Xenocide by Orson Scott Card - What is the best thing about it?

I am still reading the book Xenocide by Orson Scott Card. I think this might be the longest it has ever taken me to finish a book. Now don't get me wrong - I love the book, it is just that I have not had much time for reading recently. Alright, now moving on. This week I have decided to tell you all about the best thing about this book. In my not-so-humble opinion, the best thing about this book is the fact that there are essentially two stories going on at the same time. While they are connected, they are unable to really directly influence one another.

The reason that this is the best thing about the book is simple. It builds suspense. Both stories have their own characters and their own setting and their own events. The only way that they are connected is that  if the characters of what I have come to think of as the second, less important story, fail to do something, then the only character that both stories share, Jane, a super-intelligent computer program, will die. This builds suspense because the characters of the first, main story depend on and love Jane, but there is not much that they can do to influence the actions of the characters of the second story, so they are effectively helpless to help Jane. This leaves the reader feeling just as helpless, and hoping beyond hope that the characters of the second story don't screw up, effectively creating a lot of tension and also getting the reader very caught up in the book. That is why the fact that there are two different stories going on simultaneously is the best thing about this book. I hope that wasn't too complicated for you.

Xenocide by Orson Scott Card - Connections of all types!

Alright so I know that last week I said that I was really enjoying the book Xenocide by Orson Scott Card. And I am! I promise! It's just that this week I had a lot of homework and a lot of tests and a lot of stuff after school and just leave me alone OK! I just haven't had much time to read this week, OK!? Alright anyway I am still enjoying the book, I just haven't had much time to read. So that is why I decided that this week I would post about connections to the book. There may be some spoilers, so watch out. Honestly, I don't know if there will be yet since as of this point I have not typed the rest of this post, so just watch out for spoilers.

The first connection that I have made is a text to self connection. It is this; in the book, (Oh, wait, SPOILER ALERT!!) Grego has started a mob that intends to kill the pequeninos, and he is trying to stop it so that he does not have countless deaths on his conscience. I felt the same way before. Well sort of - don't take what I just said the wrong way. In the past, I have specifically tried to do things so that I did not have something bad on my conscience, just on a much smaller scale than Grego. For instance, I always do my homework to avoid the guilt of not having done it when I get to class and the teacher checks for it.

The second connection that I have made to the text is a text to text connection. In the book, Starways Congress is very angry at the people of Lusitania because they have given the pequeninos technology that they have not yet developed for themselves. The connection is that in The Doctor Who books, The Doctor is always very careful not to give the local people technology that is ahead of their time (He is a time traveller). The only difference is that Starways Congress is the antagonist while The Doctor is a protagonist.

The third and final connection is a text to world connection. In the book, they have the ability to travel in space. We also have this ability in 'real life', albeit it is to a much lesser extent, seeing as in the book they have colonized hundreds of worlds and have the ability to travel at near light speed, and in real life we have only made it as far as the moon. But yeah. Connections.

Xenocide by Orson Scott Card - What is the Most Important Line in all of chapter 9?

So I mentioned last week that I was reading Speaker for the Dead by Orson Scott Card. Well, not anymore. I finished it. Very quickly. It was a REALLY good book. Now, I am reading the next book in the series, Xenocide, which is obviously also by Orson Scott Card. So far it is great. I would say that thus far it is not quite as good as the one that came before it, but that is still about a 9 out of 10. It is very good. But anyway, I am not here this week to discuss how good it is and why I like it. This week I am going for ANOTHER change. (Amazing, right?) This week I am discussing why the line, "'What's to stop them from declaring that Han Fei-Tzu is a traitor and making him travel to some faraway planet and never come back for sixty years?'" is the most important line in chapter 9, entitled Pinehead (Card, 214).

The reason that this is the most important line is because it starts a heated debate between that two main characters in the chapter, Wang-mu and Qing-Jao. This debate occurs because Qing-Jao, Han Fei-Tzu's daughter, believes that Han Fei-Tzu would never be declared a triator because Starways Congress (The government of all human worlds) would never do that, while Wang-mu insists that they could. Now, this may seem to be unimportant, but Han Fei-tzu is the most respected person on the planet Path, and suggesting that Starways Congress would arrest him is preposterous. However, this does expose a key weakness of the planet Path - while Starways Congress would not do that, they could do it. In fact, they could do anything that they wanted, and the people of the planet Path would be powerless to stop them. That is why this line is the most important in the chapter - it leads to this important realization.

