Category: Sci Fi/fantasy - Alyce Caswell - Author

Alyce Caswell - Author

Much Ado About Nothing

1/10/2024

Dog Wizard (Windrose Chronicles #3)
by Barbara Hambly

After someone uses the Void to kidnap Joanna from our universe, Antryg throws himself on the mercy of the Council so that he can rescue her in his original universe. The Council claims ignorance of her whereabouts. But this is the least of everyone's worries, because a gate to the Void has been left propped open and all manner of nastiness is flowing through...

I was disappointed with this instalment, mostly because Joanna was given bugger all to do for most of it. Sure, it was great to see Antryg in his element and more deeply explore his place in his world, but it's the mark of a lazy author to not even bother to find space for the series' other main lead, who is now reduced to a damsel who conveniently gets thrown on ice until the plot requires her. The plot in general was okay.

Love, Magic and Computers

24/9/2024

The Silicon Mage (Windrose Chronicles #2)
by Barbara Hambly

Joanna is stranded in our universe after betraying Antryg, but she was a way back - if she follows the dark mage Suraklin through the Void. This means risking her life (and life as we know it in at least two universes). But she must do it. And she must know if Antryg still lives. If he isn't... well, Joanna desperately needs him whole (if not sane) in order to defeat Suraklin once and for all.

Even better than the first book! And this time I did my best to skim over the problematic stuff (cue a Bluey quote - "it was the eighties!"), because I really wanted to absorb every word and enjoy every minute. Some fantasy novels feel like a chore due to rambling middle sections. Not so here. Sure, we did get that rambling middle section, but the world Hambly created here is so interesting that I never once grew bored. Joanna is obviously my favourite. Caris is a close second, though, and I love his character journey. I should probably like Antryg more... but his obvious Sherlockisms grate on me a bit.

Mages Run Amok

20/9/2024

The Silent Tower (Windrose Chronicles #1)
by Barbara Hambly

Caris witnesses the murder of a mage right before the perpetrator disappears. In our world, Joanna is a programmer who can't shake the feeling that she is being stalked - and this culprit also leaves no trace of themselves. Caris accompanies his grandfather to the Silent Tower, where Antryg (the student of an infamous dark mage) resides. But instead of answers, Caris will only find more questions.

I'm not usually one for cliffhangers, but it was so well done and this book was so well written that I was excited instead of annoyed when I reached the end (but I do have the benefit of possessing the next 2 books...). Hambly certainly has a way with words. I really loved this... and was delighted by the offhanded mention of a female guard having "a girlfriend of her own". What's this? Queer rep in the 1980s? Sweet! But uh oh. Of course the other queer rep arrived in the form of a gay man being portrayed as a sinful "pervert". Typical for the era but le sigh.

Anyway, I am so weak for retro fantasy and I'm fast becoming a Barbara Hambly fan.

Back to the 1990s

16/9/2024

Tiger Burning Bright
by Marion Zimmer Bradley, Andre Norton & Mercedes Lackey

Emperor Balthazar has ruthlessly added many lands to his empire and now he has set his sights on Merina. The women of the House of the Tiger, who rule Merina, know they cannot win a siege - and the city would be ransacked. The safest option is to surrender and vanish. But Merina is soon full of agents of a dark mage and the city is ruled by fear. The time for hiding might be over.

I found this book at a charity sale and the cover alone sent me into paroxysms of nostalgia. I really miss 1990s heroic fantasy. Tiger Burning Bright would have been a favourite of mine if I'd found it as a child - this is a book about the strengths of three different women and the way they defend their city is a refreshing alternate to the usual battles found in other fantasy works (though there are indeed battles to be found). Heroines rule these pages as surely as women rule Merina. I will say it's not perfect... but it's exactly what I wanted.

The Force and the Restless

8/9/2024

Temptation of the Force (Star Wars: High Republic)
by Tessa Gratton

The Stormwall has been breached and the Republic can begin operations in the Nihil's Occlusion Zone. Avar Kriss and Elzar Mann both have their parts to play - and if they can avoid attachment, perhaps their love can make them better Jedi. Meanwhile, a blight is spreading throughout the galaxy and Marchion Ro is quietly studying it, to see if he can make another fearsome weapon.

Gratton is one of the stronger authors of the High Republic project and her exceptional writing is once again on display here (a relief after Defy the Storm). I want to say this is my favourite adult novel so far, but it definitely has issues - for example, the climax occurs in the middle of the book, which is really strange and causes the second half to drag. And Marchion Ro is the most uninteresting villain ever; he just roams around and you wonder how anyone is actually afraid of him lol. But I'm weak for Avar and Elzar content... so that was a nice distraction from my bemusement.

Still, I really enjoyed reading this book. I mean, I shouldn't give it my love... it doesn't deserve it haha... anyway, it's better than a lot of the other adult novels in the High Republic project.

