Average customer rating:
- MUST READ!!!
- Disappointing conclusion leaves unanswered questions
- Book Three is worth the wait
- Top notch!!
- great series
|
White (Circle Trilogy)
Ted Dekker
Manufacturer: Thomas Nelson
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Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 1595540350 |
Book Description
"Never break The Circle."
In this final installment of Ted Dekker's groundbreaking Circle trilogy, Thomas Hunter has only days to survive two separate realms of danger, deceit, and destruction. The fate of both worlds hinges on his unique ability to shift realities through his dreams.
Now leading a small ragtag group known as The Circle, Thomas finds himself facing new enemies, never-ending challenges, and the forbidden love of a most unlikely woman.
Enter the Great pursuit, where Thomas and a small band of followers must decide quickly who they can trust--both with their own lives and the fate of millions. Dreams and reality quickly bleed into each other as time runs out. And neither the terror of Black nor the treachery of Red can prepare Thomas for the forces aligned against The Circle in White.
Customer Reviews:
MUST READ!!!.......2007-07-12
You have GOT to get this book! Get the first two and read them... or get them all at once because you will go from one to the other right away not wanting to wait.
Disappointing conclusion leaves unanswered questions.......2007-06-26
In "White" the "Circle Trilogy" reaches a disappointing conclusion, and while a slam-bang final volume could have saved the trilogy, this effort only sinks it further into mediocrity. Combine Dekker's dangling plot lines with a questionable portrayal of the nature of God, and you have a book that avoids a one-star rating by the skin of its teeth.
For example, in "Black", Dekker hinted at a connection between Teeleh and Svensson (he describes both as walking with a leg-dragging limp). I kept waiting for some kind of payoff or revelation, but nothing ever comes of it. It's as if the author simply forgot what he had written earlier. In fact, most of the villains either disappear (Teeleh only has a cameo) or are quickly dispatched with no final battle or confrontation.
The biggest plot problems, though, surround the "Books of Histories". First, Thomas discovers that anything written in the blank books comes true -- it literally becomes history. So if anything goes, why doesn't Thomas just write that the bad guys dropped dead? If that seems too merciless, why not write "Monique discovered the antidote for the Raison Strain", thus depriving the villains of their only weapon?
Second, about half way through the book, most of the Histories suddenly vanish. Unfortunately, Dekker forgets to tell us why or how, and their disappearance plays no further role in the story.
Third, one of the blank books -- almost unlimited power -- falls into the hands of the bad guys. Does Thomas mount a desperate and daring attempt to retrieve the book? Do the bad guys gloat over the perfect weapon and try to use it for evil? Nope. Nothing happens. Literally, NOTHING happens.
Despite being a powerful allegory of God's love, the book fails on the spiritual front, too. Portraying God as "desperate" to win the love of sinners is almost blasphemous. Since God has absolute foreknowledge of the future, He isn't desperate about anything. It's fine for Dekker to remind us that God is an emotional Being, but His emotions do not control Him the way the author presents. Thomas' love for Chelise is problematic, too, as impressionable young people could see it as encouraging "missionary dating".
Lacking a satisfying climax, and filled with plot holes and confusing theology, "White" rates 2 stars. Barely.
Book Three is worth the wait.......2007-06-25
I picked up Ted Dekker's book to see what all the fuss was about, and discovered a well-written, complex story that drew me in instantly. Dekker's parallel story of romantic love, sacrifice, and resistance is at times puzzling and intriguing, but overall a fascinating read.
Top notch!!.......2007-06-12
Wonderful in so many ways I can't even tell you. But once you read the first in the series you will be hooked.
great series.......2007-05-13
fascinating... worth the read.... I enjoyed the series so much I bought a second set as a gift even before I finished "White" (Last book in the trilogy)
Book Description
A brother of the Order-a medieval secret society uniting noble families in a sacred bond-Sir Hugh de Payens has emerged from the First Crusade a broken man seeking to dedicate his life to God. But the Order has other plans for him: to uncover a deadly secret that could shatter the very might of the Church itself.
Customer Reviews:
Tedious? Hardly! .......2007-09-27
Not only does Mr. Whyte spin a good yarn, his attention to detail is amazing. He lays out the factual data about life, politics and such in vivid detail while not turning it into a history text and the characters are "real" people not just superficial cut outs stuck into a story. He makes great use of the literary license to combine several of the "possible" theories regarding the Knights into an engrossing story centered around the historical facts.
Be warned, this is one that causes you to forget things like dinner (be there in a second), bed (just a few more pages) and other non essential activities while you ride, fight and live alongside Sir Hugh and his brothers.
The Secret Brotherhood.......2007-09-27
First the basics, this is a fictional novel that tells the tale of the origins of the Knights Templar or as known in this book as the Order of the Rebirth in Sion. The Order's mission is to unveil the "truth" about the Catholic Church, which is that Jesus was not the son of God, but just another Jewish rebel. The Catholic Church was later created by a gentile that wanted to change the Jewish teaching to something more popularly acceptable (mainly to the Romans). This really is not a spoiler since you find this out near the beginning of the book with continuous discussion on this throughout the book.
I had mixed emotions from reading this book. A couple of disclaimers, I have not read any of Jack Whyte's books before this and I am Catholic. I do however have an open mind, love history, and find the mystery of the Knights Templar interesting.
The book is obviously not for anyone that is Christian and unwilling to allow the author some creative margin. Nevertheless, if you can get past that, the premise is an interesting twist on the Knight Templar theme. There are parts of the book that are gripping and entertaining and show that the author is talented.