I know that some of you will want to read the 'official' review on this book, so here you go. This website also has literally thousands of consumer reviews, so if you want a second opinion on the book feel free to check it out.

Speaker for the Dead by Orson Scott Card - Why I Was Interested in Picking it up

This week I have gone for a change. This will be my first post about a book that is not a Doctor Who book. (I know! Exciting, right?) Oh, by the way I have not progressed in Doctor Who: Scales of Injustice at all. This week I have begun to read the book Speaker for the Dead by Orson Scott Card. And let me tell you, it is amazing. I can hardly put it down, and it has nearly reduced me to tears. For those of you who don't know, as I didn't, this is the second book in the Ender's Game series. Now, for why I started to read it.

Well, this weekend I was watching Ender's Game the movie at my house. I had read the book and loved it so I figured the movie couldn't be that bad. I was right. It was a great movie, although if you had not read the book it might have been a bit confusing. In fact, I enjoyed the movie so much that I decided to see if there was a second book after Ender's Game. I was absolutely delighted to discover that there are actually over ten books after Ender's Game. I was hoping that the second book would continue Ender's story in the same captivating way that the first boook did, and I was not dissapointed. I only got it a few days ago, and I am already over half way through the book. If you are looking for something to read, then I highly reccomend the Ender's Game series. So go and buy it! It is worth the money.

Doctor Who: Scales of Injustice by Gary Russell - The Best Thing About it

Last week, I talked about what the worst thing about Doctor Who: Scales of Injustice by Gary Russell was. This week, although I am still not really enjoying the book, I am going to try and look at it from a positive light and decide what the best thing about the book is. And I think I might have figured it out.

I believe that the best thing about this book is also one of the worst things about it. The plot, or lack there of. In my last post, I explained why it is one of the worst things about this book. Now for why it is also the best part. It is the best part of the book because in the beggining of the book, the various scenes feel haphazard and random. They don't really fit together, and are very confusing. But this is a good thing. This means that, later on in the book, there will be a moment when everything comes together in a moment of beautiful harmony, when the reader finally understands what everything means, when all the confusion and haphazardness clears and you see what has been going on. It is one of the best moments that you can experience as a reader and indeed as an intelligent human being. I imagine it might be rather like understanding the universe in one incredible second. THIS. This is the best part, the reason I have not yet given up on this book. I am awaiting the moment when I get to experience this feeling of ultimate existance. I hope you get to experience it some day too.

Doctor Who: Scales of Injustice by Gary Russell - The Worst Thing About it

So, I have recently begun to read the book Doctor Who: Scales of Injustice by Gary Russell, and thus far it has not succeeded in catching my attention. I am usually a very avid reader, especially when the book in question is a Doctor Who book, but so far I have not enjoyed this book that much. This led me to wonder: why aren't I enjoying it? Or, in other words, what is the worst thing about this book?

Upon reflection, I decided that I knew what the worst thing about this book is. I am 18% of the way throught the book, and still there has not been much action, nor much of a plot. So basically, there is nothing so far that draws me in, makes me want to know what is going to happen next, nothing that really makes me care that much about what happens to the characters. Sure there have been several scenes with some action where someone dies, but each time it has been a minor character and there has been no further elaboration about how it was important to the rest of the story. Everything is just sort of disjointed. THAT is why I am not enjoying the book. It does not have any substance.

I will keep reading and hope that it improves, but if it does not, then I might have to just quit reading it. That would make this book one of only 2 Doctor Who book that I could not finish. But lets hope that doesn't happen.

Doctor Who: Sands of Time by Justin Richards - Review

I just got back from spring break, and I read several books. One that I am currently reading is Doctor Who: Sands of Time by Justin Richards. I am not quite finished, but I have thouroughly enjoyed it so I have decided to review it. Not to worry though, I won't spoil anything!

So the book starts of with a scene that is not very important, (or so it would seem...) and then jumps right in with the Doctor. The action starts immediately, so if you bore easily, (although I don't see how Doctor Who could be boring) you need not worry. Nyssa, one of the Doctors companions and therefore a main character in the book by default, gets kidnapped. The rest of the book is what it takes for the Doctor and Tegan to rescue her. Much of it takes place in Egypt, and some of it in Ancient Egypt, which may seem impossible but with the Doctor it is nothing.

Personally, I really enjoyed reading this book. I think that if you enjoy reading Doctor Who, or you are interested in science fiction, or mummies you will love this book. Almost everything that happens is completely unexpected, and since this is Doctor Who you never know what is going to happen next, or yesterday, or has already happened tommorrow. Overall, considering the plot, (which is crazy) the characters, (which you feel like you have know all of your life) and the fact that this is a Doctor Who book, I would rate this book a soild 8.5 or 9 out of 10. But enough from me! Go and buy this book! Or borrow it! Or get it later yesterday! Or something! Just read it! Now!

