3.75 zvaigznes

Robert A. Heinlein – The Puppet Masters (audiobook)

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Grāmatas apraksts no Goodreads/Synopsis from Goodreads:

First came the news that a flying saucer had landed in Iowa. Then came the announcement that the whole thing was a hoax. End of story. Case closed.

Except that two agents of the most secret intelligence agency in the U.S. government were on the scene and disappeared without reporting back. Then four more follow up agents also disappeared. So the head of the agency and his two top agents went in and managed to get out with their discovery: an invasion is underway by slug-like aliens who can touch a human and completely control his or her mind. What the humans know, they know. What the slugs want, no matter what, the human will do. And most of Iowa is already under their control.

Sam Cavanaugh was one of the agents who discovered the truth. Unfortunately, that was just before he was taken over by one of the aliens and began working for the invaders, with no will of his own. And he has just learned that a high official in the Treasury Department is now under control of the aliens. Since the Treasury Department includes the Secret Service, which safeguards the President of the United States, control of the entire nation is near at hand.

Izdevniecība/Publisher: Spectrum Literary Agency

Kā tiku pie šīs grāmatas?/How I got this book?

Lejuplādēju no www.

Vērtējums/Rating: 3.75/5

Turpiniet lasīt →

John Layman, Rob Guillory – Chew, Vol. 4: Flambé (Chew #16-20)

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Grāmatas apraksts no Goodreads/Synopsis from Goodreads:

These are strange times for Tony Chu, the cibopathic federal agent with the ability to get psychic impressions from the things he eats. Strange writing in extraterrestrial script has appeared in the skies of Planet Earth – and stayed there! People don’t know if the end days are upon them or not, but they don’t seem terribly concerned about the laws of the FDA, and what was once the most powerful law enforcement agency is rapidly descending into irrelevancy. So where does that leave the FDA best agent, Tony Chu?

Kā tiku pie šīs grāmatas?/How I got this book?

Lejuplādēju no www.

Vērtējums/Rating: 3.75/5

Mana recenzija/My review

Trešā voljuma beigās debesīs parādījās ugunīgs uzraksts nevienam nesaprotamā valodā. Gan Tonijam, gan viņa partnerim Kolbijam pienākušas nepatīkami brīži, ne tikai tādā ziņā, ka viņu priekšnieks Āboļbite (Applebee) šķiet ir apņēmies no viņiem netiešā veidā tikt vaļā.

Tonijs nekādīgi nerada priekšstatu par sevi, kas norādītu, ka viņš būtu tēvs. Šajā ziņā interesantas beigas, un atkal savu roku pieliek Meisons. Turpinot par Tonija radiniekiem, uzzinām, ka arī dvīņu māsai  Tonijai ir interesantas spējas.

Lai gan ar asinīm autori neskopojas, bet vismaz dzīvnieku(s), kur nu vēl gailīšus, jau varēja neiejaukt!

Diemžēl sižetiskā ziņā šis voljums neizcēlās uz iepriekšējo fona, protams, māksla joprojām ievērojama un bauda acīm. : )

                                                                                                                                           

At the end of third volume a mysterious writing in a language no one understands showed up in the skies. For both Tony and his partner Colby these days aren’t easy and are filled with unpleasant moments, for a while you might think that their boss Applebee wants to get rid of them.

In no way Tony makes a perception that he might be a father. Thinking about that, there is an interesting ending involving Mason. Continuing about Tony’s relatives we find out that his twin sister also has some skills/powers considering food.

Although there are plenty of blood at least they could leave alone animals, especially one special rooster!

Unfortunately this volume didn’t stand out on the background of previous ones, of course the art still is great and a treat for eyes. : )

Philip K. Dick – Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? (Blade Runner #1) (Audiobook)

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Grāmatas apraksts no Goodreads/Synopsis from Goodreads:

DO ANDROIDS DREAM OF ELECTRIC SHEEP? was published in 1968. Grim and foreboding, even today it is a masterpiece ahead of its time.

By 2021, the World War had killed millions, driving entire species into extinction and sending mankind off-planet. Those who remained coveted any living creature, and for people who couldn’t afford one, companies built incredibly realistic simulacrae: horses, birds, cats, sheep…

They even built humans.

Emigrants to Mars received androids so sophisticated it was impossible to tell them from true men or women. Fearful of the havoc these artificial humans could wreak, the government banned them from Earth. But when androids didn’t want to be identified, they just blended in.

Rick Deckard was an officially sanctioned bounty hunter whose job was to find rogue androids, and to “retire” them. But when cornered, androids tended to fight back, with deadly results.

Izdevniecība/Publisher: Penguin Random House Audio

Kā tiku pie šīs grāmatas?/How I got this book?

Lejuplādēju no www. Izvēlējos no Top 100 Sci-Fi Books grāmatu listes.

Vērtējums/Rating: 3.75/5

Mana recenzija/My review

Pasaule pēc plaša mēroga un ļoti postoša kara, kas Zemi atstājis bēdīgā stāvoklī. Neviens vairs nezina vai neatceras, varbūt vienkārši nevēlās atminēties, kādi gan bijuši tam par iemeslu. Visbēdīgākās kara sekas rezultējušās plašā dzīvnieku izmiršanā, kam par iemeslu bijis milzu apjoma gaisa piesārņojums ar sīkām putekļu daļiņām, par kuru izcelsmi arī zināšanu nav.