However, the novel seems to stall in the middle. The author abandons the development of the main character and his friends. Only then, to pick up the story of the young knight and the princess which seem unnecessary and ridiculous. I would hope that the author has some greater purpose for them later on to justify the excessively vulgar relationship. In addition, the constant church bashing does get tedious. I realize the Church abused their power during the middle ages, but we got the point the fifth time and didn't need another fifty examples. The perverted bishop was more graphic than necessary for an adventure novel.
The "treasure" that the knights find make you want to find out how the knights will use it and what events will be triggered. However, to find out in the next book, I suspect I would be forced to wade through more of the same rhetoric. I don't recommend this book, but I am compelled to see what all the praise is about on Jack's other books the Camulod series.
Stick with Camulod.......2007-09-03
I had just finished the last book in the Camulod Series, and was thrilled to find more works by Jack Whyte. I wanted to like this book so much, but after reading 200 pages I gave up. I swear one of my most favorite authors did not write this book!
I decided to see what other readers here thought of the book, just to make sure part of my brain wasn't missing or something. It looks like readers either really liked, or really didn't like it. The readers who liked it found it riveting and interesting, while I found it neither. The only explanation I can imagine for this is that the other half of us got a different book.
At any rate, if you have not read Jack Whyte before, and are interested in the Templars, you might like this book. However, if you hungrily read every book of the Camulod Chronicles and found the writing to be some of the best you've ever enjoyed, you probably won't like this book. If you are in the latter category, stick with Camulod and cut your losses. Don't say I didn't warn you.
Loved it!.......2007-08-23
Hardcore Christians will no doubt be offended. People who take weeks to read a mass market paperback will find it tedious. But for those people who like a good thick book (one that takes more than a few hours to consume) or anyone interested in the Templars, it's a great read.
Sure, some characters could have been developed more. I suspect they will be in the next two books of this planned trilogy. This is my first Jack Whyte book. I hope his others are half as good, because I've found a new favorite author.
Dull and Rambling - Quite Disappointed.......2007-08-21
A long, tedious book at times, lacking in focus and populated by undeveloped characters. Many characters are stock stereotypes but the princess is ludicrous. The entire plot involving her and one of the monk-knights is bizarre and just wrong. I actually enjoyed the theory behind the Temple Mount monks but most of this novel was poorly written and wandered all over the place with no real point.
Book Description
In a land on the brink of peace—watched jealously by a ruthless cult from across the sea and beset by hidden enemies—five extraordinary humans must serve as sword and shield of the Gods.
Auraya is one.
Her heroism saved a village from destruction; now Auraya has been named Priestess of the White. The limits of her unique talents must be tested in order to prove her worthy of the honor and grave responsibility awarded to her. But a perilous road lies ahead, fraught with pitfalls that will challenge the newest servant of the gods. An enduring friendship with a Dreamweaver—a member of an ancient outcast sect of sorcerer-healers—could destroy Auraya's future. And her destiny has set her in conflict with a powerful and mysterious, black-clad sorcerer with but a single purpose: the total annihilation of the White. And he is not alone . . .
Customer Reviews:
Priestess of the White.......2007-09-05
I have just finished Priestess of the White (Book 1) and can't wait to begin Books 2 and 3. As someone who loves a good fantasy story, she is a very gifted writer. After reading her triology "The Black Magician", I didn't believe she would be able to come close to that one, but she did and this one is equally as good.
Thought provoking and interesting, with good characters but flawed.......2007-07-22
I actually preferred this to Canavan's Black Magician series. She's good at develping interesting worlds and characters, but I have some serious problems with the overall intelligence of many of her characters. Occasionally they are just plain stupid and I find it annoying. This happened a few times in this series, but not as much as in Black Magician.
The whole concept of the "Gods" in this world is very interesting - as you go through the series you realize they are much more like the ancient Greek and Roman gods than any concept of an omnipotent judeo/christian/islamic God who (we presume) actually has the Greater Good of Humanity as a goal. This really provides an opportunity for some serious thought about Religion and how/what/why we choose to worship. If you do find this an interesting train of thought worth pursuing, then I encourage you to make it through the whole series. It's hardly all the series has to offer, but I think it's one of the best parts.
The world itself that Canavan creates is interesting, and fairly well rounded. The flying people and the Pentadrians are especially interesting. Auraya herself, as a previous reviewer said, is portrayed in the beginning as something of a Golden Girl who can do no wrong. She becomes much more human in as the series progresses.
The whole concept of who (or what) is evil or good (and the way we demonize or deify others) is played with thorughout the series, and I enjoyed that. All in all, this is a good book, and a good series, worth reading. The annoying bits (for me) were worth slogging through for the good parts.
Great ideas but a little bland.......2006-12-29
This is the first in a trilogy that takes place in a world where everyone has a *some* magical ability (even plants and animals), though some more than others, and has a treatment of gods and immortals that I haven't seen before (and I've read a *lot*). You can see some influence from Niven's "The Magic Goes Away" and from Zelazny's work, but the ideas are pretty original.
I read Ms. Canavan's Black Magician series earlier this year and was impressed with her originality, if not her characterization. Her books make for good reads, with interesting ideas, but the characters seem a bit too simple. They have modern sensibilities and are all very rational, and I can't figure out whether I think it is refreshing or out of place in the fantasy settings that she is using. She *is* good at drawing out mysterious motivations and keeping the reader eager to find out the details of so-and-so's secret. It's just almost PC in the lack of good/evil. Nothing like the complex characters of George R. R. Martin, who are capable of both good and evil at the same time and come off as much more believable.
Bottom line though is that I read this, read the sequel, and am waiting fairly eagerly for the last in the trilogy. :-)
Very Good.......2006-11-16
I frequently browse books on Amazon and add to my wish list ones that I think could be good, mostly based on their title and cover. Later I go back and sort through these after reading their descriptions and reviews. This was one of those books, and while it waited on my wish list, I ended up receiving it as a gift.
