“Second Foundation” (Foundation, Book 5) by Isaac Asimov (1953)

“Second Foundation” (Foundation, Book 5) by Isaac Asimov (1953)

The novel is broken into two parts; “Search for the Mule” and “Search by the Foundation”. “Search for the Mule” is about the Mule’s, a mutant with mental powers, search for the Second Foundation to conquer it. “Search by the Foundation” takes place 60 years after the Mule’s death and is about the conflict between the First Foundation and Second Foundation.

I quite enjoyed this novel and found it particularly satisfying compared to its two previous installments. Unlike the other two novels in the “Foundation Trilogy”, the characters had more depth and their actions had a greater impact on “psychohistory”. The clever Arkady Darrel was clearly the highlight for me— her bratty, yet smart attitude and romantic notions held my attention tightly and even made smile.

My rating: ★★★★☆ (4 out of 5 stars)

Foundation and Empire (Foundation, Book 4) by Isaac Asimov, 1952

Foundation and Empire (Foundation, Book 4) by Isaac Asimov, 1952

The first half of the book describes the Galactic Empire, well into its collapse-as predicted by Hari Seldon, launching a failed attack on the first Foundation. The second half of the book is about a mutant with extreme mental abilities taking over the Foundation—which takes place about 100 years after the first half of the book and the Empire gone, and seeks to destroy the Second Foundation.

Although during initial reception of this book was described as “swashbuckling galactic adventure”, I found it to be quite boring. It was hard to care about the characters introduced in this novel. I struggled to pay attention and found myself rereading portions twice just to make sure I didn’t miss any details or important subplot. Snooze.

"The Informationist" by Taylor Stevens (2011)

"The Informationist" by Taylor Stevens (2011)

Set mostly in equatorial Africa, the flawed feral heroine Vanessa Michael Munroe searches for the vanished daughter of a Texan billionaire. Not her usual line of work of dealing in expensive information trade, Munroe took on the challenge and finds herself mixed up with gunrunners, criminals, corrupt government, duplicitous allies, and other shady characters.

Fast paced with twists that are satisfyingly unraveled at the end. I would undoubtedly say this book falls in the genre of "strong-but-flawed kick-butt female lead" that Stieg Larsson popularized with Lisbeth Salander from his Millennium Trilogy (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, etc..). Definitely an enjoyable, high action thriller.

My rating: ★★★★☆ (4 out of 5 stars)

“Foundation” (Foundation, Book 3) by Isaac Asimov (1951)

“Foundation” (Foundation, Book 3) by Isaac Asimov (1951)

Originally published as 5 short stories, was interwoven to form a single plot and published as a book. It tells the story of a group of scientists preserving knowledge in a Galactic Encyclopedia as civilizations around them regress and break down.

Though considered to be one of the great masterworks of science fiction, I found it boring. I was disappointed to find remarkably little mention of “Hari Seldon”- an expectation probably set by reading the preceding 2 novels. This novel, feels disconnected, and I couldn’t care less about the characters. With technology, not in the foreground and socio-political machinations as the driving device, I was deathly bored. Snooze.

My rating: ★★☆☆☆ (2 out of 5 stars)

“Behind the Palace Doors: Five Centuries of Sex, Adventure, Vice, Treachery, and Folly from Royal Britain” by Michael, 2011

“Behind the Palace Doors: Five Centuries of Sex, Adventure, Vice, Treachery, and Folly from Royal Britain” by Michael, 2011

500 years of Royal British scandal, secret lives, sex stories, treacherous children, and “not-so-great” moments is revealed in this book; featuring: from horny Henry VIII to reserved Elizabeth II, form Tudors to Windsors, just to name a few.

I found the book to be entertaining when I first picked it up. As the chapters wore on, I quickly realized the sordid scandals and sex stories were all pretty much variations of each other, just with different Britons. By the time I reached the end, I couldn’t care less about which royal was seduced, tricked, or assassinated.

My rating: ★★☆☆☆ (2 out of 5 stars)

“The Night Eternal (The Strain Trilogy #3)” by Guillermo del Toro & Chuck Hogan

“The Night Eternal (The Strain Trilogy #3)” by Guillermo del Toro & Chuck Hogan

After a mass extermination of humans by the Master vampire, the future of humankind are the hands of Dr. Eph Goodweather and Dr. Nora Martinez; whose job is to overturn the vampiric world order.

I had to take a break from reading this book about 33% in; telling myself, "I will come back to it because it will get better."

A month later, after picking it up and reading 3 or so chapters, I was in tears from boredom of the book; and "misplaced" the book. Somehow a month later, this book miraculously showed up. I started reading with a renewed hope that it would be turn out great real fast. Wrong! I got 80% percent of the way through and just had enough.

I am abandoning this book; incredibly dull, monotonous, and a seeming rehash of a brokedown “Blade.” Yes, “Blade”, but rather than kicking ass, Eph, the main character, just flees and hides. While I am not one for book burning...

My rating: ★☆☆☆☆ (1 out of 5 stars)