Invasive Procedures by Orson Scott Card and Aaron Johnston

Invasive Procedures
by Orson Scott Card and Aaron Johnston

Adult Science Fiction
352 pages, hardcover
Target reader: Adults

Tor Books
978-0765314246
Release date: September 18, 2007



From the publisher:

George Galen is a brilliant scientist, a pioneer in gene therapy. But Galen is dangerously insane – he has created a method to alter human DNA, not just to heal diseases, but to “improve” people – make them stronger, make them able to heal more quickly, and make them compliant to his will.

Frank Hartman is also a brilliant virologist, working for the government’s ultra-secret bio-hazard agency. He has discovered how to neutralize Galen’s DNA-changing virus, making him the one man who stands in the way of Galen’s plan to "improve" the entire human race.

Read chapter 1.

I am a hard-core Orson Scott Card fan. I own most of his books, in hardback. I have read many of his books multiple times. There are some that I like more than others, but pretty much, when a new Card book comes out, I just go ahead and buy it in hardback because I know I'm going to love it. So, it is with great sadness that I have to say I did not love Invasive Procedures.

Although the book has Card's name as the most prominent feature on the front cover, and while it is based on one of Card's short stories, and even though he states in the Afterword that this book was a collaborative effort—if you've read much of Orson Scott Card, you will notice right away that this book does not have the feel, the depth, the intensity of his other books.

The concept isn't bad—in fact, it's pretty intriguing. But that's where the really good stuff ends. The characters are flat. The dialog is off. The tension and the compelling nature of Card's writing just isn't there. It's like a good joke being told by an amateur—the timing is not right.

There are also a lot of mistakes. Not just typos, but double words and words in the wrong order. Almost every book has a few of these, but this one has way too many. It's not up to either Card's or TOR's usual standard. However, I could overlook these, if it weren't for some glaring content errors.

For example, in the beginning of the book (p. 48), Frank Hartman makes a big deal of how the counter-virus serum is RED because it STOPS the virus. Then at the end of the book (p. 327), when the serum is administered to someone, it's GREEN. What??

Another example (starting on p. 327) is when the good guys are lined up with their hands tied behind their backs. Hernandez has Byron put the helmet of his biosuit on so she can talk to him through the com link. He does. Then she tells him to take the helmet back off before someone notices it. He does. THEN she cuts the cords binding his hands. WHAT??

I am so disappointed. If you're a Card fan or you like near-future bio-based sci-fi, you'll probably want to read this book regardless of what I've said about it. And truthfully, it's not so completely bad that you'll want to poke your eyes out with a fork. But it's just not what we've come to expect from something that says Orson Scott Card on the front cover. Definitely check this one out from the library; don't buy it.

I reluctantly give this book 3 out of 5.

Plot:

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Ending:

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Content Ratings

Language: There may be some swearing. I can't remember.

Violence: Some violence.

Drugs/Alcohol:

Immorality:

Values/Themes:

Age Appropriate: For adults or older teens.

Writing Mechanics: See comments above.


© 2010 It's a Book Affair

Armageddon's Children by Terry Brooks

Armageddon's Children (Genesis of Shannara, book 1)
by Terry Brooks

Adult/YA Fantasy
416 pages, softcover
Target reader: 14+

Del Rey
978-0345484109
Release date: July 31, 2007



From the publisher:

Logan Tom is doomed to remember the past and determined to rescue the future. Far behind him lies a boyhood cut violently short by his family’s slaughter, when the forces of madness and hate swept our world after decadent excesses led to civilization’s downfall. Somewhere ahead of him rests the only chance to beat back the minions of evil that are systematically killing and enslaving the last remnants of humanity. Navigating the scarred and poisoned landscape that once was America and guided by a powerful talisman, Logan has sworn an oath to seek out a remarkable being born of magic, possessed of untold abilities, and destined to lead the final fight against darkness.

Read Chapter 1.

