Remus, and also the origins of both the Remans and the Watraii. In the present, post-Dominion War Next Generation time frame, Ambassador Spock, Captain Saavik, and the others aboard the U.S.S. Alliance face a confrontation with not only the Watraii but also the Romulans over the ancient Romulan relic stolen by the Watraii and recovered by Spock and company. Adding to the situation is the kidnapping of the Romulan Praetor by the Watraii, to which Starfleet sends in Captain Picard and the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise-E to assist. Over the course of the novel, the connections between the various sub-plots (the "Memory" sections from the time of the Sundering and those in the present) become apparent. Opinion: best of the three (then, again, I'm a Star Trek: The Next Generation fan in general, so my interest picked up even more when Picard and company came into the story. The Karatek storyline gets better here, too, however, as it nears it's inevitable conclusion. There are even some somewhat interesting side chapters delving into the minds of the various high ranking Romulan and Federation political figures. However, there are also a few parts where it is not entirely clear just what is being referred to if one has not already read Sherman and Shwartz's earlier novels, Vulcan's Forge and Vulcan's Heart. (Finished reading 2/2/10)

Work Related Reading (Children's Books)

A Book (2009)
Mordicai Gerstein
([LibraryThing] [Amazon])

Children's picture book. (Finished reading 1/20/2010)

*****
How Oliver Olson Changed the World
Claudia Mills; pictures by Heather Maione
([LibraryThing] [Amazon])

Children's chapter book. (Finished reading 1/20/2010)


(Quick blog entry. May go back and add more details at a later date.)

Vulcan's Soul Book 2: Exiles (2006)

Vulcan's Soul Book 2: Exiles (2006)
("Star Trek" novel)
Josepha Sherman and Susan Schwartz
([LibraryThing] [Amazon])

Second book in the "Vulcan's Soul" trilogy (follows Exodus and continues in Epiphany). The two separate (but presumably related) stories begun in book one continue onward. The first, that of Karatek, his family, and contemporaries aboard the ships that thousands of years ago left their homeworld of Vulcan behind in what would later be referred to as "the Sundering". They eventually arrive at their new home. But, after surviving the many trials of the long voyage, Karatek and his family have one last betrayal to face upon their arrival. The second storyline, which takes place in the Star Trek: The Next Generation/Star Trek: Deep Space Nine 24th century time frame, follows Ambassador Spock, Captain Saavik, Captain Montgomery Scott, Lt. Commander Data, and Romulan expatrate Ruanek's attempt to rescue Admiral Chekov from the Watraii. (Finished reading 12/26/09)

Vulcan's Soul Book 1: Exodus (2004)

Vulcan's Soul Book 1: Exodus (2004)
("Star Trek" novel)
Josepha Sherman and Susan Schwartz
([LibraryThing] [Amazon])

First book in the "Vulcan's Soul" trilogy (is followed by Exiles and Epiphany). In the present day scenes, which take place within the Next Generation/Deep Space Nine time period just one year following the end of the Dominion War, the Romulan Empire is attacked by a mysterious race calling themselves the Watraii, who claim that the Romulan home planets of Romulus and Remus rightfully belong to them and not the Romulans. Ambassador Spock, Captain Saavik, Admiral Uhura, and Admiral Chekov work to resolve the situation, ultimately leading a fleet of vessels from various races confronting the Watraii before the latter can attack Romulus. The larger portion of the novel, however, follows events on Vulcan two thousand years earlier, just prior to the exodus of a segment of the greater population leaving their home planet in hopes of finding a planet to colonize so that at least some small portion of the Vulcan race might survive. Prominent characters in the flashback portions include a former physicist at the Vulcan Science Academy named Karatek who comes into contact with Surak--the radical philosopher and pacifist and father of the Vulcan logic movement--and who eventually becomes the reluctant leader of the Vulcans in exile (who eventually become the Romulans). The flashback portions take place from 280 A.D. to 380 A.D., while the present day scenes take place in the year 2377 (the Dominion War ended in late 2375), with a brief prologue that takes place soon following the Next Generation episode, "The Neutral Zone", in 2364, and a chapter showing Admiral Chekov's reaction to the start of the Dominion War in 2373. (Finished reading 9/14/09)

Augustus Green in the Lair of the Pye-a-Saw

Augustus Green in the Lair of the Pye-a-Saw (2009)
Thomas G. Lammers
([LibraryThing] [Missouri Botanical Garden Press])

A self-published, first novel (actually, more of a "novella" in length) by Lammers, an Associate Professor at the University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh. The author, a fervent botanist who has been to many exotic locales over the years, collecting samples, brings this wealth of knowledge and experience in his chosen field to good use in this tale of "Augustus Green", another botanist living at the very end of the 18th century in the still young United States. He and his guide, a French-Canadian named Jacques Blondin, venture into the then Spanish held territory which is now southeastern Iowa--then known as "northern Louisiana"--against the wishes of the Spanish Lieutenant-Governor over that area, Zenon Trudeau. Green makes many interesting botanical discoveries in the region, but soon finds himself more enthralled by the tale of the "Pye-a-Saw", a giant predatory bird which once menaced the Native Americans living there. Furthermore, rumors have spread that the Pye-a-Saw has actually returned. Green and Blondin become resolute to discover if this is indeed the case, and, if so, to bring down this monster before it can kill again. This entire tale is told via Green's journal of the expedition, discovered in the attic of a college administration building about to be demolished in 1948 (the novella's framing sequence). This first work of fiction by Dr. Lammers is an enjoyable read. Occasionally the botanical verbiage (the various scientific names of the various plants Green encounters) can become a bit distracting to someone not used to them (although they do add to the feeling of authenticity, that one is reading an actual journal kept recording such an expedition), and I couldn't help but wish that we could have seen an additional scene or two of Green and Blondin avoiding discovery by the Spanish authorities, however those are minor quibbles. I very much look forward to whatever future tales Dr. Lammers comes up with. (Note, being a self-published book, Augustus Green is not on Amazon, so I have put a link here to Missouri Botanical Garden Press instead, as they currently carry it.) (Finished reading 8/9/09)

