All Reviews by Blue
Mortal Ghost
by L. Lee Lowe
This is excellent, the excerpt doesn't show what a compelling, vivid style the author has. Following Jesse's story, finding out about what he thinks his past contains, and then the twists which follow, as well as the inter-relationships between the key characters and the look at families, good and bad, had me hooked all day long till I reached the final page. I especially liked the mystical and SF elements, reminds me of early John Wyndham in places. Unmissable.
Star Surgeon
by Alan Nourse
Solid pulp fiction, nothing sparkling but well-written and I enjoyed the alien viewpoint and the medical stuff doesn't seem too dated. A fun, quick read, try it.
The Cinema Murder
by E. Phillips Oppenheim
Satisfying mystery, slightly dated but the descriptions of America of the period are fascinating to the modern reader; little bit plodding, but persevere, the twist at the end is good stuff, and watching Philip's character develop is enjoyable.
Doctor Who: The Sands of Time
by Justin Richards
Fabulous classic style Dr Who novelisation - this features Peter Davison's doctor along with Nyssa and Tegan and is a complex tale of Egyptian mummies in Victorian times that bounces back and forth by several thousand years and plays with time and paradoxes. Great action and has definitely caught the characters voices nicely, with a solid plot and some lovely little asides. Highly recommended.
Carnacki, The Ghost Finder
by William Hope Hodgson
I'll echo the other rave reviews for this one, a lovely collection of chilling ghost/haunting stories, where Carnathi is an informed sceptic, willing to believe in the supernatural and protect himself from same with various rituals, yet also on the look-out for hoaxes (some of which are inspired, as you will see). The "stories after dinner" approach of each chapter works well and the haunted bits are pretty scary, much detail and not one to read too late at night!
Phil the Fiddler
by Horatio Alger
Rather twee and worthy tale of a young Italin boy sold to a US "padrone" and forced to earn his keep by playing the fiddle on the streets of New York for money. The boy himself is full of life and the characters he encounters are nicely drawn, just skim over the "woe for the poor beggars" asides and the rather dated view of foreign climes. Sweet and engaging all the same, mind.
Arsène Lupin
by Edgar Jepson
Oh, great fun this one. A rollicking tale of Arsene Lupin, gentleman burglar and his efforts to outwit the police and detectives hot on his trail - the opening is a little tedious but persevere for the slapstick humour, witty asides, and some unexpected twists, definitely a must-read, I'm on the hunt for more about Monsieur Lupin's exploits!
The Mysterious Shin Shira
by George Edward Farrow
Charming little tales about the mysterious Shin Shira, a little man dressed in yellow who appears from nowhere to the supposed author and relates fabulous tales of his magical exploits, and gets the author involved in some adventures of his own. Dragons, magic carpets and rides on model boats, this reminds me of E Nesbit's sort of work, and if a little dated, has humour and some lovely scenes where the real world intervenes to make magical events rather lose their way.
The Door Through Space
by Marion Zimmer Bradley
Its hard to believe this is over 40 years old now, the writing is a fresh and appealing as ever and the detail of the world of Wolf, where Race Cargill is drawn back into his old life as a spy, mingling with the native people of the world while on the track of his old enemy, is convincing.. I was hooked from the opening scene; nothing new here, perhaps, but quality writing that hasn't dated at all.