Jedi Council Does Kwenn

31/8/2024

The Living Force (Star Wars Disney)
by John Jackson Milley

In the wake of outpost closures that have left ordinary people feeling abandoned by the Jedi, Qui-Gon Jinn challenges the Council to reconnect to the Living Force. Help one person. Help another. So this venerable collection of Jedi Masters travel to Kwenn, a world that was once the sight of a Great Work during the High Republic, to render service and aid to those who need it.

I think the idea behind this book was quite good, though the execution didn't quite managed to do it justice. Could another author have done better? I'm not sure. Miller's strength does lie in ensemble casts. But I wonder if this might have worked better as an anthology of connected stories, like his Lost Tribe of the Sith short works. As a novel, it has too much going on. Too many characters doing too many things - and some of those things don't add to the story in the way they could have.

This is, ultimately, a well-written but largely forgettable book.

Expanded Universe Round-Up #28

17/5/2024

Galaxy of Fear Series by John Whitman

#1 - Eaten Alive

This was one of my favourites series when I was a kid, so I'm always going to be biased when I re-read it. I also enjoyed Goosebumps at the time, which is the obvious inspiration behind these books (heck, even the typical GB older sister-younger brother dynamic got ported over), but Galaxy of Fear always triumphed in my eyes - the same characters developing in new situations, with bonus Star Wars settings and cameos!

Eaten Alive shows us the blueprint of what all the books will be like. Yes, there are ridiculous cliffhangers at the end of every chapter. Yes, there are cringey hints (D'vouran is devourin'). But the mystery behind Hoole is interesting. Tash and Zak feel like real kids. Perhaps I enjoyed this more than I ought to have... ;D

#2 - City of the Dead

Zombies!! Boba Fett!! This book was quite a chilling tale when I was a kid. As an adult, I can appreciate Zack trying to manage his grief after his losing his parents. It was also great to see Dr Evazan meet his end.

#3 - Planet Plague

Yep, this is still one of my favourite books, even nearly 30 years later. I'm always happy to see Wedge and I love these plague-infested blobs. So delightfully creepy. This book also showed that Tash is in the anger stage of her grief. She learns an important lesson about handling her anger, which is unexpected but very welcome in a series that's best described as Space Goosebumps.

#4 - The Nightmare Machine

This one really tried my patience - and I don't recall loving it as much as other instalments in the series. But I did like that Tash and Zak were visiting a place that had been offhandedly mentioned in book #2. These books were well planned, or at least planned better than some of their MG contemporaries. And Lando was a welcome cameo! He made sense in the context of things.

#5 - Ghost of the Jedi

This is one of my favourite books OF ALL TIME. I've read it many more times than the rest of the books in the series. As a kid, I was obsessed with ghosts and Jedi, so the ghost of a Jedi was incredibly exciting to me. I am still very fond of Aidan Bok. I spent so many years wishing he would appear in pre-ROTS media. Alas. I also love Tash's journey in this book, as she gains more confidence and more awareness of herself. Something I went through when I was younger, when I was reading about her adventures. Yep, these books aren't just horror and Star Wars cameos (oh hai, Dannik Jerriko!).

#6 - Army of Terror

The mystery of Uncle Hoole is finally revealed! It was such a shock to me as a kid - that and the bad guy getting his comeuppance halfway through the series. Wait, I didn't have time to get sick of him! Which is a good thing. Whitman didn't drag this arc out too much and I appreciate that. Six books was the perfect length for Project Starscream. And heck, I'm always happy to see Han, Leia, Luke, Chewie and the droids. Bonus Darth Vader. I am, as ever, sad about Eppon.

#7 - The Brain Spiders

So the main arc is over and it's time for standalone stories, but they're just as good - because this series' strength is not in its plots but in how it handles Tash and Zak growing up. Obviously, brains and bodies being swapped is not a new concept (sometimes I think it's overdone). And yet, it was still a fun read.

#8 - The Swarm

So the main arc is over and it's time for standalone stories, but they're just as good - because this series' strength is not in its plots but in how it handles Tash and Zak growing up. Obviously, brains and bodies being swapped is not a new concept (sometimes I think it's overdone). And yet, it was still a fun read.

#9 - Spore

Okay, this isn't the greatest book and certainly not the best in the series, but it had a HUGE impact on me as a kid. So creepy. So fascinating. So I definitely know where my obsession with sentient trees came from. Ha! Derec was a cool villain and it was many, many years before I realised where he originated from (despite his description being vaguely familiar). I also remember being intrigued by Fandomar, having encountered her in an adult novel before reading this one.

