Books I've Read
Recent Books
The Boxcar Librarian
Fiction story involving a boxcar library (The real one can be see at Fort Missoula, MT), a murder, and a mystery. Pretty good!
Quote:
We are a country of beautiful and flawed and strong and cowardly and happy and fearful and loving people. And we will always be stronger together.Read:
10/2026
Brief Cases
The Dresden Files, #15.6. Twelve Dresden Files stories, some of which have been published before, and at least one of which I have read before. Pretty darn good stories, too!
Quote:
She was speaking to me over a ham radio from somewhere in the wilds of unsettled Canada, and was shouting to maker herself heard over the static and the patch between the radio and the phone.Quote:
"I could gaze longingly at your décolletage while you talk, if you like."
"Given how much trouble I go to in order to show it off, it would seem polite."
I lowered my eyes demurely to her chest for a moment. "Well. If I must." Quote:
"Weregoats," I muttered. "Jesus."Read:
10/2025
Grave Peril
The Dresden Files, #3. Harry investigates a rash of missing persons. Also, struggles to say three little words to Susan.
Quote:
Oops.Quote:
"Oh. Damn. This is one of those right and wrong issues again, isn't it."
"Yes, one of those."
"I'm still confused about this whole morality thing, Harry."
"Join the club," I muttered.Read:
10/2025
The Ship With The Flat Tire
I first read this back in the 60s when I was a teen. I found it intensely amusing then and intensely amusing now.
Quote:
"[...] Tell him..."
"Yes, Mr. Westbury?"
"Tell him there's a porkchop driving his ship."Read:
10/2025
A Boy And His Dog At The End Of The World
I am of mixed feelings about this story. It was just OK for a very long while, then the purported big reveal, then a REALLY big reveal, all with some weirdness mixed in. I was gonna down grade because of that, but I DID kinda tear up at the end, so that's a plus. But mostly, the author's note afterwards On Dogs And Stories was VERY moving!
Quote:
I [...} lay there thinking this was a very stupid way to die. -- Been there, thought that! Quote:
I don't quite have the way of poetry in my head -- Nice sentence, I don't either. Quote:
fifing three quivers -- "Firing" maybe? Typo? Quote:
I walked to the end of a lonely pier jutting into the eye of a narratively convenient storm coming in off the North Sea and hid my tears in the wind and the rain. -- Just a lovely sentence! Read:
10/2025
Autonomous
Robots and robot-people and people "battle" Big Pharm to get affordable drugs for the poor working folk. I thought it was OK.
Quote:
He partitioned his mind: 80 percent for combat, 20 percent for searches on faggots.Read:
10/2025
Half A War
Shattered Sea, #3.
Princess Scara's story. A conclusion of the trilogy. Lots of surprises!
Quote:
"It is traditional for the farmer and the butcher to divide the meat without seeking the opinions of the pigs," said Varoslaf.Read:
9/2025
Half The World
Shattered Sea, #2. Thorn learns how to fight. And maybe, when.
Quote:
"The girl is stupid as a stump. Worse. Most stumps have the dignity to rot quietly without causing offense."
"I'm right here," Thorn managed to hiss from her hands and knees.Quote:
"You're supposed to be killing him!" called Skifr, "not coupling with him! That you can do on your own time."Read:
9/2025
Storm Front
The Dresden Files, #1. Harry Dresden, Wizard, helps the police solve a series of murders, and helps a lady find her husband.
Read:
9/2025
Half A King
Shattered Sea, #1.
Prince Yarvi, who is actually, and quite suddenly, the king now that his father and brother were murder, is betrayed and sold into slavery.
Quote:
By his calculation he was sold for less than the cost of a good sheep. He made no complaint at the price.Quote:
"Oars out, oars in," grunted Rulf. "You'd think they could make up their bloody minds."Quote:
Yarvi curled his tongue and neatly spat over the side of the ship.
"Nice." Rulf gave him a nod. "You rowing's not up to much, but you're coming on where it really matters."Read:
9/2025