I have not read the Black Magician Trilogy because I did not think I would like it, and after reading the back cover of this book, I didn't think I would like it that well, either. Boy, was I wrong.
This book started out a little slow, and it is hard to follow sometimes because it is continuously jumping from character to character. But I loved it. The plot was unique, at least it wasn't like anything I have ever read before, which is always a bonus for me. Sometimes fantasy books tend to all sound the same.
Auraya was a very likeable character, and realistic, though many might think she is unreasonably good. I don't think she is necessarily so good or so wise, she is just confident in her judgements. This novel goes into way more than just Auraya and the white, but you will have to read it to find out what it's about.
I was extremely pleased with this book, and I'm eager to read the next two. It goes to show that you can't judge a book by its cover.
Priestess of the White.......2006-07-26
Having read Trudi Canavan's first trilogy
- the Black Magician Trilogy - and found it very fascinating, I was looking forward to reading her next trilogy. And I have not been disappointed so far
- the third and final book in the trilogy has not yet been published as I write this review but I am looking forward to reading it as well.
The plot in POTW is good, the characters are interesting and believable and there are many surprising elements in the books. Story telling wise, Canavan has improved tremendously. It really makes one wish that the BMT had been her second trilogy in stead of her first as the plot and characters in the BMT were so good and - quite frankly - deserved better.
Priestess of the White aims for older readers and being one adult and avid fan of fantasy books, I find it wonderful to read a story that involves grown-ups with all their typical problems and/or challenges written in a realistic and believable way - blended into a wonderful fascinating fantasy world, of course.
I can only recommend Priestess of the White to all that enjoy a good fantasy story.
Product Description
Some say that the world hangs in the balance of our choices. Now, the fate of two worlds depends on one man's choices, an unlikely hero who may not survive the next twenty-four hours. The adrenaline-laced trilogy began with Black last February, continued with Red in June, and now races to an unbelievable conclusion with White this October. In this book, Thomas Hunter struggles to stave off a war and virus that are simultaneously ravaging two worlds' populations. Meanwhile, he must also contend with the ramifications of an incredible love story that unfolds--consequences that are far more crushing than anyone could ever imagine. This final installment brings the groundbreaking series to a close in a completely unexpected manner, filled with final plot twists that will richly reward those who have taken this epic journey.
Book Description
L. E. Modesitt has gained a legion of devoted fans for his science fiction as well as for his epic fantasy novels, and Ghost of the White Nights is one of the best displays yet of his ability to blend dramatic, imaginative stories with rigorous social and scientific extrapolation. This is the concluding novel of the alternate-history adventure trilogy that Modesitt began with Of Tangible Ghosts and The Ghost of the Revelator. Doktor Johan Eschbach, Professor of Environmental Science and semi-retired secret agent, and his lovely wife the world-renowned singer Llysette, return for another adventure, this time in Russia. Their world is an intriguing alternate present in which many things are changed. What we know as the eastern United States is the nation of Columbia, and Russia is still ruled by the Romanovs. Johan had hoped for a quiet life of teaching. Llysette, a refugee from the burning remains of France, has put her time in the prison camps of the Hapsburg Empire behind her and successfully resumed her singing career. But the Columbian government cannot afford to waste their particular talents and calls upon them again. Llysette is being sent on a cultural exchange mission to St. Petersburg, where she will sing for the Tsar. Johan will, of course, accompany her, allowing him to work behind the scenes on the oil concession in Russian Alaska that Columbia so desperately needs. But even the oil shortage will fade to insignificance when Johan discovers what new weapons technology the Russians are developing, a threat even more fearsome than the atomic bombs of Austro-Hungary. AUTHORBIO: L. E. Modesitt, Jr., carries on the science fiction tradition of Gordon R. Dickson and Poul Anderson, hard-edged adventures with sophisticated social and political dimensions. Ghost of the White Nights is a powerfully imaginative addition to this tradition L. E. Mosesitt, Jr,. lives in Cedar City, Utah.
Customer Reviews:
ghost of the White Nights.......2005-12-30
A different book from the author. It was on the same level as his other books. It jumped around and followed several story lines until the end when it came together. Very good book if you are looking for something differnt from this author.
Who cares about the soup? The book's not bad at all........2005-10-11
If you start by reading the Publisher's Weekly review, you might prefer a poke in the eye with a sharp stick to reading Ghost of the White Nights, and that would be a mistake!
The concluding volume of the Columbia-Ghost trilogy is Modesitt's best volume in the series. It is well-paced, start to finish, it has some interesting plot twists, and the hero, Johan Eschbach, is at his finest.
Fans of the series will already understand the basic premise. Columbia, an alternate-world semi-USA faces the twin threats of chronic oil shortages and Austrian Emperor Ferdinand's plots to dominate the world. Eschbach, spy, professor, war hero, and good guy who wipes the dishes and makes a fair salad, must handle both issues.
This time, Eschbach must broker a deal with a creaky Romanov regime, trading technology for oil. There is plenty of intrigue, and Modesitt really has the Russian character-- proud, paranoid, but ultimately somehow likeable--down pat.
It is a shame that Eschbach's ahem--itchy-ahem French wife is still along for the ride, fussing about every bowl of soup, but if you can get past that, White Nights isn't bad at all. Some odd plot twists like having Nebraska Senator Chuck Hagel appear in the alternate universe as an insidiously smarmy US Ambassador to Russia, are a lot of fun, too.
White Nights is a significant uptick on the previous volume, Ghost of the Revelator, which had almost nothing in it but the French wife crabbing about the chow!