Kas gan drīkst tikt pieskaitāms dzīvībai? Vai lielāki un mazāki, sarežģītāki un vienkāršāki roboti arī pievienojams šim terminam? (Mākslīgais) intelekts grāmatā apspriests mazāk, bet apšaubu, vai to varētu uzskatīt par būtisku un vērā ņemamu faktoru.

Riks Dekards ir atlīdzību mednieks un par noteiktu samaksu tieši viņš ir tas, kurš atbrīvo izbēgušus androīdus no to eksistences nastas. Bet arī Riks sāk apšaubīt savas rīcības pareizu. Šķiet, gadu gaitā viņš sācis izjust simpātijas un līdzjūtību pret sava darba upuriem. Viedokļu dažādībai, lasītajam dots arī skatpunkts no otras,androīdu, puses.

Vēlreiz uz mirkli pievēršoties dzīvo radību izmiršanas tēmai. Jau pats nosaukums drusku liek iedomāties, ka kaut kas līdz galam nav, tā kā vajadzētu. Tie, kas pamanījušies izdzīvot, kļuvuši par izdevīgu un peļņu nesošu preci, bet, ja vēlme pēc dzīvnieka ir tik nepārvarama, bet maks nav tik biezs, tad vienmēr ir iespēja iegādāties elektrisku/mākslīgu līdzinieku. Jaunu sugu rašanās/atklāšana, kas būtu sagaidāma, gan nebija minēts, iespējams, pēc kara vienkārši pārāk īss laika posms vēl nav pagājis.

Bet noslēdzot. Kuram gan bijusi tik ģeniāla doma radīt neatšķiramus robotus no parasta cilvēka? Stāstā tiek izmantoti īpaši testi jautājumu formā, lai noskaidrotu un atklātu bēgļus. Tomēr man pirmā doma bija par asinīm, kuru analīzēs gribētos domāt, ka būtu manāmas atšķirības. Tiek minēts, ka šo humanoīdo robotu dzīves ilgums nepārsniedz četrus gadus, kas tad liek jautāt, vai tie rada tik lielus draudus, ka ir vērts viņus tvarstīt?

                                                                                                                                           

In the world after a massive war Earth now is in pitiful condition. No one knows or doesn’t (want to) remember what the reasons were for it. The most sad consequences of war is the wide range animal extinction because of large amount of tiny dust particles polluting the air, and no one is sure what did create that too.

What exactly could be accountable as a life/live being? Could smaller and larger, simpler and complex robots be added to that list? (The artificial) intelligence isn’t discussed much but I doubt if that would be a big factor.

Rick Deckard is a bounty hunter and for certain reward he retires escaped android and frees them the miserable existence. But at some point Rick starts to have these doubts about what he does and is it right. It seems that in the years he has developed sympathy towards his victims. The reader  has the chance to read the other side’s opinion, so there are more than one viewpoint.

Talking once more about animals, the book’s title itself signalizes that not everything is as it should be. Those who have managed to survive have become a very valuable and profitable product. But if you have irresistible urge and want to have an animal at home but not enough money then there always is available electric/artificial substitute. Discovery of new species isn’t mentioned but maybe there haven’t long enough distance since the end of war.

And concluding my rambling I want to ask. Who had such a genius idea to create robots undistinguishable from real humans? In the story they use special tests/questions to find out and discover them. But the first thing that comes in my mind is blood. I would think that there should be some differences in that test. It is mentioned that the life expectancy of these humanoid robots is four years, and that makes me think, are they so bad/evil to bother to hunt them down?

Kurt Vonnegut – Slaughterhouse-Five (audiobook)

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Grāmatas apraksts no Goodreads/Synopsis from Goodreads:

Kurt Vonnegut’s absurdist classic Slaughterhouse-Five introduces us to Billy Pilgrim, a man who becomes unstuck in time after he is abducted by aliens from the planet Tralfamadore. In a plot-scrambling display of virtuosity, we follow Pilgrim simultaneously through all phases of his life, concentrating on his (and Vonnegut’s) shattering experience as an American prisoner of war who witnesses the firebombing of Dresden.

Don’t let the ease of reading fool you – Vonnegut’s isn’t a conventional, or simple, novel. He writes, “There are almost no characters in this story, and almost no dramatic confrontations, because most of the people in it are so sick, and so much the listless playthings of enormous forces. One of the main effects of war, after all, is that people are discouraged from being characters.”

Slaughterhouse-Five is not only Vonnegut’s most powerful book, it is also as important as any written since 1945. Like Catch- 22, it fashions the author’s experiences in the Second World War into an eloquent and deeply funny plea against butchery in the service of authority. Slaughterhouse-Five boasts the same imagination, humanity, and gleeful appreciation of the absurd found in Vonnegut’s other works, but the book’s basis in rock-hard, tragic fact gives it a unique poignancy – and humor.

