What CeciM Reads

Categorized SF/Fantasy book reviews

The Black Throne, by Fred Saberhagen and Roger Zelazny

pros: the authors; the story idea; story moves along quickly; twist on magic and parallel worlds; explanations for some of Poe’s elements in poems, like the tapping and the raven and the cask of Amontillado

cons: sketchy details; seems hastily written; not familiar with Poe’s body of work; resolution was weak

misc: Edgar Allan Poe; alcoholic; alcohol; ghost ship; sea voyage; balloon voyage; vortex; plague; dwarf; orangutang; zombie in wine box; very small wineglasses; sandcastle; alchemy
ISBN 0743435796; 288pp; pub. 2002
Amazon link
The Black Throne, by Saberhagen and Zelazny

September 19, 2007 Posted by | action, All book reviews, alternate identity, children, dark, fantasy, fast-paced, historical setting, magic, mercenaries/soldiers, mystery, necromancy, parallel worlds, sea or sea creatures, strong female, violence, zombies | Leave a comment

Dead Beat, by Jim Butcher

pros: the funniest Dresden files so far; incredible imagery; great gags and puns

cons: what’s going on with Thomas? that part was weak; the pathologist could have been fleshed out a bit more; the snail pace romance between Murphy and Dresden

ISBN 045146091X; 448 pp; pub. 2006

Dead Beat on Amazon

Dead Beat by Jim Butcher

June 28, 2007 Posted by | action, All book reviews, angels and/or demons, animals, dogs, faeries, fantasy, fast-paced, humor, magic, modern setting, Native American, parallel worlds, romance, series/trilogy, strong female, urban setting, vampire, voodoo, zombies | Leave a comment