Superior alt-hist political thriller. 4.5 stars.......2004-01-01
_________________________________________
Johan Eschbach, retired from an eventful career as a
naval aviator, Spazi agent, and cabinet minister, now
teaches environmental economics at Vanderbraak State
University in New Bruges (New Hampshire in OTL). He's married
to lyric soprano Llysette Du Boise, whose performance at Deseret's
Salt Palace (in Ghost of the Revelator), and the best-selling CD
recorded then, has made her reputation worldwide. Lysette is
invited to perform for the tzar in Moscow -- oh, and would Johan
undertake a bit of quiet diplomacy for Columbia with the Imperial
government, while he's there?
Not surprisingly, this 'quiet' diplomacy ends in violence, but does
lead, as hoped, to an oil concession for Columbian Dutch Petro in
Russian Alaska. The thriller part is well-done & fun, but the real
strength of the book is the continued development of Modesitt's
alternate world, and the closely-observed details of daily life in
Columbia, which shares North America with Quebec, Deseret and
New France -- and the world with Emperor Ferdinand's cruel and
aggressive Austrian (Hapsburg) empire.
White Nights is the conclusion of the Ghosts novels, per the dust
jacket, but I rather hope Modesitt decides to continue. I've become
fond of Johan, Lysette, New Bruges, the petty academic politics at
Vanderbraak State, the Stanley steamers, and the slow pace of life in
Columbia.
OTOH, Modesitt doesn't do well with long series...
Eschbach, Johan Eschbach.......2003-05-04
The third in Mr. Modesitt's "ghost" series is, as were the first two, set in an alternate universe in which ghosts and zombies are real, and the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the Czars have survived to the late 1990s. And the United States--err, make that Columbia--was settled by the English and the Dutch and its territory consists of much of our universe's United States and Anglophone Canada. The Mormons, however, seem to have settled in their own land called Deseret. Huh? (Alt-hist purists may be upset, more than somewhat, to discover that Mr. Modesitt provides no turning point event to account for the divergence between this time line and our own, but the rest of us won't care all that much.)
Eshbach, environmental economist and sometime spy and his diva wife, Llysette, are sent, at government expense, to St. Petersburg where she will perform before the Czar, while Eschbach himself must negotiate some sort of oil deal with the Russians so that the Austro-Hungarians don't corner the world's oil supply, and of course there are plenty of bad guys around that do not wish for Eschbach to succeed. (Naturally, like any secret agent who has to save the world, he comes equipped with a few special gadgets that tilt the odds in his favor--and usually not a moment too soon at that.)
The book is smoothly written, urbane, and just plain fun. The few hours you'll spend in Mr. Modesitt's company will surely be worth your while. Try it even if you haven't read the first two in the series.
Great characterization, intriguing alternative history.......2001-12-03
Johan Eschbach is perfectly content with his life as a college Professor of Environmental Economics and the husband of Llysette, a classical singer. When his government calls both of them into service, Johan finds himself returning to a past that he had thought was long behind him--that of a spy and assassin.
In this powerful alternative history novel, Austria-Hungary, allied with Prussia/Germany, sits astride a conquered Europe with only Russia, Sweden, and the fading Ottoman Turks remaining to face it. With both conventional weapons and the ability to create zombie armies, Austria-Hungary is content to nibble away at its enemies. In America, Columbia (representing most of what is the United States and the maritime provinces of Canada in our reality) suffers under the energy blockade that Austria-Hungary now imposes. Under the cover of an artistic exchange, Johan is sent to Russia to negotiate oil leases in Russian Alaska.
Russia, still ruled by the Tsars, is a challenge to Johan. The rocket branch of the Russian military seems intent on foiling the oil deal despite the obvious benefits to all parties. Johan comes to suspect a threat to the entire world order--one that neither Russia nor Columbia is likely to survive. Yet what can one man do against the intrenched bureaucracy of a centuries-old state?
Author L. E. Modesitt, Jr. brings his emotionally compelling writing to a fascinating alternative history--one vaguely reminisent of Jules Verne, with its steam automobiles, dirigible travel, and its still-surviving Imperial heads of state, yet with a supernatural element of ghosts making their presence felt. Despite a few loose ends (what, exactly, was that bombing about), Modesitt delivers an exciting story with fully human characters. Johan, in particular, is wonderfully sympathetic as an aging college professor forced back into a way of life that he had thought behind him, now with the need to protect his wife as well as his country.
Fans of Modesitt's pure fantasy as well as alternative history buffs will enjoy GHOST OF THE WHITE NIGHTS.
Average customer rating:
- Why buy used?
- Fine unusual police noir
- What does the title mean?
- High-caliber Noir with a Post-Modern Flair
- by far the best "noir" novels in a long time
|
The White Trilogy
Ken Bruen
Manufacturer: Justin, Charles & Co.
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Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 1932112022 |
Book Description
In this book, a jagged, brilliant tour of London noir, Detective Chief Inspector Roberts and Detective Sergeant Brant are obverse sides of the same tarnished coin. They come up against some of the worst thugs, gangs, and lowlifes.
Customer Reviews:
Why buy used?.......2007-09-04
Not a review, just started it. He is a great author.
The point is don't buy it used go to
http://www.justincharlesbooks.com/book/?GCOI=19321100859740
pay retail
Fine unusual police noir.......2006-01-11
This novel is billed as a trilogy, but it's really a three-part narrative. No matter. It's set in Southeast London where the mean streets are about as mean as they get. It's where everyone is at least a little bent and everything is suspicious, rife with double meanings. If you're looking for a little redemption or perhaps one character who is pure, this is not the crime novel for you.