Izdevniecība/Publisher: Harper Audio

Kā tiku pie šīs grāmatas?/How I got this book?

Lejuplādēju no www. Izvēlējos no Top 100 Sci-Fi Books grāmatu listes.

Vērtējums/Rating: 3.75/5

Mana recenzija/My review

Galvenais varonis Billijs Pilgrims piedzīvojis kara šausmas, redzējis kā mirst viņa biedri, bet īsti par to nebēdā. Kāpēc? Jo pateicoties citplanētiešiem no Tralfamadore planētas, kur būtnes spēj redzēt ne vien telpā, bet arī laikā, tādējādi varētu teikt, ka katrs eksistē mūžīgi, bet tas nenozīmē nemirstību. Stāstā Tralfamadoras būtnes pavīd pavisam maz; ir pāris ainu, bet gribētos uzzināt par viņiem vairāk un plašāk. Billijs varētu ‘’pateikties’’ viņiem par atbrīvošanu no laika ķetnas, kamēr mēs pārējie kustamies tikai telpā.

Pats Billijis nespēj kontrolēt, kad un kur viņš laika ‘’lēcienos’’ nokļūst (būtu vēl jāpadomā, vai tikt tas galu galā nav drīzāk lāsts; vismaz tas notiek savas dzīves ietvaros), arī stāsta sižets nav laika līnijas ziņā vienmērīgs; ar lēcieniem šurpu turpu.

Lai gan aprakstā apgalvots, ka tēlu gandrīz vai nav (vien daži) un konfrontāciju arī pamaz, tad negribētos tam piekrist. Kaut vai grāmatas sākums, kas uzreiz nogādā lasītāju brīdī, kad Drēzdene tiek bombardēta. Bez Billija pieminēšanas vērts ir arī Roland Weary tēls, viņu karš ietekmē daudz smagāk.

Cik saprotu, dzirdēto var uzskatīt daļēji par autora reāli piedzīvoto Otrajā pasaules karā. Neiztrūkst arī filozofiska rakstura pārdomas. Patika neraksturīgā pieeja stāsta formai; šur tur pavīd arī optometristi :D. Sci-fi aspekts laikam piedēvējams (vien) citplanētiešu un Billija jauno ~spēju dēļ, citādi tiešām vairāk atskats uz kara atmiņām.

                                                                                                                                           

Our main character Billy Pilgrim has seen how horrible the war can be and how his colleagues have died but that doesn’t trouble that much. Why? Because thanks to aliens from planet Tralfamadore he now knows that death isn’t the end, everyone exists forever but that doesn’t mean that they or others are immortal. Creatures from that planet can also see back and forward in time, not just only in space. In the story those creatures are shown very little; I would have liked to know a bit more about them. Billy could ‘’thank’’ them about making him unstuck in time while we forced to moved around just in three dimensions.

Billy himself can’t control where and when he will show up when the time jump occurs (you would have to think hard – if in the end that’s not a curse, at least that happens within his own life), because of that also the story jumps back and forth.

Although in the synopsis it’s mentioned that there are almost no characters or dramatic confrontations, I wouldn’t like to agree to that. As for example the beginning of the book is when the reader is already at the bombing of Dresden. Besides Billy’s character I would like to mention Roland Weary, it seemed that the war affected him harsher.

If I understood correctly this can be partially considered as Vonnegut’s memories of what he experienced in the World War II. Inevitably there are some philosophical thoughts. I liked the unusual and quirky approach to the story; here and there you might see some optometrists :D. I guess the only reason this could be considered as a sci-fi is because of aliens and what they did to Billy (his new capabilities), otherwise more likely a retrospect of war memories.

Lisa Gardner – Fear Nothing (Detective D.D. Warren #7)

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Grāmatas apraksts no Goodreads/Synopsis from Goodreads:

In #1 New York Times bestseller Lisa Gardner’s latest pulse-pounding thriller, Detective D. D. Warren must face a new fear as a serial killer terrorizes Boston.

My name is Dr. Adeline Glen. Due to a genetic condition, I can’t feel pain. I never have. I never will. 

The last thing Boston Detective D. D. Warren remembers is walking the crime scene after dark. Then, a creaking floorboard, a low voice crooning in her ear. . . . She is later told she managed to discharge her weapon three times. All she knows is that she is seriously injured, unable to move her left arm, unable to return to work.

My sister is Shana Day, a notorious murderer who first killed at fourteen. Incarcerated for thirty years, she has now murdered more people while in prison than she did as a free woman.

Six weeks later, a second woman is discovered murdered in her own bed, her room containing the same calling cards from the first: a bottle of champagne and a single red rose. The only person who may have seen the killer: Detective D. D. Warren, who still can’t lift her child, load her gun, or recall a single detail from the night that may have cost her everything.

Our father was Harry Day, an infamous serial killer who buried young women beneath the floor of our home. He has been dead for forty years. Except the Rose Killer knows things about my father he shouldn’t. My sister claims she can help catch him. I think just because I can’t feel pain doesn’t mean my family can’t hurt me. 

