Savage Reviews
I18 (violence to sacred cows, harsh language, and adult sensibilities) The intellectually challenged are strongly cautioned. The good, the bad, and the ugly. Usually, these reviews concern specific books; sometimes they don't. They're in alphabetical order by the author's last name. Note for the squeamish: I don't believe in taking prisoners. I do, however, shoot the wounded. You can buy these books securely on the net through Powell's Books.
Last Updates:
- 2003 Annual Review
- Tolkein (Jackson), The Return of the King (31 December 2003)
- Dumpster Diving (27 December 2003) also available in main index
- Cover Slugs (07 December 2003) also available in main index
- Award Recommendations (updated through 2003)
Total Items Reviewed (including Slugs and the Dumpster): 134
Other Recommendations (in passing and on the Basic Bookshelf): 219
Visitors since that bright cold day in April when the clocks were striking thirteen:
25773
Ratings
 |
5 Stars | Outstanding; future classic, should win multiple awards | Top 1% |
 |
4½ Stars | Excellent, award candidate; should be a finalist for multiple awards | Top 2–3% |
 |
4 Stars | Excellent; no substantial flaws, although tastes may differ | Top 10% |
 |
3½ Stars | Very Good; slightly flawed | Top 10–15% |
 |
3 Stars | Good; solid book worth reading | Top 20% |
 |
2½ Stars | Almost good; generally solid, but seriously flawed | Bottom 80% |
 |
2 Stars | Mediocre; may have a well-hidden redeeming feature | Bottom 70% |
 |
1½ Stars | Almost mediocre; don't bother this time | Bottom 30% |
 |
1 Star | Bad; don't bother | Bottom 25% |
 |
½ Star | Really Bad; eviscerate the clerk who sold you this one | Bottom 10% |
 |
Ugly; readers—and dead trees—deserve better | Bottom 5% |
Reviews
The context for these reviews is fiction published in English since 1968, regardless of genre, gender, country of origin, publisher, marketing success, "serious intent," or theme. (As the estimated percentages indicate, there's a lot of dreck out there.) Sometimes, a work will fall between these rough indicators, particularly at the top end of the scale.
These reviews are not like those in Masterplots. Plot is only a small part of a book; it's usually the only part the marketing copy (on the book or online) comes close to representing accurately. Current "writerly" theory holds that there are only six (or eight, or thirty-six, or in any event some limited number) plot structures anyway. While that's flat wrong and a vast oversimplification, I'm still not going to waste our time on plot summaries except when absolutely necessary. Here are my diatribe on reviewing published works and my discussion of "plot".
| Item Reviewed | Date | Type | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 In Review | 26 Dec 98 |
 |
Good (3) |
| 1999 In Review | 28 Dec 99 |
|
Mediocre (2) |
| 2000 In Review | 31 Dec 00 |
|
Mediocre (2) |
| 2001 In Review | 29 Dec 01 |
|
Almost Mediocre (1½) |
| 2002 In Review | 22 Jan 03 |
|
Mediocre (2) |
| 2003 In Review | 19 Jan 04 |
|
Almost Good (2½) |
| Award Recommendations lists my recommendations for award consideration. Currently, this covers through 2003. | 19 Jan 04 |
 |
|
| The Basic Bookcase is a general listing of essential works that should be part of any good speculative fiction collection. | 12 May–12 Sep 1999 |
|
|
|
Dumpster Diving
is reserved for short
reviews of material found in the dumpster (also available in main index).
If the marketing dorks had read the books and were even marginally
intellectually honest, these are what would go on the cover of books rated from (Almost Good) down to (Really Bad). Toxic waste (no stars) will continue to get individual reviews. Rearranged in December
2001 to include only the less-than-good material; the more generous short reviews are now in Cover Slugs.
Last entry: 27 Dec 03 |
|||
|
Cover Slugs is
a collection of short reviews, somewhat more positive than those in Dumpster Diving (also available in main
index). These are what I believe should be on the cover instead of
marketing pablum written by some marketing dork who hasn't read the [unbelievably foul and offensive
expletives deleted] book. The more-positive reviews— (good) and above—that formerly resided in Dumpster Diving have been moved here as of
December 2001.