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (2007)
J.K. Rowling
([LibraryThing] [Amazon])

Seventh (and final) book in the Harry Potter series. (I broke with my usual routine--which is to wait to read in the next book in the Harry Potter series right before going out and seeing the movie version--and went ahead and read Deathly Hallows immediately after finishing Half-Blood Prince. After all, this is the last of the series, and I didn't want to wait another year!) All I can say is that Rowling did a wonderful job finishing things up. Half-Blood Prince is a perfect tease, leading into this book, and Deathly Hallows definitely meets the expectations resulting from this. My favorite thing about Deathly Hallows is that it breaks the pattern Rowling has established in the first six books of how each book starts out. As indicated at the end of Half-Blood Prince, Harry and his friends Ron and Hermione do not go back to Hogwarts to attend their seventh year of studies. Instead, they embark upon a dangerous quest in order to bring down the defeat of Lord Voldemort, who has largely taken over things in the wizarding world (albeit behind the scenes). There are many exciting adventures (including infiltrating both the Ministry of Magic and Gringott's Wizarding Bank). Harry also visits, amongst other places, the house where he lived as a baby and where his parents were murdered by Voldemort, and his parents' graves. And, fear not, as one would expect, Hogwarts and the familiar professors do eventually appear in a significant section of the novel. This is a really meaty book--759 pages--with a lot going on and lots of characters, but Rowling manages to keep the reader engaged and wanting to know what will come next. I couldn't help but feel conflicted at times, both wanting to get to the big final battle while at the same time realizing that once I did then it would be all over. I can't remember the last novel series which kept me so enthralled right to the end of the final book like this. (Perhaps Timonthy Zahn's first Star Wars "Thrawn" trilogy of books: Heir to the Empire, Dark Force Rising, and The Last Command. No, more recently it probably be the Lord of the Rings trilogy, although I don't know if my excitement level for either of these was quite that as mine was while reading the final two Harry Potter books. (Finished reading 8/5/09)

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2005)
J.K. Rowling
([LibraryThing] [Amazon])

Sixth book in the Harry Potter series. (Read just prior to watching the movie version, as has been my custom with the previous Harry Potter books.) Harry and his friends return to Hogwarts for their sixth year. However, things are becoming very dire as Voldemore continues to work behind the scenes to reestablish his power base. Dumbledore takes a direct role in Harry instruction this year, sharing with Harry what is known of the dark lord's past. These flashbacks via the the magical device of Dumbledore's called the Pensieve are a focal part of this novel. At the same time, Ron and Hermione experience another rather sizable "bump in the road" in their relationship, while Harry starts to develop feelings for Ron's sister, Ginny. The pace of the book can seem a bit slow at times, especially with all of the Pensieve flashbacks, but once Voldemort's biggest, darkest secret is discovered and it is revealed what Dumbledore and Harry must do to defeat him, things really pick up fast. From a dangerous mission of just the two of them away from the school and back to the school again where the forces of Voldemort have infiltrated the school's defenses and are on the attack. Significant things happen in this installment in the series (including the death of a major character), and present an almost irresistible lead-in to the final, seventh, volume in the series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. (Finished reading 7/19/09)

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009) (Movie) (Opened in the U.S. 7/15/09; seen 7/19/09).

As the Harry Potter movies continue to come out, the directors and other movie makers seem to take more and more liberties with the novels in adapting them to film. This statement is not intended as a criticism, necessarily. After all, Rowlings Harry Potter novels (starting with the fourth one, in particular) are very long and some material obviously has to be omitted and/or reconfigured in order to work it all into standard length movies. The cast is once again very good in their roles, and the key elements of the novel are all there. However, I couldn't help but wonder at a few of the changes. For instance, the director chose to omit an entire sequence where Dumbledore comes to Harry's uncle and aunt's house in the beginning of the novel and discusses with them just how disappointed he is in that they have not treated Harry well over the years since Harry was first left in their care as a baby. Instead, in the movie we discover that Harry has been hanging around subways for most of the summer break, taking the trains from place to place. It is here that Dumbledore finds him. The movie also omits a good portion of the climax of the novel (a battle at Hogwarts involving many of the characters besides Harry and Dumbledore which is almost entirely omitted in the movie), and the funeral scene from the end of the novel that is very moving (and in which Harry also makes a decision regarding his newly burgeoning relationship with Ginny). It is questionable as to just why the director decided to leave these scenes out. (Well, the battle and funeral scenes would have taken a good deal of time and additional money to shoot as each has a lot of characters in it, but the movie would have been stronger with those scenes than without, in my opinion. And the introductory scene with Harry's aunt and uncle wouldn't have been all that much additional time, I don't believe.) Still, a very enjoyable movie, overall. As with the novel, the movie really whets one's appetite for the remaining installment, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (which the movie makers have decided to split into two separate movies in order to cover the novel more completely, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part One (due to be released in November 2010), and Part Two (July 2011).