D.D. may not be back on the job, but she is back on the hunt. Because the Rose Killer isn’t just targeting lone women, he is targeting D.D. And D.D. knows there is only one way to take him down:

Fear nothing.

Izdevniecība/Publisher: Dutton

Kā tiku pie šīs grāmatas?/How I got this book?

Lejuplādēju no www.

Vērtējums/Rating: 3.75/5

Mana recenzija/My review

Grāmata iesākas brīdī, kad detektīve Vorena viena pati atgriezusies nozieguma vietā, lai to pārskatītu, bet viņas negaidītā vizīte kādu pārsteidz. Par laimi, paliek dzīva, bet iedzīvojas ļoti traumatiskā un sāpīgā savainojumā, kas liedz viņai darīt vienu no lietām, kuru viņa ļoti mīl, savu darbu.

Lai varētu pēc iespējas ātrāk atgriezties pie normālas dzīves, atlabšanas nolūkos skeptiķe Vorena nonāk pie sāpju speciālists Adelīnas Glenas, bet fascinējošākais retas ģenētiskas slimības dēļ viņa pati nespēj just pilnīgi nekādas sāpes. Brīnums, ka izdzīvojusi tik ilgi.

Nežēlīgās slepkavības turpinās, un ātri vien tiek atrasta līdzība ar sērijveida slepkavu pirms 40 gadiem un šķiet viņam nupat uzradies liels fans! Interesantā kārtā viņš bijis Adelīnas, kā arī viņas vecākās māsas Šanas tēvs. Abu māsu likteņi izvērtušies ārkārtīgi atšķirīgi. Ja Adelīnai par spīti viņas slimībai paveicās un tika adoptēta, tad Šanas dzīves līkloči noveduši ieslodzījumā uz mūžu. Tomēr savas līdzības māsās šķiet, eksistē, kaut vai tādā ziņā, ka Šanai sāpju vietā nav pilnībā nekādas intereses par citiem, ja nu vienīgi kaut drusku par māsu.

Notikumi uzjundī ne vien Adelīnas niecīgās atmiņas par tēvu un ko vēlāk pati uzzinājusi, bet arī par atgadījumu, kas nosūtīja Šanu, tik jaunā vecumā, cietumā. Medijos un izmeklētāju sarunās slepkava iegūst iesauku The Rose Killer, pateicoties pie līķa atstātai rozei, kā arī šampanietim; un atkal kāds no mediju vidus negrib spēlēt pēc noteikumiem.

Ja, kādam šķita, ka Vorena spēj nosēdēt mājās, tad tā būtu pamatīga kļūda, bet vēl lielāka kļūda no vainīgā puses viņu mēģināt iebaidīt vai pakacināt. Diemžēl noslēguma lappuses uz tādas skumjākas nots.

                                                                                                                                                

Fear Nothing starts at the moment when detective D.D. Warren all alone is revisiting a crime scene to check things once again but her unexpected visit surprises our perpetrator. Luckily she stays alive but receives a very painful injury which forces her for awhile to stop doing one of the things she loves very much, her job.

To get back as soon as possible she gets send to a pain expert Dr. Adeline Glen, but ironically she thanks to a rare genetic disease can’t feel any pain. It’s a miracle she’s been able to survive that long.

Gruesome killings continue and soon enough investigators notice similarities with the work of a serial killer 40 years ago, and it seems that now he has new number one fan! Coincidence or not he was father of Adeline and her older sister Shana. But lives for the two sisters have turned out very different. If Adeline despite her disease was lucky and got adopted then Shana got herself incarcerated for life. However there are some thing in common, for starters Shana instead of pain have no care about anyone else except for her and maybe her sister.

All the events bring up old memories – not only what little things Adeline remembers, but also what it was that got Shana at such a young age to prison. In mass media and between investigators the killer gets a nickname The Rose Killer thanks to how he stages the killings. Once again we see how one of journalists doesn’t want to play by the rules.

And if someone thought that D.D. Warren was capable to idly stay at home then that would be a major mistake, but even bigger mistake would be to try to intimidate her. Unfortunately the conclusion is on more of a sad note.

Douglas Adams – The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy #1) (audiobook)

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Grāmatas apraksts no Goodreads/Synopsis from Goodreads:

Seconds before the Earth is demolished to make way for a galactic freeway, Arthur Dent is plucked off the planet by his friend Ford Prefect, a researcher for the revised edition of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy who, for the last fifteen years, has been posing as an out-of-work actor.

Together this dynamic pair begin a journey through space aided by quotes from The Hitchhiker’s Guide (“A towel is about the most massively useful thing an interstellar hitchhiker can have”) and a galaxy-full of fellow travelers: Zaphod Beeblebrox–the two-headed, three-armed ex-hippie and totally out-to-lunch president of the galaxy; Trillian, Zaphod’s girlfriend (formally Tricia McMillan), whom Arthur tried to pick up at a cocktail party once upon a time zone; Marvin, a paranoid, brilliant, and chronically depressed robot; Veet Voojagig, a former graduate student who is obsessed with the disappearance of all the ballpoint pens he bought over the years.

Izdevniecība/Publisher: New Millenium Audio

Kā tiku pie šīs grāmatas?/How I got this book?