Last entry: 30 Apr 03 |
|||
|
Alama, Pauline J. (2002)
The Eye of Night New York: Bantam Spectra |
19 Mar 03 | Novel Dive |
Bad (1) |
|
Banks, Iain M. (2001)
Look to Windward New York: Pocket |
13 Apr 01 | Novel Dive |
Almost Good (2½) |
|
Barry, Max (2003)
Jennifer Government New York: Doubleday |
15 May 03 | Novel Dive |
Mediocre (2) |
|
Bishop, Michael (2000)
Blue Kansas Sky Urbana, IL: Golden Gryphon |
28 Feb 01 | Collection |
Excellent (4) |
|
Bradley, Marion Zimmer, ed. (1999)
Sword and Sorceress XVI New York: DAW |
09 Nov 99 | Anthology |
Mediocre (2) |
|
Britain, Kristen (1998)
Green Rider New York: DAW |
13 Mar 99 | Novel |
Good (3) |
|
Butler, Octavia E. (1998)
Parable of the Talents New York: Seven Stories |
04 Jan 99 | Novel |
Excellent (4½) Award candidate |
|
Card, Orson Scott (1999)
Enchantment New York: Del Rey |
16 Apr 99 | Novel |
Excellent (4½) Award candidate |
|
Card, Orson Scott (1999)
Ender's Shadow New York: Tor |
02 Sep 99 | Novel |
Very good (3½) |
|
Card, Orson Scott (2001)
Shadow of the Hegemon New York: Tor |
07 Jan 01 | Novel |
Very Good (3½) |
|
Card, Orson Scott
Various works |
26 Nov 98 Updated 29 May 01 |
Author Retrospective |
|
|
Carroll, Jonathan (2001)
The Wooden Sea New York: Tor |
15 Apr 01 | Novel |
Excellent (4) |
|
Cast, P.C. (2002)
Goddess By Mistake Tulsa, OK: HAWK Publishing |
15 Mar 02 | Novel Dive |
Really Bad (½) |
|
Christian, Deborah (2000)
The Truthsayer's Apprentice New York: St. Martin's |
14 Jul 00 | Novel Dive |
Almost Mediocre (1½) |
|
Clough, Brenda (2000)
Doors of Death and Life New York: Tor |
09 Oct 00 | Novel |
Excellent (4) |
|
Datlow, Ellen, and Terri Windling, eds. (1999) Silver Birch, Blood Moon New York: Avon |
04 Jul 99 | Anthology |
Excellent (4) |
|
David, Peter (2001)
Sir Apropos of Nothing New York: Pocket |
02 Dec 01 | Novel |
Very good (3½) |
|
de Lint, Charles (1998)
Someplace to Be Flying New York: Tor |
16 May 98 | Novel |
Excellent (4) |
|
de Lint, Charles (2002)
The Onion Girl New York: Tor |
09 May 02 | Novel Slug |
Very Good (3½) |
|
Dozois, Gardner, ed. (1998)
The Year's Best Science Fiction (15th Annual Collection) New York: St. Martin's |
21 Jun 98 | Anthology |
Excellent (4) |
|
Elliott, Kate (1999)
The Burning Stone New York: DAW |
02 Jun 99 | Novel |
Good (3) |
|
Ellison, Harlan (1997)
Slippage New York: Houghton Mifflin |
02 Apr 98 | Collection |
Excellent (4) |
|
Feintuch, David (1997)
The Seafort Saga New York: Warner Aspect |
16 Feb 00 | ISFS Dive |
Bad (1) |
|
Fforde, Jasper (2003)
Lost in a Good Book New York: Penguin |
30 Apr 03 | Novel Slug |
Good (3) |
|
Flint, Eric (2000) 1632 New York: Baen |
