Measure of all other fiction books
936635
The trilogy is not only a well-crafted story with varied interesting characters and layers of meaning and life truths, but the language is so appealing that I want to read the whole thing out loud.
4870742
Last year NPR published a list of books which were chosen by their listeners and a special committee that are considered the best 100 Science Fiction and Fantasy books ever written.  I am not sure if I agree with the selections made here but nevertheless one of my current reading projects is to read through the list.  There are many old friends of this list; books that have become a part of my life over the years and have gone through multiple readings by myself indeed, but this reading project I am now on requires me to give them all a reread...I cannot wait!

Anyway, the first on the list, as printed, is Lord of the Rings.  The Hobbit is not on this list.  It is my personal feelings that LOTR cannot be appreciated or fully understood without having first read The Hobbit - ergo I have taken it upon myself to start with The Hobbit and proceed from there.  First though let me do some house keeping.

Amazon, in all of its wisdom, had thrown the reviews of ever edition of The Hobbit all into one bag.  There have been quite a number of editions of this book since the first which was in 1937 with the first American edition being in 1938.  I note from reading the reviews here that there is mass confusion, and indeed a lot of disappointment over ordering this book.  The only thing I can tell you is to do your research and MAKE SURE you order the edition you want.  Many of the sellers here do not know one from the other.  This review is on the book, not on the edition.  I first read this work in 1961 from a very ragged old paperback I found in a junk shop in Istanbul, Turkey.  I think it was the Puffin edition, but cannot be sure.  Since that time I have collected quite a number of these books - all different, but with very minor "errors" all the same story.  (We silly Americans changed "Dwarves" to Dwarfs" because we felt Tolkien had made an error in spelling...Tolkien was NOT happy!)  If a person is interested in such things, I personally would suggest an edition which includes Tolkien's original illustrations.  That is of course just my personal preference.

Anyway.....

Before Lord of the Rings there was the Hobbit.  I am most certainly not going into a plot summary here as all that has been well covered in the 2,000 plus reviews already posted. There are some important points I feel that need to be pointed out.

First is the fact that to consider The Hobbit as a simple children's story would be a big mistake.  Yes, older children will, do and can enjoy it, but like LOTRs, The Hobbit is still and all an adult book despite what others might tell you.  This book needs to be read very carefully and savored.

Second, the reader should note that when Tolkien transitions to LOTRs his style does change somewhat and the overall tone of the story darkens.  It is noted that the story of how the "Ring" came into the hands of the Hobbits (Bilbo), is told.  It should also be noted that the caste of characters changes from The Hobbit to LOTRs.  Gandalf the Grey is present as is Bilbo and Elrod along with a couple of the Dwarves.  For the most part though, the old characters found in The Hobbit are left there as the story moves on with the next three volumes.

Third, the reading level is lower in The Hobbit than in LOTRs.  This is important.  I have found, over the years, than many young people an handle The Hobbit quite well, but when they then go to LOTRs, they find themselves in a bit over their heads and loose interest quite quickly...not all kids, mind you, but enough to be significant.

Forth, Tolkien has used more of a fairy-tale mode in writing The Hobbit than he did in LOTRs.  This throws some folks off when they transition from the first to the later.

I have thoroughly enjoyed this read over the years.  I as sorry to find that NPR had not included it on their "official" list along with LOTRs...but then I suppose that everyone that will conceivably read the list will have some disagreement...that seems to be the nature of lists.

Don Blankenship
The Ozarks
2281844
Anne McCaffrey is one of the greatest science fiction writers of all time.  Her character development is clear, her story lines never get muddled and she writes some books that are tangential to each other; that is the same story from another character's point of view.  Have read and reread most of her books numerous times.  Hers are the only fiction books on my bookcase!
3883452
This book fits right in with all Star Wars novels which have preceded it. Most aren't literary sci-fi masterpieces, just as most are not utter pieces of excrement. Taking all books (Canon and EU) as a whole, there are ups and downs. This book fits right in the middle as comparatively it is utterly average (note: this isn't necessarily a bad thing as I tend to judge books on a 'harsh' scale). It does not deserve the 1 star reviews it is receiving, nor does it fit in with the 5 stars.

From the top, the author's writing style didn't bug me or cause any issues. Heck, I never noticed that it was present tense or thought about it being particularly bad or good until I came across complaints on message boards and reviews. It understandable how this style could influence the experience for other readers, but didn't affect mine at all. Once the book started, I was right into the story and breezed through it in roughly 24 hours.