Lejuplādēju no www. Izvēlējos no Top 100 Sci-Fi Books

Vērtējums/Rating: 3.75/5

Mana recenzija/My review

Burtiski mirkli pirms Zemes iznīcināšanas Artūrs Dents un Fords Prefekts tiek paglābti no pašu iznīcības, dodot otro iespēju. Planētas Zeme beigu iemesls – peles pārstājušas par to maksāt, kā galaktiskas maģistrāles tapšana. Vienīgais, cik liels un plašs ir Visums, grūti iedomāties, vai planētas iznīcināšana tiešām vajadzīga, turklāt šīs pasaules kuģiem ir hiperdzinēji (hyperdrive)

Stāstam mēģināts pieiet ar humoru un jokiem. Varēja pasmiet un drusku amizanti, bet kārtīgu ROFL momentu nebija. Fords pēdējos 15 gadus piespiedu kārtā dzīvojis uz Zemes, atjauninot Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy grāmatu, kas arī ir par nosaukumu šai grāmatai un visai sērijai.

Kā izrādās cilvēks uz Zemes nebija tas pats gudrākais radījums un visu radību kronis kā dažkārt gribētos kādam domāt. Pirmkārt jau minētās peles, kuras patiesībā eksperimentē ar mums, kā arī delfīni. Viņi saņēma un saprata signālu par gaidāmo jau 50 gadus agrāk un paspēja laicīgi aizmukt.

Papildus tam uzzinām par kādreiz eksistējušu civilizāciju, bet ne pilnībā zudušu, kura sen, sen atpakaļ ražojusi planētas (tai skaitā Zemi), bet pie sliktiem ekonomiskiem apstākļiem izvēlējusies ieiet ziemas guļas stāvoklī.

Protams, biju jau iepriekš dzirdējis par atbildi uz vissvarīgāko jautājumu par dzīvi, Visumu un visu pārējo. Šajā ziņā interesants video no Numberphile puses par attiecīgo jautājumu un atbildi.

No tēliem un balsīm patika Artūrs Dents, īpaši dusmu brīžos, un depresīvais un paranoiskais robots Mārvins. Audiogrāmatu, kuru klausījos, ierunāja pats autors, tad jau droši vien arī balsis kā pats iztēlojās. : )

                                                                                                                                                

Just a mere moment before destruction of Earth Arthur Dent and Ford Prefect are saved giving their lives a second chance to do everything they can and want in the Universe. The main reason for the end of planet Earth is galactic freeway. Although knowing how big and vast the Universe is I’m not sure is that really necessary, plus the spaceship’s have hyperdrives. And secondly mice have stopped paying for the planet.

The story tries to be humoristic and funny. There were some laughable and amusing moments but no really good ROFL places. Ford for the last 15 years has been forced to live on Earth revising edition of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy which also is the title for this book and series overall.

It turns out that human wasn’t the smartest creature on Earth as some would like to think. Firstly those are already mentioned mice, also dolphins. They received and understood the message about what is going to happen 50 years before and were unsuccessful trying to warn us.

Additionally to that the reader finds out about ancient race which long ago were making planets (including Earth) but because of bad economical circumstances choose to go into hibernation.

Of course I had heard about the answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe and Everything. Correspondingly an interesting video from Numberphile about the answer and question.

From characters and voices I liked Arthur Dent in his angry moments and Marvin, the chronically depressed and paranoid robot. I listened to an audiobook editon  voiced by the author by himself so the voices probably are correct and as he imagined. : )

Steve Berry – The King’s Deception (Cotton Malone #8)

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Grāmatas apraksts no Goodreads/Synopsis from Goodreads:

Cotton Malone and his fifteen-year-old son, Gary, are headed to Europe. As a favor to his former boss at the Justice Department, Malone agrees to escort a teenage fugitive back to England. But after he is greeted at gunpoint in London, both the fugitive and Gary disappear, and Malone learns that he’s stumbled into a high-stakes diplomatic showdown—an international incident fueled by geopolitical gamesmanship and shocking Tudor secrets.

At its heart is the Libyan terrorist convicted of bombing Pan Am Flight 103, who is set to be released by Scottish authorities for “humanitarian reasons.” An outraged American government objects, but nothing can persuade the British to intervene.

Except, perhaps, Operation King’s Deception.

Run by the CIA, the operation aims to solve a centuries-old mystery, one that could rock Great Britain to its royal foundations.

Blake Antrim, the CIA operative in charge of King’s Deception, is hunting for the spark that could rekindle a most dangerous fire, the one thing that every Irish national has sought for generations: a legal reason why the English must leave Northern Ireland. The answer is a long-buried secret that calls into question the legitimacy of the entire forty-five-year reign of Elizabeth I, the last Tudor monarch, who completed the conquest of Ireland and seized much of its land. But Antrim also has a more personal agenda, a twisted game of revenge in which Gary is a pawn. With assassins, traitors, spies, and dangerous disciples of a secret society closing in, Malone is caught in a lethal bind. To save Gary he must play one treacherous player against another—and only by uncovering the incredible truth can he hope to prevent the shattering consequences of the King’s Deception.

