In the Courts of the Sun
Brian D’amato
By far the best book I’ve read in months, D’amato creates a fantastic near-future and recreates the lost Maya civilizations. As 2012 nears, the end of the Maya calendar, a large-scale disaster strikes. The disaster, followed by the end of civilization, are both predicted in a Maya codex. Jed DeLanda, a Maya descendant and expert in the future-fortelling Game, becomes involved with a conglomeration of groups interested in stopping the end-time. In short order, DeLanda finds the rich and powerful powers-that-be have the ability to send a copy of his mind back in time, with the hope that he can find out what the final disaster is and avert...
Evil Genius
Evil Genius – Catherine Jinks
Where do you go to school if you are a genius and your father is an evil genius? Why, the evil genius academy, of course. Learn the fine arts of lying, stealing, poisons, hacking, disguise and other deeply useful skills. The only drawbacks? The matriculation rate is nothing to write home about and leaving really isn’t an option. Surprisingly gritty, intense themes for a supposed kids book.
The Mysterious Benedict Society
The Mysterious Benedict Society – Trenton Lee Stewart
An ad in the paper looking for exceptional children lures orphan Reynie Muldoon into a strange shadow conspiracy. With a band of other brilliant and bizarre children, they must overthrow an evil mastermind. Inventive and fast-moving, though personally I think a few fires would have solved a lot of problems for them.
Making Money
Making Money – Terry Pratchett
Moist VonLipwig. Spike. Golums, A small dog named Mr. Fusspot. The Patrician. Perfidious minds. Lousy puns. It’s all good- it’s all Pratchett.
Caroline Graham Chief Inspector Barnaby Mysteries
Caroline Graham Chief Inspector Barnaby Mysteries
For some inexplicable reason, the Barnaby series covers could double for vapid romance novels from the 50s. However, the books are very recent and have very modern plots. While their is some continuity in the series, they can be read out of order. Two particular favorites are Written in Blood and Death in Disguise.
A good mystery will have lots of twist and turns with no clear end in site. A really good mystery will have well-written characters fully fleshed out and endearing to the reader. A great mystery will also be populated with some really nasty rat-bastards who are clearly fast closing in...
Nature Girl and The Big Bamboo
Nature Girl (Karl Hiaasen) and The Big Bamboo (Tim Dorsey)
I hit two of the unholy Floridian trinity (Dave Barry being the third… yes, that Dave Barry) within a week, so I can’t be held accountable for my actions. Both books live up to their own bizarre standards and fit the much loved Florida template. Wacked out lunatic hero-ish? Yup. Dorsey focuses on Serge A. Storms, his psychotic history-loving mass murderer. While The Governor does not appear in the Nature Girl, Hiaasen more than makes up for it with his uber-protective and delusional mother Honey Santana. A plethora of Florida history and nature worked into plot? Yep. Both of our anti-heroes blither on about...