Myth-Chief by Robert Asprin
Do you like puns? If not, then stay far far away from anything written by Robert Asprin. Alex (from the mothership) turned me on to these books, a rather punny series of books that deal with Magic, Demons (Dimensional Travellers), Devils (Deevels actually) and a whole host of other things.
It’s quite enjoyable, and also a very quick read. I’ve read the first 6 books in the series, I think this is #13 or so.
I won’t read this for awhile, but I do have the next grouping of the books on my shelf ready to go once I get through Duma Key.
The Appeal by John Grisham
I used to read all of Grisham’s books as he released them, then I read The Chamber.. and swore off his works due to the CRAPPY ending.
I’ll admit though, the excerpt from this one looks interesting.
The jury was ready.
After forty-two hours of deliberations that followed seventy-one days of trial that included 530 hours of testimony from four dozen witnesses, and after a lifetime of sitting silently as the lawyers haggled and the judge lectured and the spectators watched like hawks for telltale signs, the jury was ready. Locked away in the jury room, secluded and secure, ten of them proudly signed their names to the verdict while the other two pouted in their corners, detached and miserable in their dissension. There were hugs and smiles and no small measure of self-congratulation because they had survived this little war and could now march proudly back into the arena with a decision they had rescued through sheer determination and the dogged pursuit of compromise. Their ordeal was over; their civic duty complete. They had served above and beyond. They were ready.
The foreman knocked on the door and rustled Uncle Joe from his slumbers. Uncle Joe, the ancient bailiff, had guarded them while he also arranged their meals, heard their complaints, and quietly slipped their messages to the judge. In his younger years, back when his hearing was better, Uncle Joe was rumored to also eavesdrop on his juries through a flimsy pine door he and he alone had selected and installed. But his listening days were over, and, as he had conceded to no one but his wife, after the ordeal of this particular trial he might just hang up his old pistol once and for all. The strain of controlling justice was wearing him down.
That doesn’t really give you a clue what the book is about though, only that Mr. Grisham knows how to write. This one is about a rich guy buying a seat on the Mississippi Supreme Court so he can get a verdict overturned. He does it by recruiting a candidate, financing his bid and apparently getting something other than money over his head so he’ll do what he’s told. Might be interesting, but I’m not sure I’m gonna break my ban to read it.
Duma Key by Stephen King
Stephen King releases a new book today, Duma Key. This one is listed as Horror, like most of his novels, but I’m not sure I believe it. Read this from the book jacket:
The tenacity of love, the perils of creativity, the mysteries of memory and the nature of the supernatural — Stephen King gives us a novel as fascinating as it is gripping and terrifying.
Does that sound scary to you? Not to me… but, I like just about everything he’s written so I’ll add this to my collection. Amazon will have it here soon, and I’ll dive in immediately and let you know if it’s worth reading. Gimmie a week, this will take a bit longer than a movie since it’s 592 pages.