                                                                                                                                                

Veco labo laiku vārdā bijušais aģents Kotons Malons piekrīt pavadīt uz Angliju kādu bēgli. Taču Londonā viņš negaidot nonāk ieroča stobra galā… Malons uzzina, ka nejauši iekļuvis diplomātiskā spēlē uz augstām likmēm – šo starptautisko incidentu uzkurina ģeopolitiskas kaislības un šokējoši Tjūdoru laika noslēpumi.

CIP operācija cenšas atrisināt gadsimtiem senu noslēpumu, kurš spētu satricināt Lielbritāniju līdz pašiem tās karaliskajiem pamatiem.

Izdevniecība/Publisher: Ballantine Books

Kā tiku pie šīs grāmatas?/How I got this book?

Lejuplādēju no torenta

Vērtējums/Rating: 3.75/5

Mana recenzija/My review

Kas aizsākas, kā vienkāršs draudzīgs pakalpojums nodrošināt bēgļa/noziedznieka Iana (Garija vecumā~) nokļūšanu atpakaļ Lielbritānijā izvēršas par stipri vien komplicētāku lietu kopumu.

The King’s Deception notikumi nav uzreiz vai kaut kad pēc septītās grāmatas, bet noteikti pēc Aleksandrijas. Varbūt tas, kamēr mēģini saprast kad un, ka nelasīju šo uzreiz pēc iepriekšējās, ietekmēja vērtējumu negatīvi.

Kā viena no tēmām grāmatā, kas tiek risināta, ir Malona dēla Garija vēlme atrast un iepazīt savu bioloģisko tēvu; abi šo faktu uzzinājuši pavisam nesen un nezina kā īsti reaģēt, kā tas ietekmē Garija un Malona attiecības. Interesanti, ka, lai gan šis fakts pieminēts arī iepriekšējās grāmatas, nemanīju, ka Garijs zinātu šo faktu, bet netiek norādīts arī pretējais, protams, The King’s Deception ir pirmā reize, kad piedāvā Garija skatpunktu.

Bet Malona un Garija nokļūšana (bija doma pēc tam atpūsties Kopenhāgenā) Londonā nav nejauša. To noorganizē CIP aģents Bleiks Antrims. Kāpēc? Jo tieši viņš ir bioloģiskais tēvs. Šajā jautājumā un kā cilvēks Bleiks ir nicināms. Dēlu grib nevis iepazīt, bet drīzāk ieriebt Pemai(mātei), un attieksme pret sievietēm vispār kā pret ko zemāku. Arī darba ziņā Bleiks nav nekāds izcilais un pie pirmā piedāvājuma gatavs pārdoties.

Lielā vēsturiskā mistērija ir ap Elizabeti I (valdīja no 1558. līdz 1603.gadam). Visvisādas teorijas par viņas manierēm, izturēšanos un vēlmēm, kā arī palikšanu bez tieša mantinieka. Tiek apšaubīts, vai karaliene tiešām bijusi karaliene, domājot par dzimumu. Par pamatu ņemta reāla leģenda (Bisley boy), kas vairāk apskatīta Brema Stokera grāmatā ‘’Famous Imposters’’, autors vairāk pazīstams drošvien ar ‘’Drakulas’’ darbu. Interesanti pavērot sadaļu (četras tādas) sākumā esošos Elizabetes portretus. Ja pirmais ir viņas padsmit gados un var saskatīt sievišķīgus/meitenīgus vaibstus, tad nākamie trīs ne tik ļoti. Bet varbūt tas tikai tāds iespaidots iespaids.

Tas, kāpēc CIP ieinteresēta tajā visā, ir mūsdienīgāks fakts, kas reāli noticis. Skoti gatavi humanitāru apsvērumu rezultātā atbrīvot lībiešu teroristu, kurš atbildīgs par lidmašīnas Pan Am Flight 103 uzspridzināšanu. Iemesls – jo konstatēta saslimšana ar vēzi un mirs tāpat. Bet amerikāņi, protams, nav iepriecināti, tādēļ gatavi veikt operāciju pret savu sabiedroto, lai atrastu kaut ko, kas piespiestu viņus mainīt savu lēmumu. Malā nestāv arī britu izlūkdienests, kur arī saistība ar #7.5 grāmatu The Tudor Plot.

Drusku pietrūka Kasiopejas un citu Malona sabiedroto, bet arī ar viņu pašu un citiem bija labi.

                                                                                                                                                

What initially was just a favor to escort a fugitive back to England turned out to be a much complicated matter.

The King’s Deception isn’t chronologically after the 7th book. Maybe that and that I didn’t read this straight away after the previous book, affected the rating negatively.

One of the books themes is how Gary and Malone tries to deal with the fact that Malone isn’t his biological father and where is he? Interestingly that the fact is mentioned in previous books but I didn’t saw that Gary knows about it, of course this the first time where we get Gary’s POV.

But it wasn’t just a chance that Malone and Gary got to go to England. It was organized by CIA agent Blake Antrim. Why? Because he is the biological father. In this case and as a human Blake is despicable. He cares only about himself and the only reason to meet Gary is to hurt his mother Pam. His attitude against women is just horrible, almost as something lesser. In his work Blake isn’t great either and is ready to sell out at the first offer.

