Review: Train to Nowhere by Gloria Piper

Train to Nowhere by Gloria Piper

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Outstanding!

Train to Nowhere is YA Dystopian at its finest. The story opens with Garland "venting his frustration" in a performance with his partner, Little Byte. The theme: Outside, anywhere outside! The euphoria is short lived, however, when reality snaps him into post-performance depression. His friends, especially the librarian Dos and Little Byte, try to cheer him up. But rumors that his already claustrophobic world will soon shrink even further fill his mind, for Garland is an Orphan, illegally born and fated to live out his entire life on one of the Orphan trains, never to see the sky, feel the wind on his face, or know true freedom. Sure, he can pull them up on the view screen in his room, but it will always be VR (virtual reality).

Most Orphans are content with their lot, but Garland remembers a time when he wasn't on the train: sunshine

Review: The River of Blue Fire (Otherland #2) by Tad Williams

River of Blue Fire by Tad Williams

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Enjoyable, but takes its time...

The second installment of the Otherland series by Tad Williams picks up where the last leaves off. The "heroes" gathered by Mr. Sellers at the Golden City narrowly escape into another simulation, one that seems perfectly normal except that they are now 1/100th their real size. Gigantic insects and birds populate the world, going about their natural activities, but those are hazardous when you're the size of the next meal.

Soon, events beyond their control shatter the small company and each remnant must find its own way through the increasingly disturbing simulations. Renie and !Xabbu find themselves in Oz gone wrong where they meet a mysterious man who can overcome the rules of the simulation and a naive young girl named Emily who needs rescuing.

Review: City of Golden Shadow (Otherland #1) by Tad Williams

City of Golden Shadow by Tad Williams

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Surprising, complex, and insane...but I like it.

The City of Golden Shadow has been sitting on my bookshelf for over ten years, unread. In times past, I've picked it up and tried to read it, only to give up after twenty pages or so. That being said, I'm glad that I decided to stick it out this time, because this is an astonishingly complex, intricately woven masterpiece. 

Now, to get it out of the way, let me begin with why I never got far in previous attempts. The book starts off on a battlefield with Paul Jonas, a lone soldier stuck in a ditch listening to a man screaming insanely in the background. The imagery is fantastically realistic and more than a little disturbing. In short, it gives every impression of being a war book, which isn't a genre I particularly enjoy. Alas, until this time, I never made it far enough in to realize that nothing is as it seems at first glance.

Review: The Sun Dwellers

Review: The Sun Dwellers by David Estes

The Sun Dwellers by David Estes

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Absolutely a must read!

The Dwellers Saga concludes with the Sun Dwellers. Adele and Tristan set off for the Sun Realm with their close friends on a mission to kill the tyrant, President Nailin. They face nearly impossible odds on what just may turn out to be a suicide mission, but the Sun Dweller army is wreaking havoc in the Moon and Star Realms and their people can't last for long.

The action and imagery in this story surpassed even my high expectations (based on its predecessors). The artificial sky with it's man made sun and diamond stars captured my imagination. The reveling citizens, the crowds, the disguises, all are vividly portrayed in a fun and fluid way. And of course, the end game is fantastic and kept me up way too late for my own good.