As I am passionately interested in ancient history, you will observe that I read a lot of historical fiction and nonfiction although I enjoy a good thriller, particularly those with a medical or science theme, and love time travel stories. I prefer stories that focus on the human aspects of challenge, leadership, adversity, and relationships. Therefore you may not agree with my rather lukewarm assessment of works by such best selling authors as Tom Clancy and Dale Brown. Tom Clancy engages in what I term the "three-ring circus" style of plot development. I personally find that juggling so many subplots seems to detract from the impact of a strong central theme. I did rank "Executive Orders" by Clancy good instead of only fair but that was a result of the medical thread in the story which naturally appeals to me. Dale Brown's work is technically very detailed but lacks strong characterization and therefore I find I feel less empathy for the protagonist than is necessary for me to identify strongly with them. Likewise, David Brin's "The Postman" ranked only a good instead of outstanding simply because it degenerated into a technothriller in the last third of the story with its climax being a battle of the cyborgs. If he had remained focussed on the human aspects of trying to regain a sense of community, as was emphasized in Costner's film, I would have rated the book outstanding. Although Clive Cussler's dialogue is often trite and full of cliches, his plots are imaginative so I have rated his work a little higher than some readers might. As I have time to write minireviews, I will link my reviews to the novel's title listed below.
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Outstanding
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Good
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Fair
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The Aeneid of Virgil by Professor Elizabeth Vandiver (nonfiction, Great Courses audio lecture series) Black Light by Stephen Hunter Caesar by Colleen McCullough Caesar's Women by Colleen McCullough Classical Mythology by Professor Elizabeth
Vandiver (nonfiction, Great Courses audio lecture series) Claudius, The God by Robert Graves The Cobra Event by Richard Preston Coma by Robin Cook Eaters of the Dead by Michael Crichton Famous Greeks by Professor Rufus Fears (nonfiction, Great Courses audio lecture series) Famous Romans by Professor Rufus Fears (nonfiction, Great Courses audio lecture series) Fire From Heaven by Mary Renault The First Man in Rome by Colleen McCullough Fortune's Favorites by Colleen McCullough Funeral Games by Mary Renault Gates of Fire by Steven Pressfield The Grass Crown by Colleen McCullough Greek Tragedy by Professor Elizabeth
Vandiver (nonfiction, Great Courses audio lecture series) The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood Herodotus: The Father of History by Professor Elizabeth Vandiver (nonfiction, Great Courses audio lecture series) Heroes In the Dust by Jennifer MacAire History of Ancient Egypt by Professor Bob Brier (nonfiction, Great Courses audio lecture series) I, Claudius by Robert Graves Iliad by Homer (classic) Iliad of Homer by Professor Elizabeth
Vandiver (nonfiction, Great Courses audio lecture series) Jaws by Peter Benchley Jurrasic Park by Michael Crichton The King Must Die by Mary Renault The King of the Romans by John Gorman The Last of the Wine by Mary Renault Lord of the Two Lands by Judith Tarr Memoirs of Cleopatra by Margaret George The Nature of Alexander by Mary Renault (nonfiction) Odyssey of Homer by Professor Elizabeth Vandiver (nonfiction, Great Courses audio lecture series) The Persian Boy by Mary Renault A Place Called Freedom by Ken Follett Point of Impact by Stephen Hunter The October Horse by Colleen McCullough Shogun by James Clavell The Ten Thousand by Michael Curtis Ford The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough Tides of War by Steven Pressfield Time for Alexander by Jennifer MacAire |
Acceptable Risk by Robin Cook
Alexander the Great and the Hellenistic Age by Professor Jeremy McInerney (nonfiction, Great Courses audio lecture series) The Alienist by Caleb Carr Ancient Greek Civilization by
Professor Jeremy McInerney (nonfiction, Great Courses audio lecture
series) Angel of Darkness by Caleb Carr Black Cherry Blues by James Lee Burke Blindsight by Robin Cook Borrower of the Night by Elizabeth Peters The Bull From The Sea by Mary Renault Cadillac Jukebox by James Lee Burke Chromosome 6 by Robin Cook Cimarron Rose by James Lee Burke Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier Contact by Carl Sagan Cyclops by Clive Cussler Digger by Joseph Flynn The Discovery of Ancient Civilizations by Professor Brian Fagan (nonfiction, Great Courses audio lecture series) Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep by Philp K. Dick Dragonfly In Amber by Diana Gabaldon Falcon At The Portal by Elizabeth Peters From Time to Time by Jack Finney Gone South by Robert R. McCammon Great Ancient Civilizations of Asia Minor by Professor Kenneth Harl (nonfiction, Great Courses audio lecture series) Hannibal by Ernle Bradford (Biography) Hannibal's Children by John Maddox Roberts (alternate history) Heaven's Prisoners by James Lee Burke The History of Ancient Rome by Professor Garrett Fagan (nonfiction, Great Courses audio lecture series) Iceberg by Clive Cussler Immortal Caesar by Patricia Hunter Inca Gold by Clive Cussler In the Electric Mists with Confederate Dead by James Lee Burke The Mask of Apollo by Mary Renault On a Pale Horse by Piers Anthony Outlander by Diana Gabaldon The Postman by David Brin River God by Wilbur Smith The Seekers by John Jakes The Seventh Scroll by Wilbur Smith Shockwave by Clive Cussler Siberian Light by Robin White Sphinx by Robin Cook Stallion Gate by Martin Cruz Smith Starship Troopers by Robert Heinlein Star Trek Memories by William Shatner (Nonfiction) Stranger In A Strange Land by Robert Heinlein Time and Again by Jack Finney Time to Hunt by Stephen Hunter Timewatch: The Redemption of Christopher Columbus by Orson Scott Card The Twelfth Vulture of Romulus by Boris Raymond The World of Byzantium by Professor Kenneth Harl (nonfiction, Great Courses audio lecture series)
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Alexander of Macedon by Harold Lamb Chernobyl by Frederik Pohl Chesapeake by James A. Michener Cleopatra by Ernle Bradford (Biography) The Copenhagen Connection by Elizabeth Peters Day Before Midnight by Stephen Hunter Debt of Honor by Tom Clancy The Edge of Honor by P.T. Deutermann Fatherland by Robert Harris The Fist of God by Frederick Forsyth Forrest Gump by Winston Groom The Gemini Contenders by Robert Ludlum Gods and Generals by Jeff Shaara The Informant by James Grippando Legacy by James A. Michener Mexico by James A. Michener Millennium: Gehenna by Lewis Gannett Neanderthal by Paul Jordan The Presence by John Saul Rush to Destiny by Larry Jay Martin The Select by F. Paul Wilson The Seventh Sinner by Elizabeth Peters Sphere by Michael Crichton Sum of All Fears by Tom Clancy The Third Twin by Ken Follett The Warrior Queens by Lady Antonia Fraser (nonfiction) Without Remorse by Tom Clancy |
Last updated: 09/26/2003