The big historical mystery is about Elizabeth I (ruled from 1558 to 1603). All kinds of theories about her behavior, manners and why she didn’t have any heirs or why she didn’t marry. The thing in question is her gender. A real legend Bisley boy is used and there more about it in Bram Stoker’s book Famous Imposters but he is probably more known by Dracula. It interesting to observe four portraits at the beginning of each part of Elizabeth I. If in the first one you can see feminine features than in others not so much. But maybe that was just influenced impression.

The reason why CIA is interested in this matter is more present-day fact that actually happened. Scots are willing to let go a Libyan terrorist who is responsible for bombing Pan am Flight 103 because he’s diagnosed with terminal cancer and will day anyway. But Americans are not happy with that, so they try to find out something that will force their allies to reconsider. British intelligence agencies aren’t standing by, and that’s the connection from The Tudor Plot.

Would have liked to have Cassiopeia and other allies of Malone but even with him it was good enough.

Lisa Gardner – Alone (Detective D.D. Warren #1)

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Grāmatas apraksts no Goodreads/Synopsis from Goodreads:

Alone . . . Massachusetts State Trooper Bobby Dodge watches a tense hostage standoff unfold through the scope of his sniper rifle. Just across the street, in wealthy Back Bay, Boston, an armed man has barricaded himself with his wife and child. The man’s finger tightens on the trigger and Dodge has only a split second to react . . . and forever pay the consequences.

Alone . . . that’s where the nightmare began for cool, beautiful, and dangerously sexy Catherine Rose Gagnon. Twenty-five years ago, she was buried underground during a month-long nightmare of abduction and abuse. Now her husband has just been killed. Her father-in-law, the powerful Judge Gagnon, blames Catherine for his son’s death . . . and for the series of unexplained illnesses that have sent her own young son repeatedly to the hospital.

Alone . . . a madman survived solitary confinement in a maximum security prison where he’d done hard time for the most sadistic of crimes. Now he walks the streets a free man, invisible, anonymous . . . and filled with an unquenchable rage for vengeance. What brings them together is a moment of violence—but what connects them is a passion far deeper and much more dangerous. For a killer is loose who’s woven such an intricate web of evil that no one is above suspicion, no one is beyond harm, and no one will see death coming until it has them cornered, helpless, and alone.

Izdevniecība/Publisher: Bantam Books

Kā tiku pie šīs grāmatas?/How I got this book?

Lejuplādēju no torenta

Vērtējums/Rating: 3.75/5

Mana recenzija/My review

Kā jau pats apraksts, tā varētu teikt, ka arī grāmata ir trīsdaļīga.

Par Bobiju Dodžu, policijas snaiperi, kurš pēc garas maiņas dienas beigās tika izsaukts uz ģimenes konfliktu, kur vīrs pavērsis ieroci pret sievu Katrīnu un četrgadīgo (ļoti slimīgs) dēlu Neitanu. Viss notiek ātri, un Bobijs rīkojas, paļaujoties uz pieredzi un intuīciju, bet rīcības sekas grandiozākas, nekā varētu šķist cilvēkam, kas dara savu darbu. Pats savas muļķības dēļ turpina iesaistīties un kontaktēties ar Katrīnu arī pēc notikušā, maz domājot par savu karjeru. Bet gods kam gods, labi, ka tā. Patika psiholoģe Elizabete Leina.

Katrīna, bīstama, neaprēķināma un sarežģīta sieviete, bet ar traģisku atgadījumu bērnībā, kad 12 gadu vecumā viņu nolaupīja pedofils un maniaks; vien pēc 28 dienām laimīgā kārtā viņu nejauši atrada mežā gūstā (arī izmantota). Notikums atstājis savas sekas/neirozes. Katrīnai gatava darīt absolūti jebko sava neizskaidrojami slimā dēlā labā. Atbilde meklējama gēnos… Šajā ziņā arī vēl daži citi mazāk galveni tēli ņem savu dalību.

Un Ričards Umbrio jeb Mr. Buso kā pats sevi dēvē, tas pats maniaks. Nepatīkams tips, kas prieku gūst, nogalinot citu, un, kas var būt vēl labāk, ja par to tiek maksāts. Kā jau ļaundaris uzskata sevi par neaizsniedzamu, īpaši gudru un izmanīgu, bet var gadīties, ka kļūdās.

Detektīve D.D. Vorena parādās maz par spīti tam, ka viņas vārdā nosaukta sērija. Tad jau cerams biežāk būs manāma nākamajās.

                                                                                                                                                

As the synopsis also the book could be divided in three parts.

About Bobby Dodge, police sniper, who at the end of the day after a long gets called to domestic disturbance where a husband threatens with a gun to his wife Catherine and 4 year old son Nathan (very sickly). Everything happens quickly and Bobby uses his experience and intuition but consequences might be greater than someone that does his job as best as he can might think. Because of his own foolishness Bobby continues to interfere in the situation and also see Catherine; you might think he doesn’t think about his carrier, but good enough that he did. Psychologist Elizabeth Lane was likable.