#10 - The Doomsday Ship

This book is a lot of fun and even as an adult I found sections of it to be quite tense. I was amused by the 2001: A Space Odyssey and WarGames references, which I suppose might annoy some people but I have a nostalgic streak. Sometimes you just want to read an entertaining book about a computer AI going rogue. And who can be mad about a Dash Rendar appearance?

#11 - Clones

Clones generally cause mayhem and this is no exception! I really enjoyed exploring Dantooine through this book when I was younger. Unsurprisingly, I still enjoy it. Tash's realisation that she should not be using the Force in anger is an important one. She's always been my favourite character of the series and I fancied myself a Jedi just as she does, so I will always be invested in her journey with the Force. Perhaps this book - like the others - is flawed, but it's a firm favourite.

#12 - The Hunger

Zak comes into his own in this tale of Boba Fett, Yoda and cannibals. There's not much that's new here, since it's a standard Galaxy of Fear book, but it is the last one and still manages to serves up thrills and entertainment. I often find myself thinking about this plot even when I haven't gone near my Legends books in months. I'm glad the series ends here. It's a good spot for it... though I wish we had seen Tash and Zak at Luke's Jedi Academy. Alas.

Obviously, this book was released before AOTC told us that Boba Fett had to have heard about Yoda (and likely knew what he looked like), but I don't really mind this inconsistency because the pre-1999 Star Wars books were my early childhood and that era seemed to go on forever (as time does when you're a kid). I'm very fond of this stuff. Sure, I was still growing up through the prequel era, but Star Wars media became almost too easy to find after TPM was released. These earlier Legends books I had to hunt for in the back of K-Mart. I almost never managed to buy them in order.

I can confidently say that my pocket money was not wasted on Galaxy of Fear. This series has given me nearly three decades of joy.

A Lack of Tea

15/5/2024

A Tempest of Tea (Blood and Tea #1)
by Hafsah Faizal

Arthie Casimir runs a tearoom that morphs into a bloodhouse for vampires at night, but the main currency she deals in is secrets. A little bit of pressure gets her what she wants. This time, though, her tearoom is in enough trouble that a few secrets won't help her. She has to pull off a heist inside a vampiric lair and take down a ruler. In order to do all that, she needs a team. Trust is secondary.

I was excited to pick this book up from the library, since the tearoom-and-heist concept was right up my alley. Except there wasn't much of the tearoom or much of a heist. A lot of other things were going on instead. Disappointment quickly set in, though I was able to enjoy Faizal's beautiful phrasing and liked some of the characters (so full of hopes and flaws). I especially liked the hint about how revealing a secret can actually cover a bigger secret, since I guessed Arthie's secret early on... but I did not see the other reveal coming. I'm cautiously interested in book 2 (but I will hold the excitement for now...).

Time Wasters

10/5/2024

Scoundrels (Star Wars Legends)
by Timothy Zahn

Han Solo is not usually the guy you'd go to for a heist, but Eanjer, who's after his father's lost fortune, has apparently decided to give it a shot. Han soon has his hands full with picking a team, coming up with a plan, and finding ways to get out trouble when the plan goes awry. Because when Black Sun is involved...something will <i>always</i> go awry.

I had read this once before, about a decade ago, and the only thing I could remember was the big reveal at the end. Knowing this in advance didn't annoy me any less on a second reading. Maybe I have stringent expectations when it comes to Zahn (due to his past brilliance)... or maybe I'm used to slicker, tighter heist plots. I also prefer stories that have characters instead of moving pieces with names.

At over 400 pages, this is a whole bunch of nothing. New characters are introduced - we'll never see them again. Some Legends faves are given something to do - okay, I was happy to see Winter, but Kell didn't belong here. The biggest issue, though, is Lando. In the Legends canon, he's had TWO reasons to be angry at Han by the time of ESB. Did we really need a third reason? Could we not just have left Lando in limbo? It doesn't help that this is such a crowded part of the Legends timeline. There are SO many comics and books covering this period. Another wasn't needed.

Ultimately, I think Scoundrels could have worked if it was set either before ANH or after ROTJ (with some tweaking, obviously). But I'm not sure that would have fixed the cardboard-cutout characters.

My paperback copy of this novel also included "Winner Lose All", a prequel novella. A fun mini-heist to go along with Scoundrels. Its shorter length makes it more palatable and the story itself is more interesting than the one found in the novel.

Expanded Universe Round-Up #27

8/5/2024

Star Wars Missions Gamebook Series

#1 - Assault on Yavin Four
by Ryder Windham

This is not a particularly good story, but it's not meant to be read as a novel the whole way through. I lack the extra components required to play. Interestingly, for the later Episode I Adventures they used two books for each mission, one a novel and one a gamebook (which works out much better if you just want the story). Windham is NOT one of my favourite authors, though I will note he didn't do too badly with the limited second person perspective.

