Hits and Misses

I finished the Genghis Khan trilogy by Conn Iggulden. Bones of the Hills is as excellent as its two predecessors and I unhesitatingly recommend it especially, of course, to afficionados of historical fiction. Iggulden's books lead inevitably to the main recommendation in his bibliography.

John Man's Genghis Khan is beautifully illustrated and I am already enthralled by even the introduction. I would be surprised if I do not end up in Ulan Bataar in the next five years.

Much less enthralling was Warrior of Rome by Harry Sidebottom. I could not cope with more than 30 pages of its awkward prose and, with so many books to read, I did not care to persevere. The author is probably an excellent academic and even an esteemed mentor but remains self -consciously don like in a manner which does not at all suit historical fiction. He should avoid slipping in and out of Greek and Latin and thus remove the clumsy obstacles of explanation which litter and hinder his text.

In The Company Of Heroes - Michael J Durant

I am not normally much swayed by the whole God, country, family thing. My feeling is that, if you are in the armed services you are doing voluntarily what you are paid to do. As far as heroism it is sometimes a fine line between true courage and a foolhardiness which betrays perhaps some sort of psychological deficiency.

I am not for a moment saying that I could emulate any of the feats described in countless volumes of combat past and more recent. Nor would I put myself in harm's way at the behest of politicians who all too often and especially recently, have been shown in their true colours.
Neverthless Durant's tale written as a collaboration with Steven Hartov is a gripping and extremely well written account of his capture and imprisonment in the aftermath of the famous Blackhawk Down incident in Somalia. The device of looking back at Durant's previous missions serves to enhance the perspective of the main narrative.

In an interview during his captivity even the career militarist Durant lets slip (inadvertently) his doubts about the direction of events in Somalia at the time. For a man of his obvious intellect and analytical capability it is all the more surprising that he turns during his confinement to God who, as a fictional character, was neither responsible for his predicament nor was going to release him from it.

Read the book; form your own thoughts about the nature of politically motivated military action and the heroism often associated with it.

Mitch Albom - A Rare Talent

Read with confidence any book by Mitch Albom. I read “The Five People You Meet In Heaven” and was captivated. I read “Tuesdays With Morrie” and was quietly moved.

Now “For One More Day” has reached my lap. I was engaged from the first words of first person narrative. You know the phrase “page turner”; this is the kind of book whose pages turn themselves. I can’t wait for the end but know that, when it comes, I shall have to read something lesser.

The Last Theorem - Finished But Not Solved

Why did Clarke and Pohl write this book? Because they could? I have not read any Pohl before and have, of course, read much Clarke and I doubt that this slightly faltering story is truly in either of their established styles. Before I go too far I should say I did, on balance, enjoy the book but, on critical examination, one wonders what holds it all together. It is apparently a vehicle for Pohl to display his inevitable mathematical knowledge and for Clarke to expound some ideas already documented elsewhere (Skyhook/Space Elevator; solar racing (with the same outcome)).

However, even as it reaches its rather open ending - it is not a conclusion - it remains a tale of hope for the human race, one in which we don't do everything badly. It is a bit much however, to imagine that we might ever develop suffciently to take over from the Grand Galactics.

Parallel

This post is not about a specific book but about where I am at the moment. I rarely have as much time as I would like to read unless I am on holiday.

I frequently read more than one book at a time. At this time, I am reading Chasing Darkness by Robert Crais but finding the main protagonist a rather muted shadow of his former self. I could not wait to start to the excellent The Last Theorem and am waiting for the Grand Galactics (or more accurately the One Point Fives) to arrive to destroy us.

My mandatory non-fiction of the moment is Young Stalin by Simon Sebag Montefiore. Well written but substantial, it's completion is logical before I move on to The Court of the Red Tsar, already on my shelf.

The Last Theorem - Arthur C Clarke, Frederik Pohl

Wow! I am excited about this one just from the synopsis. Watch out for the review. I am busy with Robert Crais at the moment.

The Overlook - Michael Connelly

It's difficult to go wrong with Michael Connelly a consistently excellent author.

Harry Bosch is a compelling character you try to visualise. I have not yet succeeded but I like the character. In The Overlook the action unfolds at quite some pace. The story's premise allows a justified sideswipe at some of our post 9/11 pre-occupations.

I felt a little short changed with my UK paperback version as it contains an extract of the next story and a strangely conceived "interview" between the author and his protagonist. These reduce somewhat the number of pages occupied by the story but it was a good straight through read and I will move on with "The Brass Verdict".

Child 44 - Tom Rob Smith

This debut novel set in the Soviet Union of Stalin and Kruschev is near faultless. An intriguing crime thriller in its own right, the fast paced story is embedded in a grim but captivating historical context.

The odds faced by the main protagonist were the odds faced in reality by millions for years of senseless oppression and the novel whilst entertaining serves as an important reminder of one of history's most disturbing periods.

I am already looking forward to Smith's 2nd, The Secret Speech in which Leo Demidov continues his travails.