Here the cops are bugging each other, ratting on each other, and taking bribes right and left, and not just cash or merchandise. Here's a neighborhood in which the worst low-life gang leader seriously entertains dreams of rising to the heights of the social ladder; here's a place in which the turbulence of routine daily life is so loud and riotous sleep is nearly impossible.
THE WHITE TRILOGY follows the antics and the actions of several police personnel through attempts to make major arrests of horrendous local criminals and gang leaders. There's even an abortive international chase. The title comes from police jargon in which the solution of a major crime is termed a white. It certainly doesn't refer to the process of detection. Or to any of the major characters if white is your color of goodness. These stories embrace a vast cast of characters, few of whom are principal but all of who make major contributions to the narrative and none of whom can be considered on the side of the angles. It's all a matter of degree.
Chief Inspector Roberts, nearing retirement, is hanging on to his administrative post by hook or, mostly, by crook. He is a venal, incompetent man who hates his cheating wife and would undoubtedly murder her if he could find the time to set it up. One of his major problems is Detective Sergeant Brant, an out and out Irish thug who forces bribes from every merchant he encounters. Brant appears to have a single saving grace. He has a complete collection of Ed McBain novels, a hero of his. And he does try to apprehend criminals who commit worse crimes than he perpetrates. The female constables, chief among them, Susie Falls and her chum Rosie, are no better in the constant struggle just to stay alive and avoid apprehension.
Bruen writes a fast, muscular book. You have to pay attention. Apart from the British argot and unfamiliar organizational structure, Bruen's style is not your typical American crime novel. But it's fun, in a nasty sort of way, enthralling, thought-provoking and surprising. All in all a cracking good novel.
What does the title mean?.......2005-10-14
One wonders if characters really exist who show up in Bruen's world. If so, then perhaps we on this side of the pond should avoid both Ireland and London. That said, Bruen writes a steely, albeit highly brutal novel. This particular one is most enjoyable with all its gruesome and gory details from the underbelly of London. I shall continue reading this particular author, hoping for a growth in humanness that is sorely lacking presently.
High-caliber Noir with a Post-Modern Flair.......2005-01-04
Irish author Ken Bruen is a leading practitioner of what has been called "postmodern noir." Three of his novels from the late 90's (A WHITE ARREST, TAMING THE ALIEN and THE McDEAD) have been collected in trade paperback format and entitled THE WHITE TRILOGY. Raw and violent, darkly humorous and, at times, poignant and moving, THE WHITE TRILOGY may be compared favorably to James Ellroy's "LA Quartet." While Bruen's books perhaps lack the scope of those latter novels, they more than match them in gut-wrenching intensity and inventiveness. To read this book is to tour a decadent and decaying London that tourists and visitors can only pray they never encounter.
The three novels that comprise THE WHITE TRILOGY trace the exploits of Detective Inspector Roberts and Detective Sergeant Brant as they track a gang of urban vigilantes who prey upon East End drug dealers. Simultaneously, they seek to identify the psycho who is murdering the members of the English National Cricket Squad and attempt to avenge the brutal murder of Robert's estranged brother at the hands of Irish gangster Tommy Logan. In the process the lines between right and wrong, good and bad, and between the coppers and the criminals gets more than a little blurred.
Roberts plays cool and calculating opposite the vicious and troglodyte Brant. Together the two represent a kind of twisted law enforcement yin and yang. But upholding law and order is less a priority for them than is maintaining an edge, getting ahead, punishing the "punters" and just plain surviving another day on the streets and at "the nick." Are these two buggers hardboiled? You'd need an ice pick to even put a dent in their collective persona. It's a good thing that Roberts and Brant are cops. If they weren't they'd make public enemy number one look like a bloody boy scout by comparison.
Bruen tells his story with clipped, staccato prose that jumps rapidly from scene to scene, often with only minimal transition. The net effect is a bit like looking at the world through a kaleidoscope with a broken lens. And this is a world in which loyalty has very little meaning, where retribution is the coin of the realm and where redemption - although theoretically still possible - is in very short supply.
THE WHITE TRILOGY can be read easily in one or two sittings. Indeed, it seems designed to be read in just that way - the literary equivalent, perhaps, of the proverbial weekend "bender." You won't have a hangover when you're finished but you will surely be gasping for air. Oh, you'll probably also be aching for a bit of the "hair of the dog" ... at least in the form of Bruen's next remarkable novel!
by far the best "noir" novels in a long time.......2004-03-18
These 3 novellas are just classic. The pacing, writing style, and point of view are a wonder to behold. All Bruen's characters have strengths, warts, and vulnerabilities; we see the mix of good and bad as a continuum with varying shades of grey, not black and white(of course, there are "white" arrests, and a liberal dose of noir.)
The large menu of characters and the omniscient point of view prevents Bruen from developing the personality quirks as thoroughly as (say) an Ian Rankin, but this is not to say they are 2 dimensional. Strangely, even Bruen's characterizations of the foibles of the criminals, and how they got these foibles, makes for vaguely sympathetic reading. How do you draw the line between a criminal who cannot find the handle to overcome weaknesses of personality or DNA, and the coppoers who have many of the same flaws, but manage, by accident, to channel these weaknesses? not always clear. A great read. i truly regretted finishing it. If anything, I think this series is even stronger that the Guards.