Doctor Who : Illegal Aliens by Mike Tucker and Robert Perry - Predicitons About the Future

Several days ago I started to read the book Doctor Who: Illegal Aliens by Mike Tucker and Robert Perry. However, I have not had much time to read so I am only 6% of the way through the book. (I read on the kindle application) I have several predicitons and also several questions about the book. I will start with the predicions, if thats O.K. (It is) First off, I think that the main character thus far, McBride, will soon meet the Doctor, reason being that McBride just had an encounter with something that seems to be alien, and if you know anything about Doctor Who, you will know that the Doctor is attracted to this type of thing like a magnet. A second prediciton that I have made is that McBride will get taken by military intelligence. My reasoning behind this prediction is that he is not cooperating with the police, and they are threatening to hand him over to millitary intelligence. (I know, not very imaginative...) To show how uncooperative he is being take a look at this quote from 6% of the way through (Kindle application) "I've said what I've got to say. If you don't believe me then that's your problem."

Next up is my questions, or specifically my one big question thus far. At what point will we meet the Doctor? Typically Doctor Who books start out either from the point of view of the Doctor, or if not then a brief chapter from the point of view of a character that meets some type of alien or some type of problem. This book seems to adhere to the latter. Just one thing. It is definitly not a brief chapter.
I am begining to wonder if this book is going to be different than anything that I have read before, which might not be a bad thing. Anyway, it is a great book and if you get the chance you should read it. I will probobaly say that about every Doctor Who book, aside from Doctor Who: The King's Dragon. Don't read that one.

Doctor Who: Ten Little Aliens by Stephen Cole - What Keeps Me Coming Back

Since my last post, I have been doing a lot of reading. A lot of it. Several days ago I found the book Doctor Who: Ten Little Aliens by Stephen Cole on the kindle store - otherwise known as the place I get all of my books. As I am sure you can tell from the title, (hopefully...) it is another Doctor Who book. I hope you are noticing a theme. I am nearly at the end of it, and let me tell you, it is an amazing book. This is the first book I have read about the first Doctor. (For those of you who don't know, there are 11.) I had no idea what to expect, and I was worried that it would not be able to hold my attention. As it turned out, there was no need for concern.

This book has held my rapt attention all week. It even managed to get me away from my computer, which is difficult to do. The thing that kept me picking it up was the fact that it was very similar to the other Doctor Who books I have read, and yet also so different. There is constant action, and this makes it hard to put down becuase there really is no good time to put it down. I did not keep count, but there have been at least 5 major plot twists thus far. I have absolutely no idea what to expect next! (If you don't want a spoiler, don't read the next sentence.) This morning I was absolutely dumbfounded when one of the main protagonists revealed that they were actually working against the protagonists. Is that a plot twist, or is that a plot twist? To sum up my experience with this book in one word: AMAZING! (speaking of words, did you know that hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia is the fear of long words? I hope I spelled it right.) I would highly reccommened that you read this book. Like me, you won't be able to put it down.

Doctor Who: Fear of The Dark By Trevor Baxendale – Why I Chose this book

I have recently begun to read the book Doctor Who: Fear of the Dark by Trevor Baxendale. There are many reasons that I decided to read this book. One is that I really enjoy the science fiction genre. Another is that I am a huge Doctor Who fan. Yet another reason that I chose to read this book is I was intrigued by the title.

As I mentioned, one reason that I decided to read this book was that I enjoy the science fiction genre. I have read hundreds of books over the past few years, and almost every single one of them was a science fiction book. I really enjoy the idea that, in the future, some of the things I read about might actually be possible. This interest in science fiction lead me to pick a science fiction book to read.

Another reason that I chose this book was I am a huge Doctor Who fan. I have probably read almost a hundred Doctor Who books in that last year or so. One reason I am attracted to Doctor Who books because each book is its own independent story, so I doesn’t matter what order you read them. Another reason is all of the novels are written by different people, so I get exposed to many different writing styles and techniques.

The final reason that I chose to read this book was I was intrigued by the title, Doctor Who: Fear of the Dark. In one of my favorite Doctor Who television episodes, there was a race that was a living shadow that ate anything it came into contact with. Based on this episode, I thought that this book might have something to do with it. And while thus far it does not seem like it will, it is still an amazing book.