Finished Dark and Stormy Knights

This books of short stories was pretty good.  Several of my favorite authors and, I guess, always a favorite topic.  I greatly enjoyed P. N. Elrod's story, set much further into the Jack Flemming Vampire Files series than I have read so far and Vicki Petterson's "Shifting Star", told through the eyes of the Tulpa, Skamar's eyes.

I have now started Robin Cook's Invasion, only the second of his science fiction books that I have encountered.  The invaders are from outer space, but are quite different from any invaders I have encountered in any story I have read before.

Finished Doomsday World

First, I must say that I found the remaining three books of the Gap series by Stephen Donaldson.  They were used, but I got them from Amazon!  Hurray.

Finished the book that was written by committee.  At times it was pretty obvious...a few loose ends unconnected...  But, for the most part, it was a very enjoyable and easy reading book.  Again, relationships between Star Trek principals were explored, but at least as interesting was the relationship between the two ambassadors (from competing federations) who started as aging friends on a world that didn't count for much and are assaulted by unforeseen conflicts.

I have now started a book of short stories edited by P. N. Elrod entitled Dark and Stormy Knights.  Stories by my favorites (Jim Butcher and P. N. Elrod) have been very satisfying.  And I may also be adding a favorite or two--especially Ilona Andrews.

Finished People of the Earth

This novel, based on the archeology of authors W. Michael Gear and Kathleen O'Neal Gear as well as others, explores the mythology and relationships between native peoples living 5000 years ago in what is now Montana and Wyoming.  I was thoroughly engrossed.  It has taken me longer to read it than most, partially because it is long and somewhat leisurely, but also because I was interrupted by an operation (half thyroid removal--biopsy negative) and an election (worked election day and slept the next.)

I then thought I'd start Chaos and Order by Stephen Donaldson, but it turned out to be the fourth book in the Gap series and I have read only the first.  An exploration of the Internet shows that only the book I've read and the one I tried to start are actually available in paperback.  The entire series is available in a Kindle book, but I'm not into that.  So, I guess I'll start haunting Half Price Books...

The next book in the pile was another in Clark's 2001 series, but I read 2010 in the last pass across that pile, so I went another down to Doomsday World by Carmen Carter, Peter David, Michael Jan Friedman and Robert Greenberger--it is a Star Trek, The Next Generation book.

Finished The Shadow of Your Smile

As usual, Mary Higgins Clark spins a good yarn.  I wasn't quite at the edge of my seat as usual, but it had some interesting twists I had not expected.  So, certainly a fun read.

I am now about to start People of the Earth by W. Michael Gear and Kathleen O'Neil Gear.

Finished Wicked

Of course, knowing The Wizard of Oz, I knew this could not end happily for Elphaba.  I think that the "Wizard" did not invent the prejudices of Oz, but only exploited them.  I am in hopes that the sequels will be a bit more upbeat.  But, overall, I loved the book.  It certainly makes one think and provides an adult setting for the theme that there is more than one side to any story.

I am now reading The Shadow of Your Smile by Mary Higgins Clark which has started out fairly predictably, but, knowing this author, I know there will be some surprises along the way.  A young female pediatrician's life is in danger and we like her because of how much she cares for and thinks about her patients.

Approaching Wicked Mid-Point

Uh-Oh.  I think I know where this is going.  Having just read Kingsblood Royal, which certainly goes on my list of most effective anti-racism literature I have ever read, I believe now that that is exactly where this book is going as well.

A drought has hit Munchkinland and caused widespread poverty.  The Wizard of Oz is scapegoating (sentient) Animals who have taken jobs away from humans.  Any Animals who are unwilling to give up their jobs and go back to the farm (or the wild)...well, it is perfectly OK to kill them.  Who will be scapegoated next?  The south part of the country has already been decimated in a rush to plunder very few rubies.  Who is next?  The Winkies?  The Munchkins?  The Poor???  Does the Wizard of Oz sound a bit like Hitler???Elphaba (the Wicked Witch) may be the only hope these (different from the rich) beings have.  Let's see if I am right.

Finished Kingsblood Royal by Sinclaire Lewis

Well, published in 1947 by a well known and respected author.  I can see why it started a furor and then took a nose-dive into obscurity.  I imagine that most Americans of the time (and now) can find themselves in this book and they probably won't like what they see!  Waaaaaaay ahead of its time.  But, it really shouldn't have been... 

Even though the theme is pretty heavy, Lewis writes with light hand and injects humor.  I loved Neil's search for who he was, at first just a surface search, and by the end, a very deep and meaningful search.  I also love that the ancestor Neil discovered who started this deeper journey was a man of strength and adventure, love and steadiness, who anyone would be delighted to find in their gene pool....if he hadn't been Black... 
As Neil's journey progresses, the finds the pride in this ancestor that he deserved and in himself as well.

Needless to say, I greatly enjoyed the book.  Am now starting Wicked by Gregory McGuire.