Book Description
Krzystof Kieslowski's Three Colors trilogy earned him the deserved reputation as "one of the world's premier film-makers' (Independent). In these films, based on the colors of the French flag and the principles of liberty, equality and fraternity--the three ideals of the French Revolution--Kieslowski has crafted three parables of contemporary existence. In Blue, Julie loses her child and husband in a car crash. In order to shield herself from the intensity of her grief, she strips away all remnants of her former life. This attempt is doomed to failure as music inexorably brings her back to a purpose in life. In White, Karol, a Polish hairdresser, is divorced and abandoned by his beautiful French wife and finds himself destitute on the Paris streets. He meets a fellow Pole, who ingeniously smuggles him back to Warsaw in a suitcase. Working on the black market, he soon rises to the top of Poland's emerging capitalist class. Still obsessively haunted by the image of his wife, Karol sets out to make her pay the price for her betrayal. The third and final part of the trilogy, Red, explores a strange, tentative relationship that gradualy grows between a beautiful young model and an embittered, retired judge. It is through the wisdom of her innocence that he finds the courage to engage with life again. Kieslowski brings the trilogy to a close with an event that weaves the disaparte threads into a seamless work of art.
Customer Reviews:
Three colors, three emotions.......2004-05-06
Cinematic genius Krzystof Kieslowski wrote and directed his own films, including the famed Three Colors Trilogy, made up of "White" ("Blanc"), "Red" ("Rouge") and "Blue" ("Bleu"). Taking the three concepts behind the French flag (liberty, equality and fraternity), Kieslowski created a colorful, emotional masterwork.
In "Blue," Julie loses her composer husband and her young daughter in a horrible car crash. Enveloped in her grief, she leaves her country mansion and takes a small apartment in Paris. But the haunting memory of her husband's music -- and the love of his former coworker -- keep drawing her back to her old life.
In "White," Polish immigrant (and born loser) Karol Karol is divorced by his sexy, ruthless wife Dominique. She takes all his money, his home, sleeps around and rubs it in his face, and leaves him penniless in the street. But Karol turns the tables on his beautiful Dominique when he becomes a rich man, and begins to spin an elaborate plot against her.
In "Red," the warm-hearted model Valentine accidently runs over a pregnant German shepherd. She takes the dog to its owner, but finds that he's a cold-hearted, callous ex-judge who uses a radio to spy on his neighbors. Valentine's disgust prompts the judge to turn himself in, and a strange friendship is struck between the embittered old man and the idealistic model... one that will change both their lives.
Obviously, reading the scripts for the Three Colors Trilogy can't quite recreate the experience of actually watching the film. The characters -- especially Julie and Valentine -- don't seem as rich without Juliette Binoche and Irene Jacob. And what words can recreate the swell of shimmering violins whenever Julie fades out? But Kieslowski's screenplays hint at the splendor and grandeur of his visions for these films. He brings the words to life in a way that few screenwriters can, and his descriptions of the characters and how they look, act, feel is phenomenal.
The Three Colors Trilogy is a modern classic of cinema, with its haunting characters and beautiful direction. So check out the wonderful screenplays that launched those films. Beautiful, heartfelt.
No question about it -- pick up this book!.......2000-04-19
This book is a screenplay of Kieslowski's famous movie trilogy. The films are amazing, and the book is no less terrific. It has three great, interweaving stories, all great read by themselves but a masterpiece when read together. This is one book I will read over and over again, and so will anyone else interested in a great script or story.
Book Description
Covers the last days of the War of 1812 with the siege of Baltimore, the writing of the Star Spangled Banner.
Customer Reviews:
A Disappointing Conclusion.......2005-12-19
This book is a disappointment not because it is poorly written but because it does not show the same improvement that the second showed over the first. In fact, I think it is at about the same level of the first, A PRESS OF CANVAS. What suffered in that one and this is not the actual writing, it is the story telling. It seems to wander along without much excitement and without getting much done. That is disappointing in that the second volume of the trilogy, A FINE TOPS'L BREEZE, did do a better job of story telling.
Even so, there is material of interest to be had here. Nautical fiction, especially of a naval bent, takes an American point of view all too rarely. Material concerning the War of 1812 is even more scarce. This book covers both of those issues from the point of view of Isaac Biggs, an American sailor pressed into the Royal Navy. He makes his escape in the first book, serves as a privateer on a rescue mission in the second and acts as the captain of a gunboat in a flotilla of such operating in the Chesapeake Bay during the closing days of the war in this one.
The descriptions of small boat operations has some interest as does the inclusion of such events as the burning of Washington and the writing of the Star Spangled Banner. The interest, however, does not translate into any drama.
This is a fair book for aficionados of the genre but is nothing special.
The best of the trilogy.......2002-02-08
This third book of the trilogy could possibly be read as a stand alone novel, although it does make some references to incidents and people in the previous books. The story is set in 1814 in Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. It is a good description of the conflicts between the British and Americans in that setting including the burning of Washington and the attack on Baltimore, although it seems to omit the British attack on Havre de Grace. Like some previous authors, this author has included helpful maps of the scenes of action.
The description of the small boat operations using sloops and gunboats is very detailed. The author notes in his own "Author's Note" that he changed some locations, etc., from the real ones, although it is not clear why he did that. Most locations are accurate, as are the real people who were involved and the major incidents.
The War of 1812 was a peculiar war that started because of slow communications, had various raids or other actions that served no military purpose, and neither side gained anything of substance except a mountain of debt to pay for the costs of the war. The Peace Treaty was signed in December 1814, but the last military action was on 30 June 1815, again because of slow communications. See "The Lost Ships of the Royal Navy" for details of British ships captured by the Americans in 1815 after the war had ended.
A big finish to this fine Trilogy.......2001-10-28
Superb - I may have liked it better than the other two in the series. The big dog and Isaac's love interest added greatly to my enjoyment. The parts about the buring of our capital and the bombardment of Baltimore were particularly timely in light of the September 11th attack on our country. Most people, me included, have little understanding of these events and White's book - and the others in this series - have brought them to life. A really easy way to learn some history about our great country. I even checked a few of the details for historic accuracy and they were right on. I hope there will be more of these historically accurate stories from this writer.
