Patrick's Picks

It’s been a few years since the Battle of Starship Hill and the titular children are growing up. A few are even starting to doubt the reasons behind their fall from grace, and the players involved in that fall. Most remember their old lives in the Top of the Beyond and long to return to their rightful place in the universe … teen angst to the hundredth power. It’s not easy in the Slow Zone, but you make do. Who knows, maybe they can raise themselves out of their medieval existence and return to the stars? Humankind has done it before. It will do it again.

For now, most Humans and Tines live in relative harmony, each race striving to better itself with the help of the other … some want to leap into space, and some want to prepare. Despite speculation to the contrary, Ravna knows the Blight is still on the way. It was not totally destroyed when Pham Nuwen dimmed the sun, after all, just slowed down. It might take thousands of years … or hundreds … or only a few … but it is coming.

Vinge again proves that his multiple Hugo Award wins were no fluke. Galactic concepts brought to a very human level. Whether it’s an actual human or a to-us-alien is immaterial. (The man could make you weep for a potted plant, or the mere ‘limb’ of an alien being.) My only criticism is that I might have to wait a few years for the next installment. But like the Blight, I know it’s coming and I have time to prepare. Moreover, I will rest in the certain knowledge that when the next installment arrives, it will be awesome. Thank the Powers. 

— PMH

James Halliday, probably the most brilliant game designer that ever was, and the creator of the OASIS – a vast virtual universe that is both game and alternate reality – died without an heir or any real friends, leaving the disposition of his multi-multi-billion dollar empire in question. Instead of a will, Halliday left the contest. Somewhere hidden in the OASIS is a virtual Easter Egg. Find the egg and win it all. “Shall we play a game?”

Our young hero Wade Watts, game-name Parzival, is a gunter – an Easter Egg hunter. He’s going to find that egg even if the search kills him a thousand times. Wade lives in the stacks, a sprawling trailer park both horizontal and vertical. To call the world he lives in a dystopia would be an understatement. Humanity is in decline, maybe even on the way out. Thank Halliday for the OASIS. Almost everyone lives the bulk of their lives there. They go to school, work, and play on thousands of virtual worlds. You name it, there’s a world for it, The Matrix gone intergalactic. Without the OASIS, life would suck like nothing has ever sucked before. "So it's sorta social. Demented and sad, but social."

Ready Player One is William Gibson meets TRON meets Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – with many a cool ‘80’s reference. Unlike Charlie and Co. who faced their demons on a single factory floor, Wade/Parzival and his fellow gunters have uncounted worlds to face, explore, and conquer. Somewhere out there is the key to the kingdoms, and our boy’s going to find it. "Ray, if someone asks you if you are a god, you say, 'Yes!'"

A virtual world where you can be the person you want to be – perhaps not even a human person – and a quest for the biggest treasure ever known? What’s not to love? Ready Player One is totally awesome, a total Rush, dude. I haven’t been this excited about a book in quite some time. Can’t wait to put it in your hands. So get ready to strap on your reading glasses and enjoy the ride. "Roads? Where we're going, we don't need roads."

And lastly, if you lived through, grew up in, or even just heard of the 1980’s … or if you’ve ever seen an ‘80’s movie (you have) … or if you’ve ever played a video game, you are going to love Ready Player One. This one is not to be missed. "Nobody puts baby in the corner." 

End of Line.

– Patrick Heffernan, Mysterious Galaxy Bookstore, San Diego CA

For most of you this review is in no way necessary. A simple “The release date is March 1^st!” is more than enough. But The Wise Man’s Fear deserves all the praise it gets, so here goes ...

The Kingkiller Chronicle: Day Two. The story continues. Our hero Kvothe is still at University, still up to his eyeballs in debt, and still on many a sh*t list. Trouble is his middle name. Kvothe Trouble Bloodless. Herein is told more of his education, of his continuing pursuit of a certain young lady leagues out of his league, and of his search for the truth behind the mythic powers that be and the reasons behind his family’s death. Along the way he faces many a trial, by fire and mercenary and Fae, oh my! And a bit of court intrigue that might make even a Borgia blanch. Truly an adventure to get the blood of even the most jaded among us boiling … and freezing, oh yes. It ain’t easy being a legend, oh no.

Meanwhile, back at the bar, in present day (two), things set in motion in Kvothe’s youth are coming back to haunt him … and those around him ... and the rest of the lands.

The story is long and involved, but it is neither as long, nor as involved as it could have been. What others might explain, and explain, and explain some more … in a hundred or so pages … our friend Rothfuss does in just a few (see chapter fifty-two, for example). The story’s all there, yes, but we move quickly to the good parts … we cut to the chase. And what a chase it is.

For those of you who worried that Day Two couldn’t possibly live up to Day One, you may now put those fears aside, wise or not. The promise made by The Name of the Wind is more than honored in The Wise Man’s Fear. Oh, yes. Can’t wait for Day Three.

--PMH