I love Terry Brooks. I know lots of people love the Shannara books, but not so much the Word and the Void series. I love them both. This series, Genesis of Shannara, connects the two.

Armageddon's Children begins more than 100 years after Nest Freemark (Word and the Void series) lived and died. We pick up with Logan Tom, a Knight of the Word, as he travels across the country looking for the gypsy morph who was Nest's son. We meet Angel Perez, another Knight of the Word, who has been charged with saving children from various cities that are falling to the demons. We're also introduced to the Elves and the Ellcrys, which figures prominently in the Shannara books. Another story line centers around Hawk and his group of street children as they try to survive on their own in the deserted city of Seattle. This is the most compelling story line in the book, as these children battle demons and Freaks for survival.

I love the way Brooks gets us involved in the characters, how he reveals their past through a series of flashbacks. Most of the time, I don't like a lot of flashbacks, but these work. There is no huge surprise when Brooks finally links the characters and story lines together at the end of the book, but it does leave you wondering what is going to happen next in the series.

The Shannara books are generally considered YA, at least, The Sword of Shannara is. The Word and the Void series is more adult. This series has aspects that appeal to both teens and adults. There is violence. There are fake swear words. The demons are pretty evil and creepy, so I don't recommend this to readers who have nightmares easily. But if you're a Brooks fan, I don't think you'll be disappointed.

I give this book 4.5 out of 5.

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Content Ratings

Language: There may be some swearing. I can't remember.

Violence: There is some violence. Parents may want to read this book first.

Drugs/Alcohol:

Immorality:

Values/Themes:

Age Appropriate:

Writing Mechanics:


© 2010 It's a Book Affair

Secrets in Zarahemla by Sariah S. Wilson

Secrets in Zarahemla (out of print)
by Sariah S. Wilson

LDS Historical Romance
246 pages, softcover
Target reader: LDS teens & adults

Covenant Communications
978-1598111194
Release date: January 2007



From the publisher:

As she hangs upside-down in a hunter’s snare, Kiah feels a wave of fear as her captor comes into view. By his looks, as appealing as they are, the tall Lamanite is the mortal enemy of Kiah and her people. She can’t hope that her father, Captain Moroni, and his Nephite soldiers will rescue her—the strong-willed young woman has wandered well beyond the safe borders of Zarahemla. However, she is determined to use her warrior training to fight the Lamanite called Jeran until the end, no matter how hopeless the odds.

Secrets in Zarahemla was a stretch book for me because it's a romance and "traditional" romance is not my favorite genre.

Okay, here are my issue with romances. I just don't believe them. I don't believe people fall in love at first sight. I don't believe a strong relationship can develop in a matter of days. I don't believe all the fainting and sighing and does-he-love-me-or-not junk. Since this is the currency of romance, I spend most of my reading time rolling my eyes and making retching noises.

While reading Secrets in Zarahemla, I think I only rolled my eyes once and I don't remember making a single retching noise. While there was plenty of pounding heartbeats, stolen glances and almost kisses in this book, there was also mystery, suspense and action—enough to distract me from the mushy stuff. It wasn't a bad read.

Wilson did a good job with her characters—they were believable. I liked Kiah. She is strong and tough with a mind of her own. Nothing wishy-washy about her, no fainting or sighing. I liked Jeran. I believed in his motivations, his actions. I believed their relationship—the way it developed. We spent some time with them before they started with all the lovey-dovey stuff, and they had some substance. I could see why they would be attracted to each other.

I liked the way Wilson's bad guys, specifically Corahan, changed, the way he made choices that took him farther and farther into the darkness. I also liked the way she gave her supporting characters personality and believable motivation.