Book Description
A Fine Tops'l Breeze, W. H. White's action-packed novel, continues the adventures of the newest character in American sea fiction: Isaac Biggs of Marble- head, Massachusetts. In the second volume of the trilogy, Isaac ships as Third Mate on the Salem privateer General Washington in February 1813. At the same time, his friends from the British frigate Orpheus and the Baltimore schooner Glory find berths on the American warship USS Constellation and, eventually, they wind up on the USS Chesapeake in Boston just in time for her disastrous meeting with HMS Shannon. Throughout the spring of 1813, Isaac and the General Washington roam the waters between Massachusetts and Nova Scotia, taking prizes and harassing the British. When the American survivors of the Chesapeake/Shannon battle are confined in Melville Island Prison in Halifax, the General Washington and Isaac play an important role in securing their freedom.
Written from the aspect of the foc'sle rather than an officer's view and through the eyes of an American, A Press of Canvas and A Fine Tops'l Breeze provide new perspectives and exciting stories of this oft-neglected period in American history. The final book of the trilogy, The Evening Gun, will be available late this year. Tiller Publishing is proud to offer these carefully-crafted tales as its very first fiction series.
Customer Reviews:
An Improvement.......2005-11-09
The first volume of White's War of 1812 trilogy was well written and interesting but did not tell much of a story. This second volume addresses that deficiency. It does tell a decent story and does so in an enjoyable fashion.
Like the first, this book tells two parallel stories that only come together right at the end. On the one hand, the story of Isaac Biggs continues as he sails as third mate on an American Privateer. The second thread concerns his buddies from his days as a sailor pressed into the Royal Navy. They are now sailing on an American frigate. That frigate is the Chesapeake, the one captured by the HMS Shannon. They are taken as POWs to Halifax where they rot in prison. The story comes together as the privateers attempt to release the captives, and act the US Navy can't or won't attempt.
As was the first, this is a refreshing view of fighting sail given from the point of view of Americans rather than the British. It is well done and I hope the writing continues to improve.
A passably good tale.......2002-02-05
This is the second novel in a trilogy. The main problem I have with this novel is the continual jumping back and forth between scenes of action, sometimes without finishing action in progress. The author still seems to have a problem writing characters out of situations he has written them into. He also sometimes has a tendency to write with an echo, repeating information he has already provided.
Overall, it is a somewhat interesting tale, covering about a year's time from late 1812 to late 1813 during the earlier stages of the War of 1812. It involves action in North American waters aboard both privateers and U.S. Navy frigates, and some interesting aspects of that time period, including the active trade between New England and Canada while the countries were at war.
The author has a tendency to write characters out of the plot by noting that they were killed in the last battle, although the action itself may or may not be included. Casualties in naval service were very high from battles, accidents (including shipwrecks), and disease. It is unlikely, however, that privateers would have fought with each other as there was little profit in that. C. Northcote Parkinson, in his novel "Devil to Pay," describes the attitude of privateers in regard to profit. Privateers and smugglers gave their first loyalty to money.
On an historical note, the War of 1812 was a war that should not have been fought. Issues between the countries had been resolved at meetings in London, and dispatches were sent to the American government. Before the dispatches arrived, the hawks in the U.S. Congress prevailed in passing a Declaration of War. The war resulted in a large number of deaths and disabilities, and substantial losses to commerce and property. The U.S. gained nothing of any substance. That lesson seems to have been lost by later generations.
The autobiography of Charles Tyng, "Before the Wind," starts at the end of the war and documents the re-emergence of U.S. maritime commerce following the war.
Even better than the first one!!.......2001-04-16
White's second volume in the War of 1812 Trilogy is superb! The action as we follow Isaac Biggs and his shipmates raiding British shipping in the Winter North Atlantic is great and the simultaneous action on USS Constellation with Jack Clements as they try to get to sea from Baltimore gives some insight to the problems experienced by the US Navy in this war. I was right there as the British stormed aboard the USS Chesapeake on June 1 1813 and accompanied the American survivors to Melville Island prison in Halifax. The concluding action which brings Isaac and his Navy mates back together is excellent. It will be hard to wait until Fall for the third and final volume. An outstanding read for all maritime history buffs.
Average customer rating:
- Ho Humm.
- Finest kind of escapist reading, woo hoo!
- Good solid adventure tale set in post WWI Africa
- Period Details Elevate Wanton, Violent Tale of Colonial Kenya
- Lots and lots of adventure here!
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The White Rhino Hotel (The Anton Rider Trilogy)
Bartle Bull
Manufacturer: Blackstone Audiobooks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD
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ASIN: 0786170271 |
Product Description
The Great War has ended, tragically for many; but for some more fortunate, East Africa holds the prospect of vast estates, fabulous wealth, and limitless opportunity in this powerful, grandly crafted novel of the natural and human perils that await pioneers in a promised land.
It is in colonial Kenya, at Lord Penfolds White Rhino Hotel, that the paths of these new settlers cross. Here they meet the cunning dwarf Olivio Alevado, a man whose lustful desires and vengeful schemes make him a formidable adversary to his enemies and a subtle ally to his friends. Here the destinies of the gypsy adventurer Anton Rider and the courageous, war-hardened Gwenn Llewelyn intersect. Here hope is corrupted by greed, love by revenge, and loyalty by betrayal as the future is trampled into history.
Customer Reviews:
Ho Humm........2007-07-11
If you go for gratuitous violence and sex, and can identify with characters who are not credible, this is the book for you. Despite these faults something kept me reading on, perhaps just curiosity as to what outrage might occur next. Also, a friend whom I respect had sent it to me and I felt a certain obligation to read it so I could comment on it when I saw him next. If you have time for purely escapist reading I guess it's OK. I'm a slow reader and don't have time for this sort of stuff.