A minor complaint of mine and substantial one for others, is that this story did not line up with expectations (not the authors fault, this is on the reader). Aftermath is the first major step into the post-RotJ canonical reboot. As result this provides an insanely large slate to work from and this ended up being part of its downfall. Since the EU is not longer canon much less C-level canon, this results in a huge vacuum of information. Those familiar with the EU hoped more information about the Rebellion/Empire and galaxy would be provided. Im not saying the book should have covered 30+ years, but a common desire was for a broader story than just Akiva. The author did cover some of this by providing brief interludes into what was occurring in the wider galaxy, however more was wanted and hoped for by many.

Overall the characters were solid, while not that spectacular. They had interesting backstories and did show some growth throughout the book. A small issue occurs with the fact that just now as trying to write about the characters I have trouble remembering their names. Some of this is on me, however this is also partially on the writer as they were forgettable at times. Substantial props to Chuck Wendig for the awesome variety of characters. A female Y-wing pilot, female Zabrak bounty hunter and ex-Imperial morale officer resulted in a good cast with room for story points and differing views. My main complaint in regards to the characters is how they were all involved in the Battle of the Endor (even Admiral Rae Sloane and Wedge Antilles were there) and then they all by coincidence end up on a backwater planet such as Akiva. Star Wars over the years has been docked points for how interconnected everything is and then the new canon continues doing the exact same thing.

I could keep rambling on the good and bad with no end in sight, but will just end with my last disappointment. The major space battle at the end was all hype and no substance. 3 ships versus 5 ships and one side wins. Personally I was hoping for more.

Conclusion: Aftermath ends up a victim of being the first major entry into the vacuum/blank slate that is the post-RotJ era. As result many readers had high expectations which were not met. Since this is the first book of a trilogy the final verdict won't be known until it is completed, but at this moment it should not have been the initial starting point in the RotJ-TFA gap. The best role for this book would have been a companion piece with a different book covering more taking the lead and pressure for rebooting the canon. In the end, Aftermath is a very solid Star Wars story which could have easily fit in the old EU, ignoring canonical issues, and one I recommend. It isn't perfect, nor as flawed as some believe (although that is their right). BTW, Mister Bones is pretty frickin awesome.
3668794
I measure a book's value by how many pages I've dog-eared or marked up. I'm only halfway through this one but can recommend it already as only a few pages are unscathed. You may not always agree (I'm not Orthodox) but it will surely stretch your mind and spirit.
3867955
This is basically the only book you'll need to get started writing quality fiction. I've read about five 'how to write fiction' titles since, and it feels as though they've basically taken a single chapter from Swain's and diluted and filled it till they've made their own title. Techniques... is so helpful, I've read it once, highlighted it another, and am making my own personal summary for a third. Great book. (Also, it's a little dated in terms of racial stereotypes and gender equality, so you'll have to get past that.)
3395526
This reference is fantastic.  One only wishes it were longer!  Each of 125 authors are given a dense two-page spread that includes a picture and short bio, an essay on their works and characters, lists of  best books and companion volumes, and recommendations for the book you should read first as well as similar authors.  All modern time periods are represented and include Jane Austen, Isaac Asimov, John Cheever, Margaret Atwood, John Irving, Leo Tolstoy, C.S. Forester, E.M. Forster, Joseph Conrad, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Leonard Elmore, Louis L'Amour, Joseph Heller, Jane Smiley etc.  A wonderful selection.

The book would be great if it ended there, but further sections list literary award winners, the best of genre fiction, "best of" lists from The Modern Library and The New York Public Library, readers' resources (including those found online), information about reading groups, audiobooks, catalogues, used books, e-books, sources for book reviews and a list of national and state book festivals.  Each section is exhaustive and well-organized.

An excellent index includes even those authors listed as suggestions, and highlights featured authors in bold type.