28 May 00 | Novel |
Good (3) |
|
Foy, George (2001)
The Last Harbor New York: Bantam Spectra |
01 Jan 02 | Novel Dive |
Almost Good (2½) |
|
Gaiman, Neil (2001)
American Gods New York: Morrow |
18 Jul 01 | Novel |
Excellent (4) |
|
Grimsley, Jim (2000)
Kirith Kirin Atlanta: Meisha Merlin |
11 Jan 01 | Novel Dive |
Almost Mediocre (1½) |
|
Haldeman, Joe (1997)
Forever Peace New York: Ace |
28 Apr 99 | Novel |
Excellent (4) |
|
Hambly, Barbara (1998)
Icefalcon's Quest New York: Del Rey |
24 Mar 98 | Novel |
Good (3) |
|
Harlan, Thomas (1999) The Shadow of Ararat New York: Tor |
27 Jul 99 | Novel |
Good (3) |
|
Harris, Joanne (1999)
Chocolat New York: Viking |
24 Mar 99 | Novel |
Good (3) |
|
Harris, Thomas (2000)
Hannibal New York: St. Martin's Press |
17 Mar 00 | Novel Dive |
Bad (1) |
|
Hartwell, David G., ed. (1998)
Year's Best SF 3 New York: HarperPrism |
30 Aug 98 | Collection |
Good (3) |
|
Hemry, John (2003)
A Just Determination New York: Ace |
23 Oct 03 | Novel |
Very good (3½) |
|
Herbert, Brian, and Kevin J. Anderson (1999)
Dune: House Atreides New York: Bantam |
02 Nov 99 | Novel |
Mediocre (2) |
|
Hobb, Robin (1998)
Ship of Magic New York: Bantam |
30 May 98 | Novel |
Mediocre (2) |
|
Irvine, Ian (2001)
The Shadow on the Glass New York: Warner Aspect |
13 Dec 01 | Novel Dive |
Almost Good (2½) |
|
Jones, Diana Wynne (1996, first US 1998)
The Tough Guide to Fantasyland New York: DAW |
26 Nov 98 | Lampoon |
Excellent (4) |
|
Jones, Diana Wynne (1998)
Dark Lord of Derkholm New York: Greenwillow (Morrow) |
11 Jul 99 | Novel ("YA") |
Good (3) |
|
Keyes, J. Gregory (1998)
Newton's Cannon New York: Del Rey |
14 Oct 98 | Novel |
Good (3) |
|
Kress, Nancy (1998)
Maximum Light New York: Tor |
10 Apr 98 | Novel |
Good (3) |
|
Kritzer, Naomi (2002, 2002)
Fires of the Faithful and Turning the Storm New York: Bantam Spectra |
19 Jan 03 | Novel |
Excellent (4) |
|
Lackey, Mercedes (1998)
Oathblood New York: DAW |
01 Jul 98 | Collection |
Almost good (2½) |
|
Lackey, Mercedes (2000)
Owlknight New York: DAW |
15 Feb 00 | Novel Dive |
Bad (1) |
|
Le Guin, Ursula K. (2003)
Changing Planes New York: Harcourt |
07 Dec 03 | Collection Slug |
Excellent (4) |
|
Le Guin. Ursula K. (film, 2002)
Lathe of Heaven [Alan Sharp, Philip Haas, et al.] New York: Arts & Entertainment Channel |
14 Sep 02 | Film |
Almost mediocre (1½) |
|
Le Guin, Ursula K. (2001) The Other Wind New York: Harcourt |
18 Sep 01 | Novel |
Excellent (4½) Award candidate |
|
Le Guin, Ursula K. (2001) Tales From Earthsea New York: Harcourt |
07 May 01 | Collection |
Excellent (4½) Award candidate |
|
Le Guin, Ursula K.