Finest kind of escapist reading, woo hoo!.......2006-08-16
I recently have blown through a quartet of novels by a writer with the unlikely name of Bartle Bull (he's said to be a former publisher of the Village Voice). The politically incorrect but somewhat historically accurate novels set mostly in Africa in the 1918-1943 timeline are quite a delight, assuming one goes for African Adventure and I do, boy howdy. These novels are fun, intriguing and semi informative. And, they're about AFRICA.
For those largely ignorant (as was I) of the Italian invasion of Abysinia (aka Ethiopia) in the mid-Thirties, Cafe on the Nile is especially interesting.
The White Rhino Hotel
A Cafe on the Nile
The Devil's Oasis
Shanghai Station. OK, so it's not Africa; it's Shanghai. Sue me, do.
Finest kind of light reading, perfect for escapist holidays, beach reading, flight numbing and generally out-of-the-loop fare. To be enjoyed.
Good solid adventure tale set in post WWI Africa.......2005-12-03
The author has captured the time period in this sometimes rousing and gripping adventure tale. The book is peopled with some mighty odd characters, some ruthless and cunning, others heroic and tough. Some of the scenes are downright incredible as the characters try to carve out a new life in the danger-filled Kenyian jungles and fields. Colorful local flavor, some good old fashioned fist-fights, daring-do, narrow escapes and the tasty flavor of revenge as all the interwoven tales come together. The star of this book is the mis-shapen dwarf who plans, simmers and befriends his way through the various characters. The first in a series of three novels with over-lapping characters, some of whom perish in the process.
Check it out.
Period Details Elevate Wanton, Violent Tale of Colonial Kenya.......2005-08-25
Bartle Bull's "The White Rhino Hotel" is the first novel in his series of historical fiction about colonial Africa ("A Cafe on the Nile" and "The Devil's Oasis" follow), and "White Rhino" gets the series off to a rip-roaring start.
Starting in 1919 as WWI closes, "White Rhino" follows a varied band of intrepid heroes, trusty sidekicks, and dastardly villains as the British start to assert their control over Kenya. Thanks to British arrogance and a fundamental misunderstanding of Africa, chaos abounds. Fortunes can be made and lost for the daring, the cunning, and the ruthless.
Anton Rider is arguably the "hero" if the tale, and he is a young English gypsy seeking his fortune on the Dark Continent. En route to Africa, he meets Gwenn Llewelyn, the beautiful Welsh ambulance driver who is heading to Kenya to meet her fiance, Alan, who suffers cruelly from his wounds sustained in the British army but still dreams of starting a farming life in Kenya. Adam Penfold is a small-time English lord who thinks he runs the White Rhino Hotel in Kenya, which is the focal point for much of the tale as the local bastion of European civilization. But the hotel is actually run by Olivio Alovedo, Bull's greatest creation, a dwarf majordomo who schemes triumphs and vendettas while having some of the kinkiest sex imaginable.
As the story follows these characters and several others through the struggles to start a new life in Africa, Bull displays a commanding knowledge of the unique pulse of African life. Regardless of whether he's describing a lonely safari far from the trammels of civilization, the smelly optimism on a steamer ship from England to Africa, or the melting pot of various nationalities, agendas, and ambitions of the players in the White Rhino Bar, Bull transports the reader to another time and place with effortless efficiency.
That he peppers his story with copious amounts of sex and violence is a plus, for Bull is spinning a yarn here. Look for sly seductions, profound loves, heart-breaking losses, and above it all, sudden swift death that can reach out for anyone at any time. The pages will fly by as you get deeper and deeper into Bull's world, and you care more and more for his rag-tag bunch of misfits and explorers.
The only reason that I don't give "White Rhino" five stars is that I want to distinguish it from "A Cafe on the Nile," which is in the same vein as "White Rhino," but is an even more epic and enjoyable read.
Lots and lots of adventure here!.......2004-10-10
What strikes me first about "The White Rhino Hotel" is the almost surreal cast of characters that engulfs one's interest immediately. They are eclectic beyond the definition! And while the cast and crew rush headlong into and through all kinds of dilemmas, intrigues, complications, and predicaments (and even funny situations!) that would otherwise be chaos, Bartle Bull certainly is in control of the entire literary picture here.
Perhaps "fascination" is the noun to name my reaction to the book. Clever and creative, the book is more than a story line, more than just this collection of characters, as Bull gives us a reading experience worthy of our time.
It's Kenya, just as World War I is ending, this part of the globe to British at the time represents a brave new world-one without the ravages of the Great War, politically, socially, economically, you name it. And it is to the White Rhino these expatriots and others gather, the "civilized" watering hole of Africa, all of the characters with personal agendas (and hangups!) of their own. Truly, Bull's characters make the book as adventure combines with romance which combines with a circus full of "exhibitions."
It is Lord Adam Penfold who brings together these characters. His hotel is the magnet that attracts them, for better or for worse, providing them with just about everything they hope for, within reason. The symbolism, of course, is not lost here. The clever and dangerous dwarf Olivio Alavedo, the Gypsy Anton Rider, and the Welch femme fatale Gwenn Llewelyn -they bring their private agendas to the front (lust, revenge, greed, jealousy-you name it!). They all see Kenya as the fulfillment of their dreams. Of course, Bull does justice to all his characters, readily throwing realism with the melodrama into their fantasies, which makes the novel seem even more empowering.
"The White Rhino Hotel" is one of the more interesting books of my summer. (Billyjhobbs@tyler.net)
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