The Good Husband of Zebra Drive by Alexander McCall Smith is the eighth book in the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency mystery series. How I love this series of books, with their warmth and gentle humor. The recurring characters all have their little flaws, but they are all people you would like to have as friends. Precious Ramotswe owns and operates a detective agency in the capital city of Botswana. While she is not a college educated woman, she has great wisdom, and has become a detective to help people with their problems. And there is a huge problem this time - a series of mysterious deaths in the hospital in Mochudi.
Variations on the Fantasy Tradition - Stephen R. Donaldson's Chronicles of Thomas Covenant by W. A. Senior is an in-depth look at the fantasy classic. I am a long time fan of the writings of Donaldson, and this book gave me a lot of food for thought. In fact, I might reread certain sections soon, as Donaldson's next book is due out next month...
Three Bags Full by Leonie Swann, translated by Anthea Bell, is a very different mystery story. When their shepherd is apparently murdered, his flock of sheep decide to solve the mystery and bring the criminal to justice. (The sheep can talk to each other, but not to humans). Swann does a good job of giving distinct characters to the various sheep. She also does a great job in showing the world through the other senses other than vision - particularly taste. The sheep - led by the intelligent Miss Maple, the huge young ram Mopple the Whale, who remembers things for the flock, and the badass black ram Othello - go on sleuthing missions in the town, and do their best to bring about justice over the death of their shepherd. Very different, and very enjoyable!
Troy Shield of Thunder by David Gemmell is the second book in his Troy trilogy, a masterpiece of historical fiction and historical fantasy.Tragically, the author died before completing the third books, which has been finished by his widow in the time since he passed. Gemmell did his research - he places Troy in its proper place, as revealed by the Imperial Hittite archives and the latest archaeological research, as its place as the capital of an important Hittite allied state. He also places it in its place as an important trading hub in the greater Mediterranean world - a world dominated by two super powers (the Hittites and Egypt) with some new-comer barbarian pirates trying to grab some wealth and power - who would someday be called Greeks. In this, the second book of the trilogy, tensions are heating up between the Trojans and the Mykenes (Greeks). Agamemnon is looking for any excuse to go to war. All of the main players in the war to be travel to Troy for the wedding of Andromache and Hector. It will only take one match to explode the powder keg...
Baltimore or, The Steadfast Tin Soldier and the Vampire by Mike Mignola and Christopher Golden is a blood chilling horror story that begins on a frozen battle field in the hell known as World War 1. Lord Baltimore, a British captain, leads his men into an ambush, and he is the only survivor. Then the vampires some to feed on the human carrion. Baltimore manages to awaken the wrath of their leader. He not only gains a hellish enemy, this meeting will unleash a plague that will decimate Europe. In the end, only Baltimore will stand between the ultimate evil and mankind. It is almost refreshing running into vampies that are evil rather than sexy in this day and age. This book made my run blood cold, and is even illustrated by creepy wood prints.
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