Carl Hiaasen has written another South Florida novel of oddballs, outcasts, and warped behavior. Chaz throws his wife Joey overboard on their second honeymoon cruise. Joey survives, thanks to a bale of Jamaica’s finest, and gets even. A fun read, as usual.
Published in hardcover by Alfred A. Knopf. ISBN 0375411089
I’m trying to get caught up with Elmore Leonard’s novels. This one is a lean mean tale featuring U.S. Marshall Raylen Givens and bookie Harry Arno. The feds make trouble for Arno and his boss wants him dead. Arno runs to Italy in Ezra Pound’s old neigborhood and Givens decides to go after him. A satisifying story.
Published in paperback by Dell. ISBN 0440214432
Richard Hoyt blends history and speculation into a fascinating tale of wartime deceit. Did MacArthur really make a deal with Emperor Hirohito for control of the Golden Lily, Asian war booty plundered by the Japanese? Hoyt makes a pretty convincing case in this entertaining novel.
Published in paperback by Forge. ISBN 0765342251
Captain Hikaru Sulu deserves more attention and he gets it in this novel by Michael A. Martin and Andy Mangels. Traversing a razor’s edge between the Tholian Assembly and the Neyal, a new and deadly enemy, Sulu and the Excelsior crew buckle their swash with distinction. Kirk would be proud of his former navigator if he weren’t dead.
Published in paperback by Pocket Books. ISBN 074346401X
I’ve found that I can count on authors Andy Mangels and Michael A. Martin to deliver outstanding Star Trek tales and this novel is no exception. Picard is reunited with some old friends when the Enterprise is caught in the middle of a civil war. The Romulans are involved, but with friends in Section 31, the Federation’s covert operations division, who needs enemies?
Published in paperback by Pocket Books. ISBN 0671774778
Volume One of the Baroque Cycle by Neal Stephenson is a mind-boggling novel. I don’t know how to categorize it. Maybe an historical novel of science and politics. Whatever. This tale of 17th century Europe features appealing characters caught in historical events, illuminating them from a fascinating and humorous insider perspective. In spite of the fact that the book is enormous, it is mesmerizing. The second volume is out. I’ll be reading it.
Published in hardcover by William Morrow. ISBN 0380977427