Even though the LDS fiction market is so small that there is not always a distinction between YA and adult fiction, I consider this a YA novel. As such, there are a couple of places parents might want to be aware of—there is some violence (there is a war going on, after all) and an attempted rape, but I felt it was handled very discreetly. I'm not one who feels we need to completely shelter our children from the bad things of the world. Forewarned is forearmed. I did not find these passages at all offensive and would be completely comfortable recommending it to mature 12 year olds, and anyone 14+.

I give this book a 4 out of 5.

Plot:

Characters:

Ending:

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Content Ratings

Language:

Violence: Some violence and an attempted rape. Handled discreetly.

Drugs/Alcohol:

Immorality:

Values/Themes:

Age Appropriate: For adults or older teens.

Writing Mechanics: A few inconsistencies in pacing, but not too distracting.


© 2010 It's a Book Affair

Specials by Scott Westerfeld

Specials (Uglies, Book 3)
Scott Westerfeld

Young Adult Dystopian Future
400 pages, softcover
Target Reader: 14+

Simon Pulse
978-1416947950
Release Date: September 11, 2007



From the publisher (contains spoilers if you haven't read Pretties):

Tally thought they were a rumor, but now she's one of them. A Special. A super-amped fighting machine, engineered to keep the uglies down and the pretties stupid.

But maybe being perfectly programmed with strength and focus isn't better than anything she's ever known. Tally still has memories of something else.

But it's easy for her to tune that out—until she's offered a chance to stamp out the revels of the New Smoke permanently. It all comes down to one last choice: listen to that tiny, faint heartbeat, or carryout the mission she's programmed to complete. Either way, Tally's world will never be the same.

Series books: Uglies (book 1), Pretties (book 2)

I was a little worried after finishing Pretties . I had really loved Uglies. Pretties was okay, but it seemed to unravel a bit and loose ends were left hanging. But as I said in my review, I was willing to withhold judgment until I had a chance to read this one.

Specials did not disappoint.

Being a Special is totally cool; but to be a Cutter, Dr. Cable's elite group of Specials, is even better. Specials are scary beautiful, very strong with reflexes so fast they're almost unbeatable. Tally and co. are sent to bring down the New Smoke and almost start a world war in the process. But as they hunt down the location of the New Smoke, the wild works its magic on Tally again. It changed her once; it's changing her again.

The pace is fast, a little faster than book 1. The pretty slang wasn't as annoying as in book 2. In fact, my daughter and I find ourselves using it on occasion. Westerfeld wraps up most of the loose ends from book 2. We meet up with Andrew Simpson Smith again. I would have liked more resolution (information) about his clan—like what happens to them—but the little bit we get is okay.

We revisit the cycle of friendship and betrayal between Shay and Tally, explore the relationship between Tally and Zane, catch up with David, and visit another city that is very different from Tally's.

There is a little bit more swearing in this book than in book 2, but compared to many teen books it's not so much. There is violence and people die. One of the deaths is particularly sad and I really didn't see it coming, but after considering it for a few days I guess I can see why Westerfeld wrote it that way.

There's a great quote in the last chapter: "You see, freedom has a way of destroying things." I thought it was great. Interestingly, Westerfeld says it's his most quoted phrase.

Some of the themes in this book are how our actions often have serious consequences that we never intended, and yet we're responsible for them all the same; how we stay the same inside, regardless of how often or how drastically we change our outsides; the Star Trek classic of the needs of the many outweighing the needs of the one. I also really liked the portrayal of Tally's struggle against her internal programming. We all face this struggle on some level, to overcome the programming of our past. All of this makes for some great conversations with teens.

I love this series.

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Ending:

Cover:



Content Ratings

Language: Some swearing.

Violence: There's some violent chase scenes. Some of the characters are cutters. This is a topic parents may want to discuss with their children.

Drugs/Alcohol: I can't remember why I gave this a yellow star. There must have been something that made me a little wary...

Immorality: Hints at relationships, but no real indication of sexuality.

Values/Themes:

Age Appropriate: Many adults will love this book too.

Writing Mechanics:

© 2010 It's a Book Affair