Science Fiction Books > H Science Fiction Books

Is Dune the best SF novel ever?

Advantages: Scope, detail, characters, worms, spice!
Disadvantages: I really can't think of any

I first read Dune back in 1985 mainly because there was a big movie of the book coming out. Since then I've read it a number of times and I think it's probably my favourite novel. The book can be read on many levels. I find myself enjoying it for two reasons. First of all it's a great adventure story with Paul and his mother on the run from the evil Harkonnens across the strange desert world. Different factions are working behind the scenes to leverage ...
...for the unique universe Herbert created. The details fly off the page. The descriptions of the Great Houses, the Sisterhood, the Guild are totally convincing. And the little details such as the workings of a stillsuit add more layers. If you've not read it then give it a chance. If you have read it then read it again! ...

chevron999 01.09.2009 · Read full review
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Review of Dune - Frank Herbert

oh dear oh dear.....

Advantages: none
Disadvantages: absolute porngraphic drivel

...whole book! In Danse Macabre, Anita hardly seems to get out of bed, never mind kill off any vampires! She used to be slaying everything in sight, now she's sleeping with them all instead, usually 2 at a time. The sexual tension used to keep the reader riveted but now there is barely any story, just Anita's personal issues throughout. The most simple situations in the 'story' continue for pages and pages, before anything happens, i.e. near the beginning ...
...her entourage of blokes (all perfect specimens with amazing bodies) and has an altercation with a bodyguard at the door which continues for about 5 pages before she has even got inside the building. This seems so ridiculous and is frustrating too. Then there are a few chapters with the story, then it goes back to sex scene after sex scene, with the most unbelievable, ludicrous numbers of orgasms and screaming. The storyline of the 'ardeur' is becoming ...

leopuss1 20.02.2007 · Read full review
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Review of Danse Macabre - Laurell K. Hamilton

A Good Sci-fI Novel

Advantages: GOOD READ
Disadvantages: NOTHING

DOUBLE STAR. Author – Robert Heinlein I recently picked this book up from a small book seller for 60p and read it over 2 night shifts. 60p well spent. The story follows Lorenzo as an out of work actor who suddenly gets offered the acting role of his life. At first he thinks he is just being set up as a stooge or a fall guy for any lurking assassins who might want to bump off the character he has been hired to double for. But things ...
...forward. Soon Lorenzo is visiting Mars, meeting Martians, arranging world changing events, having an audience with Willem the Royal Emperor of the known Universe, oh and yes avoiding the odd assassin. He is surrounded by an eclectic cast of friends all of whom are fighting to keep him safe and protect him from their own secrets. There is a love interest, of course, and many political twists and turns along the way to a surprising finale. This ...

Maximus-Qualitus 18.08.2009 · Read full review
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Review of Double Star - Robert A. Heinlein

It is not just about football!

Advantages: It's very funny, and oh so true!
Disadvantages: None

The Disc, for those who don't know, continues to float in space, supported by the elephants who ride the back of the great swimming turtle A'tuin. The Hub about which the planet spins is a centre of great magic, and best avoided if you want to live a happy and contented life. At the outer perimeter is the great circle sea which unendingly streams over the rim into the void, which is best avoided if you want to continue to live at all. Most Discians ...
...Smeems, for instance, is the Candle Nave at the Unseen University. He has to worry about keeping the candles not just alight, but properly melted, artistically, gothicly, dribbled, as it were. Of course, there's Trevor to help. And there's Nutt. With two t's. Trevor Likely has a tendency to skive off work whenever possible, and to kick a tin can around. His dad was a legend. Nutt is… well, no-one's quite sure what Nutt is, even him. Goblin isn't ...

hiker 07.12.2009 · Read full review
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Review of The Unseen Academicals - Terry Pratchett

From Dead to Worse

Advantages: Good read
Disadvantages: Lots of threads, can be confusing

...A failed attempt of takeover from werewolves in another area results in Alcide becoming the new packleader. This, however, comes with a price which is the death of a few weres in the community including the previous packmaster Patrick, Maria-Star, Alcide’s girlfriend. As for the vampires, the explosion in the vampire summit results in the loss of various main personnel in Queen Sophie’s court and the King of Nevada, Felipe, grabs the opportunity. ...
...Louisiana apart from Eric and his gang. Eric surrenders to the new regime and manages to keep his area. And with Sookie saving the King from the attack of the Sophie’s last surviving child, Eric is slowly gaining the trust of the new King. And as for our heroine Sookie, a surprise meeting with her great-grandfather Niall reveals her heritage of being part-fairy. This completes Andre’s discovery of Sookie having fairy blood. And also explains the ...

medgenie 21.11.2009 · Read full review
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Review of From Dead to Worse - Charlaine Harris