Various works. |
11 Nov 98 Updated 29 May 01 |
Author Retrospective |
|
|
Lisle, Holly (2000)
Courage of Falcons [The Secret Texts 3] New York: Warner Aspect |
14 Nov 00 | Novel Dive |
Mediocre (2) |
|
Lucas, George (1999)
Star Wars: Episode I: The Phantom Menace Los Angeles: Fox |
14 Jun 99 | Film |
Mediocre (2) |
|
M'Caffrey, Anne (1998)
The MasterHarper of Pern New York: Del Rey |
21 Mar 98 | "Novel" |
Ugly (0) |
|
McGarry, Terry (2001)
Illumination New York: Tor |
24 Feb 02 | Novel Slug |
Excellent (4) |
|
McMullen, Sean (1999) Souls in the Great Machine New York: Tor |
28 Mar 00 | Novel |
Excellent (4) |
|
Marillier, Juliet (2000) Daughter of the Forest New York: Tor |
24 Jul 98 | Novel |
Bad (1) |
|
Martin, George R.R. (2000) A Storm of Swords (A Song of Fire and Ice III) New York: Bantam Spectra |
31 Dec 00 | Novel |
Excellent (4½) Award candidate |
|
Mixon, Laura J. (1998)
Proxies New York: Tor |
11 Dec 98 | Novel |
Good (3) |
|
Modesitt, Jr., L.E. (1997–98)
The Spellsong Cycle [The Soprano Sorceress, The Spellsong War] New York: Tor |
06 May 98 | Novels |
Bad (1) |
|
Moon, Elizabeth (2003) The Speed of Dark New York: Ballantine |
08 Mar 03 | Novel |
Excellent (4½) Award candidate |
|
Morrow, James (1999)
The Eternal Footman New York: Harcourt Brace |
29 Feb 00 | Novel |
Good (3) |
|
Morse, David. (1998)
The Iron Bridge New York: Harcourt Brace |
19 Jul 98 | Novel |
Mediocre (2) |
|
Moscoe, Mike (1999) The First Casualty New York: Ace |
20 Nov 99 | Novel |
Good (3) |
|
Orwell, George (film, 1999)
Animal Farm [Robert Halmi, Sr., Greg Smith, et al.] Atlanta: Turner Entertainment Networks |
03 Oct 99 | Film |
Bad (1) |
|
Powers, Richard (2000) Plowing the Dark New York: Farrar, Straus, & Giroux |
02 Jul 00 | Novel |
Excellent (4½) Award candidate |
|
Pullman, Philip (2000) The Amber Spyglass (His Dark Materials, Book III) New York: Knopf |
11 Nov 00 | Novel |
Excellent (4) |
|
Pullman, Philip (2003)
Lyra's Oxford New York: Knopf |
13 Nov 03 | Novel Slug |
Very Good (3½) |
|
Robinson, Kim Stanley (1998)
Antarctica New York: Bantam |
24 Jul 98 | Novel |
Excellent (4) |
| Rose, M.J.,
and Angela Adair-Hoy (2001)
How to Publish and Promote Online Cincinnati: Writer's Digest |
26 May 01 | "Reference" |
Ugly (0) |
|
Rowling, J.K. (1998, first US 1999)
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets [Book 2] New York: Arthur A. Levine/Scholastic (1999) |
22 Jun 99 | Novel |
Excellent (4) |
|
Rowling, J.K. (2003)
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix [Book 5] New York: Arthur A. Levine/Scholastic (2003) |
21 Jun 03 | Novel |
Excellent (4) |
|
Rowling, J.K. (film, 2001)
Harry Potter and the Sorceror's Stone Los Angeles: Warner |
18 Nov 01 | Film |
Very Good (3½) |
|
Rushdie, Salman (1999)
The Ground Beneath Her Feet New York: Holt |
02 Jun 99 | Novel |
Good (3) |
|
Russell, Mary Doria (1996)
The Sparrow New York: Villard |
26 Apr 98 | Novel |
Outstanding (5) |
|
Russell, Mary Doria (1998)
Children of God New York: Villard |
11 Nov 98 | Novel |
Excellent (4) |
|
Russell, Sean (1998)
The Compass of the Soul New York: DAW |
14 Oct 98 | Novel |
