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“Basically, ReadSmart’s proprietary e-book format does two things. The first is re-create the design of the original book, including typeface, drop caps and even illustrations, in a format sized specifically for the iPhone screen, showing roughly a third of a printed page at a time. You won’t be able to find a ReadSmart book on any E-Ink device, but the book you’ll see will look more like a print book than anything else on the iPhone.” Two things: 1) why would I want my ebooks to look like pbooks when I can read the ebooks fine as they are now? What benefit will that bring me besides fancy font? 2) Apparently some public domain books will be available through the app store to test. Maybe I’ll be surprised and it’ll be really nice, comparable to eInk or something. (That’d be lovely, actually.)
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“Before we get to summer beach reads, there are some heavy spring novels to wade through, many concerning apocalyptic scenarios. They aren’t published by SF-specialty houses, but rather mainstream publishers, both large and small. Many are written by international authors (do they know something we don’t?); some take place in unnamed locales, others on the streets of Brooklyn. But all of them occur in a not-so-faraway future, following a war, plague, terrorist attack or general world collapse.” Maybe some help for those doing the It’s the End of the World II challenge?
Apr 072009
Black Powder War (Temeraire #3) by Naomi Novik
Publication: Ballantine Books (May 30, 2006), ebook / ISBN 0345481305 (pbook)
Genre: (Speculative) Fiction, Alternate History, Fantasy
Rating: 
Find @ Amazon, Fictionwise
First sentence: The hot wind blowing into Macao was sluggish and unrefreshing, only stirring up the rotting salt smell of the harbor, the fish-corpses and great knots of black-red seaweed, the effluvia of human and dragon wastes.
Temeraire series: Book One | Book Two | Book Three (this one!)
I think possibly it was a mistake to read this right after reading Throne of Jade, mostly because I was feeling kind of “meh” by the end of the second book. As a result, I don’t think I gave this one as fair a chance as I might have if I had taken a break from the series before reading it. On the other hand, it might just be that it’s really not as good as the first two books, and I was being entirely fair. Who knows? All I know is that I didn’t like this one as much as the others.
Summary from Amazon:
After their fateful adventure in China, Capt. Will Laurence of His Majesty’s Aerial Corps and his extraordinary dragon, Temeraire, are waylaid by a mysterious envoy bearing urgent new orders from Britain. Three valuable dragon eggs have been purchased from the Ottoman Empire, and Laurence and Temeraire must detour to Istanbul to escort the precious cargo back to England. Time is of the essence if the eggs are to be borne home before hatching.
Yet disaster threatens the mission at every turn–thanks to the diabolical machinations of the Chinese dragon Lien, who blames Temeraire for her master’s death and vows to ally herself with Napoleon and take vengeance. Then, faced with shattering betrayal in an unexpected place, Laurence, Temeraire, and their squad must launch a daring offensive. But what chance do they have against the massed forces of Bonaparte’s implacable army?
My main problem with the book was that so many people die! They don’t die all at once, but instead go one by one, and it’s worse that way. I suppose it’s realistic considering the harshness of the desert and their situation, but it’s horrible to read and there’s no balance of happy events to even things out. The whole book felt like a big grey cloud, crushing my hopes for the characters. Sad!
There are some good parts, like the new dragons we meet, and it’s interesting to get a little taste of the Middle East. I grew to love Granby even more, the dear man, and he in return gets some happy news that I won’t spoil you for. We finally get to see Napoleon in the flesh! Also…new character who might turn out to be awesome later? I don’t particularly like him, because he’s shady, but I think he might be a good addition to the mains et of characters.
But, yeah. Mostly it’s death, losing battles, more death, massive army death, evil dragons, losing more battles, being trapped by people who want to kill everyone including Laurence, and, oh yeah, death. A character I really liked died! It’s incredibly depressing, even more than I thought Throne of Jade was– at least then I thought things might go uphill! Now I just think things will be bad for a while before evening out again, but I don’t think things will ever be the same between Laurence and Temeraire, and I think that’s what makes me sad the most. I want them to be like they were in the first book, y’know?
So, yeah, not my favorite installment. I do plan on reading the rest of the series, but I need a small break to recharge my spirits before continuing on.
Other reviews: All Booked Up | Moomin’s Book Blog | Heartless Gamer
Throne of Jade by Naomi Novik
Publication: Ballantine Books (April 25, 2006), ebook / ISBN 0345481291 (pbook)
Genre: (Speculative) Fiction, Alternate History, Fantasy
Rating:
Find @ Amazon, Fictionwise
Challenges: Seafaring Challenge II (#1)
First sentence: The day was unseasonably warm for November, but in some misguided deference to the Chinese embassy, the fire in the Admiralty boardroom had been heaped excessively high, and Laurence was standing directly before it.
Temeraire series: Book One | Book Two (this one!) | Book Three
After taking a small break after reading His Majesty’s Dragon, I devoured this installment in about two bites. It’s really good, though a bit more drama-filled than the first book.
Summary from Amazon:
When Britain intercepted a French ship and its precious cargo–an unhatched dragon’s egg–Capt. Will Laurence of HMS Reliant unexpectedly became master and commander of the noble dragon he named Temeraire. As new recruits in Britain’s Aerial Corps, man and dragon soon proved their mettle in daring combat against Bonaparte’s invading forces.
Now China has discovered that its rare gift, intended for Napoleon, has fallen into British hands–and an angry Chinese delegation vows to reclaim the remarkable beast. But Laurence refuses to cooperate. Facing the gallows for his defiance, Laurence has no choice but to accompany Temeraire back to the Far East–a long voyage fraught with peril, intrigue, and the untold terrors of the deep. Yet once the pair reaches the court of the Chinese emperor, even more shocking discoveries and darker dangers await.
Throne of Jade starts off on a nearly completely different tone than His Majesty’s Dragon: tense, fraught with danger (of the political kind), and with hints of disaster on the horizon. It does, however, very quickly land us back on a ship, where we’ll stay for about half the book.
Yay ships!
This was honestly my favorite part of the book. It was so interesting reading about all the ship-related things, like, I don’t know, winching up sails (or whatever), that I nearly forgot about all the looming danger and just enjoyed the voyage. There were less battles and more political/cultural clashes, and while those were interesting I couldn’t truly enjoy reading about them because I was so nervous. I mean, someone was trying to take Temeraire away from Laurence again! Something horrible was going to happen, I knew it! Either someone would die, or Temeraire and Laurence would be separated, or China was start a war with England, or something.
Read more about my worrying, plus China, below the jump! Continue reading »
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