Just wonderful, if a bit dangerous.  Highest recommendation.
1384905
This is THE seminal book in fantasy.  The archetype.  All others that follow are a variation on the theme.  And, unfortunately, some are straight up rip offs (Brooks & McKiernan).  That said, Tolkein delivers the most cohesive mythos in fantasy ever.  Characters are perfectly crafted and delivered; the story is never disjointed - always coherent.  This is the penultimate fantasy work.  A MUST own for any student of specluative fiction.
4907227
Many books on writing fiction serve more as organizational guides or tips on being in the habit of writing! The better ones discuss important elements like plot, dialogue, characters, etc. Not enough writing books are about studying what makes an author or book work very well which is unfortunate as the basis of being a writer is being a reader. But this is what makes this the best fiction writing book I've ever read. However keep your electronic reader near you while reading this book. You will want to download copies of the books to read as many of the books are classics that you can pay little to no money for. You will want to re-read books you read previously from the writers perspective. I would highly recommend this book.
496346
I have hundreds of books on my shelf there then there is my special shelf where I go back to my favorite books.  Seven Story Mountain is on that shelf.  Thomas Merton's best work.  don't bother reading any of his other books this is the only book that matters.
3250429
This deserves to be counted among classic fiction literature. There are many layers to the book, and it is well worth the fact that it is a rather long read (the plot never drags).
4150664
This book is much larger, longer, and heavier than I originally envisioned. It's a significant piece of work with tons of small blurbs about even the most esoteric of characters
2775451
The only reason I have to take away one star is the disappointingly small size of the book! I have many Patricia Polacco hardcover books. I love them all! She is a fantastic story-teller and illustrator! However, I was very surprised when my order of 3 of her books arrived...and "Thank you,Mr. Falker"  was much smaller than the others. I have quite a collection of her books and both hardcovers and paperbacks have always been the same size...Hardcovers 11 1/8 x 8 3/4...Paperbacks 10 7/8 x 8 3/8. I actually have a hardcover copy of "Thank You Mr. Falker" already and it is the same size as stated above. This new copy is only 9 11/4 x 7 1/4! Also...it does not have a dust-cover matching the outside front & back covers of the book, as all my other hardcover Polacco books do. I see that the size is stated in the item description, but I never would have thought there would be a reason to check. This was purchased as a gift for a newly graduating teacher and it does not look nice enough for presentation! I would like to know why Amazon does not carry this book in the usual size.
4489161
Terrific book for anyone writing any kind of fiction. I've recommended it to several other writers, and I'm reading it again as I write another story.
2440370
Euclid's Elements: all thirteen books complete in one volume. The Thomas L. Heath Translation. Dana Densmore, Editor. Santa Fe, New Mexico: Green Lion Press, 2002. Cloth, 529 pp. ISBN 1888009187.

I have just received my hardcover copy of 'Euclid's Elements' and must say that Green Lion Press is to be congratulated on having given us, not only an accurate and uncluttered student-friendly edition of Euclid, but a book that in terms of its physical makeup is truly splendid.

What a striking contrast this Green Lion Press book is to the over-priced trash so many publishers see fit to inflict on us today. Rather than the sort of pseudo-book we have grown accustomed to - books on paper of mediocre quality in imitation cloth-covered boards; books with those wretched thermoplastic spines that either won't open flat or if opened will immediately crack; books designed to self-destruct after only minimal use - Green Lion Press has given us something very different.

Their hardcover edition is cased in sturdy real cloth-covered boards.  Its pages are Smyth-sewn in the traditional manner so that the book will open flat. It is beautifully printed on durable high-quality paper and the typography and layout are also excellent.

Green Lion Press has, in short, given us A REAL BOOK at a reasonable price, one that will easily withstand the heavy use most readers will be giving it, and one that is a truly fitting vehicle for this masterpiece of Greek wisdom.
4703336
This is one of the best fiction books out there. I d read many books by this author, excellent accrodd the boards. Happy to see it in audiobook!!
3765528
With thirty stories representing twenty-eight countries (twenty-seven of the thirty were originally in languages other than English) the scope is vast. And not just geographically. Genre-wise, as well.

There is literary fiction, which often took the form of snapshots of people's lives. The poignant 'Hospital Room Nr 13.54' by Olga Martynova stands out here.

There's magical realism like Adda Djorup's 'Birds', which was lovely in that Iris Murdoch I-think-I'm-missing-something-but-I-love-it-anyway sort of way.

'The Second-Hand Man' by Michael O Conhaile covered the humour area fairly well in a story that was very Irish. Read it and you'll see what I mean. There's a church and the Devil and God and a man with two tools. And I don't mean pliers.

If you're looking for straight up erotic 'Somavox' by Christopher Meredith definitely has that one covered, as does 'Dungeness' by Edy Poppy, though the former is a mix of science fiction while the latter is literary fiction.

Want to have your heart broken? 'What the Dying Heart Says' by John Toomey. There you go.

If modern vampire fiction is your thing there's a story for that. And other types of science fiction and eastern European dream state stories. There's even a choose your own adventure.

What's most impressive is that it all hangs together. There's a story near the beginning 'The Demise of Engineer G.' by Rein Raud about a man who creates incredible meals out of dishes from around the world where a flavour from one dish perfectly sets off something in the following or previous dish. That's what West Camel has done. It's the best anthology I've read yet.

With its variety of genres (and not a weak contribution in the bunch), Best European Fiction 2015 has something for every taste. I would definitely recommend it for fans of short fiction or people interested in expanding their reading life beyond works written originally in English.

An enthusiastic 5/5.

[I received a free copy of this book to review, but it genuinely was spectacular.]