Excellent (4) |
|
Russell, Sean (2001)
The One Kingdom New York: Eos |
29 Mar 01 | Novel |
Very Good (3½) |
|
Russell, Sean (2002)
The Isle of Battle New York: Eos |
05 Oct 02 | Novel Slug |
Excellent (4) |
|
Sawyer, Robert J. (1997)
Illegal Alien New York: Ace |
14 Jan 99 | Novel |
Good (3) |
|
Scott, Melissa,
and Lisa A. Barnett (2001)
Point of Dreams New York: Tor |
08 Mar 01 | Novel |
Very Good (3½) |
|
Seuss, Dr. (film, 2000)
Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas [Ron Howard, Brian Glazer, et al.] Los Angeles: Universal/Imagine |
25 Nov 00 | Film |
Almost Mediocre (1½) |
|
Sheffield, Charles (1999) Starfire New York: Bantam |
26 May 00 | Novel |
Good (3) |
|
Silverberg, Robert (1998)
The Alien Years New York: HarperPrism |
14 Oct 98 | Novel |
Good (3) |
|
Simmons, Dan (1989–97)
The Hyperion Cantos [Hyperion, The Fall of Hyperion, Endymion, The Rise of Endymion] |
18 Apr 98 | Novels |
Outstanding (5) |
|
Smith, Kristine (1999) Code of Conduct New York: Avon Eos |
22 Nov 99 | Novel |
Excellent (4½) Award candidate |
|
Smith, Kristine (2000) Rules of Conflict New York: Eos |
16 Sep 00 | Novel |
Excellent (4) |
|
Smith, Kristine (2001)
Law of Survival New York: Eos |
13 Dec 01 | Novel Slug |
Excellent (4) |
|
Spinrad, Norman (14 Aug 00)
Greenhouse Summer New York: Tor |
14 Aug 01 | Novel Slug |
Good (3) |
|
Steele, Allen (2003)
Coyote New York: Ace |
19 Mar 03 | Novel Slug |
Excellent (4) |
|
Strauss, Victoria (1999) The Garden of the Stone New York: Avon Eos |
25 Dec 99 | Novel |
Excellent (4) |
|
Tepper, Sheri S. (1998)
Six Moon Dance New York: Avon Eos |
03 Aug 98 | Novel |
Good (3) |
|
Tepper, Sheri S. (2001)
The Fresco New York: HarperCollins |
30 Apr 01 | Novel Dive |
Almost Mediocre (1½) |
|
Tolkein, J.R.R. (film, 2001)
The Fellowship of the Ring Los Angeles: New Line |
22 Dec 01 | Film |
Very Good (3½) |
|
Tolkein, J.R.R. (film, 2002)
The Two Towers Los Angeles: New Line |
22 Dec 02 | Film |
Very Good (3½) |
|
Tolkein, J.R.R. (film, 2003)
The Return of the King Los Angeles: New Line |
31 Dec 03 | Film |
Good (3) |
|
Turow, Scott (2002)
Reversible Errors New York: FS&G |
12 Jan 03 | Novel Slug |
Excellent (4) |
|
Turtledove, Harry (2003)
Gunpowder Empire (Crosstime Traffic, Book 1) New York: Tor |
27 Dec 03 | Novel (YA?) Dive |
Mediocre (2) |
|
Varhola, Michael J.,
et al. (1999)
The Writer's Complete Fantasy Reference Cincinnati: Writer's Digest |
16 Feb 99 | "Reference" |
Ugly (0) |
|
Wharton, Ken (2002)
Divine Intervention New York: Ace |
24 Feb 02 | Novel Slug |
Excellent (4) |
|
Williams, Liz (2002)
Empire of Bones New York: Bantam Spectra |
15 Jul 98 | Novel |
Good (3) |
|
Wurts, Janny (2000)
The Wars of Light and Shadow New York: DAW |
15 May 00 | Novel Dive |
Really Bad (1/2) |
|
Zettel, Sarah (2000)
The Quiet Invasion New York: Warner Aspect |
14 Jun 00 | Novel Dive |
Mediocre (2) |
|
Zettel, Sarah (2001)
Kingdom of Cages New York: Warner Aspect |
02 Dec 01 | Novel Dive |
Almost Good (2½) |
|
Zettel, Sarah (2002)
A Sorceror's Treason New York: Tor |
04 Jun 01 | Novel |
Very good (3½) |
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