August 3, 2005
Book Reviews 2005 (35-36)
A Pair of Books this time around.
Trickster, a novel in the Silent Empire series by Steven Harper
and a Non fiction entry.
Big Cats and their Fossil Relatives, by Alan Turner. Illustrated by Mauricio Anton
Trickster (Silent Empire)by Steven Harper
Third in the Silent Empire Series (beginning with Dreamer, followed by Nightmare), Steven Harper moves forward in time from Dreamer, showing us the aftermath of the devastating Despair which grips the Dreamers, and the entire galaxy. In the chaos of this aftermath, Kendi and his friends move to try and free more of their relatives from the enslavement so many of their kind find themselves in.
The characterization is pretty good, not as strong as the previous two novels, but the characters of Kendi, Harenn, and the rest of the team, old and new, are pretty well laid out. While I could have hoped for more "consequences" of their efforts to free first Harenn's son, and then Kendi's relatives, the story moves along briskly.
Recommended, but I would really not start the series here. Read Dreamer and Nightmare. If you like those two, Trickster is definitely your poison.
The Big Cats and Their Fossil Relatives by Alan Turner. Illustrated by Mauricio Anton
Most paleontological books aimed at non specialists focus on dinosaurs. This is a shame since there is a wealth of interesting stuff out there. As it title suggests, Big Cats focuses on the larger Felids and their ancestors and relatives.
Superbly illustrated, well researched, and engagingly written, the book goes into wonderful detail on the Cats. Think you know how Sabertooths killed their prey? Hint: They did not "stab" with their teeth like you might think. The sheer variety of the cats that predated modern species will astonish you. And the ancillary material describing the predators and prey they interacted with helps create an engaging look into the past. And the illustrations bring the world alive.
While it helps to be, as Ginger calls me, a Paleontology Geek, having a modicum of science background is what you need to appreciate the book. Its not dumbed down in the least. It's not a textbook, but a wonderful volume worthy of the bookshelves of anyone interested in cats or fossils.
Highly Recommended.