#2 - Escape from Thyferra
by Ryder Windham

Unsurprisingly, this instatement not enjoyable due to the gameplay getting in the way of the prose (yes, it's by design, but I can't shake my annoyance). The "you" character seemed a bit gullible to be believable, even if younger readers are the target audience.

#3 - Attack on Delrakkin
by Ryder Windham

More exciting than the previous two instalments (bonus space battles) and the Imperial plot is also becoming more interesting. I'm now used to skipping through the game sections.

#4 - Destroy the Liquidator
by Ryder Windham

This one was a tad too ridiculous at times and Windham's stilted prose is wearing on me (I feel like I'm being spoken down to, though that might be because I'm much older than the target audience).

#5 - The Hunt for Han Solo
by Dave Wolverton

A marginally better entry, thanks to Wolverton taking over this section. I can't say I'm thrilled about our Rebels visiting Jabba before ESB and I'm even less thrilled about a kidnapped baby Hutt (there's even a freaking Clone Wars movie with this concept lol). That said, I enjoyed the non-Rebel perspective in this book. it made the second person passages more believable since they weren't supposed to be attributed to a main character.

#6 - The Search for Grubba the Hutt
by Dave Wolverton

This one was at times amusing and I liked that C-3PO was useful instead of a hindrance. But other times it didn't really feel like Star Wars. Earth-based insects appear and their names are altered a little - but not enough.

#7 - Ithorian Invasion
by Dave Wolverton

I've always found Momaw Nadon to be a fascinating character, so I'm pleased to find a book covering his return to Ithor (just because I have most Legends books released does not mean I've read them all ha!). I really quite enjoyed this one.

#8 - Togorian Trap
by Dave Wolverton

These are starting to feel annoyingly repetitive. I had less tolerance for this book in that regard as the mission itself wasn't plotted particularly well.

#9 - Revolt of the Battle Droids
by Ryder Windham

The weakest book in the series, due to no recognisable characters being part of the action. Well, apparently I've encountered Boonda in other Legends media during my semi-chronological reading, and I must say I find him interesting.

#10 - Showdown in Mos Eisley
by Ryder Windham

Windham seems to like writing about rebellious droids (I've read those comics already in my epic Legends re-read), but I'm kind of over this theme. Plus, I have no attachment to any of the characters who appeared in this gamebook.

#11 - Bounty Hunters vs. Battle Droids
by Ryder Windham

I'm so over those droids, but the bounty-hunter-vs-droids concept was mildly interesting. The story itself was... okay.

#12 - The Vactooine Disaster
by Ryder Windham

I'm so over those droids, but the bounty-hunter-vs-droids concept was mildly interesting. The story itself was... okay.

#13 - Prisoner of the Nikto Pirates
by Dave Wolverton

The mission itself was fine and I was impressed with an addition to the gameplay, which involved a part needed for the Millennium Falcon (if it broke during retrieval, you would later have to deal with it). But the new protocol droid is annoying AF. Did C-3PO really need a crush? Ugh.

#14 - The Monsters of Dweem
by Dave Wolverton

There are some silly elements here (including a Grand Moff who is a droid, for some reason) but the gameplay is more complex and more interesting than in previous instalments. You can choose to translate the language of the creatures you need to escape, for instance, though I don't think it'd help much lol. This book was actually okay.

#15 - Voyage to the Underworld
by Dave Wolverton

I don't like that two story arcs in this series have been reliant on dodgy droids propelling the plot, but the mission in this book wasn't terrible. It also had more choose-your-own-adventure opportunities.

#16 - Imperial Jailbreak
by Dave Wolverton

I don't like that two story arcs in this series have been reliant on dodgy droids propelling the plot, but the mission in this book wasn't terrible. It also had more choose-your-own-adventure opportunities.

#17 - Darth Vader's Return
by Ryder Windham

If I was still a kid, this gamebook would have frustrated me to the point of hurling it out a window, but for advanced players it would have been a welcome challenge (your character can actually DIE!). It was a passable instalment... except I'm so over droids being so integral to the series' story arcs.

#18 - Rogue Squadron to the Rescue
by Ryder Windham

A mission with the OG Rogue Squadron boys! Heck yeah. I thoroughly enjoyed this one and the gameplay seemed pretty good too - at one point, you can even choose to feed a stormtrooper to a tentacled creature. How amusing.

#19 - Bounty on Bonadan
by Ryder Windham

Nothing brilliant here, though it was interesting to revisit the Corporate Sector - and having the Millennium Falcon hidden inside another ship felt like a nice little homage to The Han Solo Adventures.

#20 - Total Destruction
by Ryder Windham

I am unsure how I became attached to Q-7N, but I know I'm sad to see him go. Honestly, though... I'm not sad to reach the end of the series, because these gamebooks were at times difficult to get through. If I had the components needed to play, I'm not sure I'd have finished them at all.