Catherine, dangerous, unpredictable and complicated woman, but in her childhood was a very tragic event. At age of 12 she was kidnapped by a pedophile and maniac, and was found by a chance only after 28 days in forest (was also violated). And the event has made its mark with some neurosis. Catherine is ready do absolutely anything for her inexplicably sick son. The answer is in genes… Considering this there are few other reckonable characters.

And Richard Umbrio or Mr. Buso as he calls himself, the same maniac. Unlikable type who gets pleasure by killing others, and what could you ask more if you even get paid. As a bad guy should he thinks about himself very highly but that might be his demise.

Detective D.D. Warren despite that the series has her name shows up very little. Hopefully more in the next books.

Steve Berry ”The Templar Legacy” (Cotton Malone book 1)

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Grāmatas apraksts no Goodreads/Synopsis from Goodreads:

The ancient order of the Knights Templar possessed untold wealth and absolute power over kings and popes… until the Inquisition, when they were wiped from the face of the earth, their hidden riches lost. But now two forces vying for the treasure have learned that it is not at all what they thought it was–and its true nature could change the modern world.

Cotton Malone, one-time top operative for the U.S. Justice Department, is enjoying his quiet new life as an antiquarian book dealer in Copenhagen when an unexpected call to action reawakens his hair-trigger instincts–and plunges him back into the cloak-and-dagger world he thought he’d left behind.

It begins with a violent robbery attempt on Cotton’s former supervisor, Stephanie Nelle, who’s far from home on a mission that has nothing to do with national security. Armed with vital clues to a series of centuries-old puzzles scattered across Europe, she means to crack a mystery that has tantalized scholars and fortune-hunters through the ages by finding the legendary cache of wealth and forbidden knowledge thought to have been lost forever when the order of the Knights Templar was exterminated in the fourteenth century. But she’s not alone. Competing for the historic prize–and desperate for the crucial information Stephanie possesses–is Raymond de Roquefort, a shadowy zealot with an army of assassins at his command.

Welcome or not, Cotton seeks to even the odds in the perilous race. But the more he learns about the ancient conspiracy surrounding the Knights Templar, the more he realizes that even more than lives are at stake. At the end of a lethal game of conquest, rife with intrigue, treachery, and craven lust for power, lies a shattering discovery that could rock the civilized world–and, in the wrong hands, bring it to its knees.

                                                                                                                                                

Apraksts: Senajam Tempļa bruņinieku ordenim piederēja neiedomājamas bagātības un absolūta vara pār karaļiem un pāvestiem, līdz inkvizīcija un Francijas Filips IV viņus noslaucīja no zemes virsas, bet viņu paslēptās bagātības tika nozaudētas. Mūsdienās vairāki spēki sacenšas, meklējot Tempļa ordeņa Lielo mantojumu, kas, iespējams, ir daudz nozīmīgāks par jebkādiem pasaules dārgumiem un var pat pārvērst mūsdienu pasauli. Kad noslēpumam pietuvojas kādreizējais specvienības kaujinieks Malons, viņa dzīvība ir mata galā…

Izdevniecība/Publisher: Ballantine books

Kā tiku pie šīs grāmatas?/How I got this book?

Lejuplādēju no torenta

Vērtējums/Rating: 3.75/5

Mana recenzija/My review

Cik nu patiesi, vai drīzāk pieskaņoti literārajam darbam, tad vēsturiskie fakti minēti ļoti daudz. Vēl viena interesanta versija par Templiešu ordeni, kas ļāva viņiem kļūt tik vareniem, kur palika lielā bagātība, viņu sagrāves laikā.

Malons jau vairāk kā gadu nav aktīvajā dienestā, tā vietā pieder antīku/senu grāmatu veikals Kopenhāgenā. Šķietami nevainīga bijušās priekšnieces Stefānijas vēlme satikties iesaista viņu mežonīgā piedzīvojumā un senu mīklu risināšanā uz augstām likmēm.

Ja kādam šķiet, ka Templieši tika sagrauti, tad viņš kļūdās. Vadoņa nāve un jaunā ievēlēšana, kurš jau personīgi bija centies atrast zudušo, paātrina notikumu gaitu. Bet arī pašā ordenī nav vienprātības, kas, ja bagātības un zināšanas tiktu atgūtas, būtu darāms tālāk.

Stefānijas motivācija ir vienkārša. Kamēr viņas vīrs (pētnieks, vēsturnieks) bija dzīvs, Stefānija neko no viņa darīta neņēma par pilnu, kas arī viens no iemesliem, kāpēc atsvešinājās arī no dēla. Šajā ziņā būs necerēta otrā iespēja (abiem). Savas atziņas arī Malonam tiks.

Netrūkst ‘’spēlētāji’’ no malas, kas gan agrāk, gan stāsta darbības laikā mēģina iesaistīties.

Protams, par iemesliem ordeņa varenībai tiek minēts, ka Jēzus bijis vien parasts cilvēks bez jebkādas brīnumainas augšāmcelšanās. Kā būtiskas ik palaikam tiek piesauktas pretrunas reliģiskajos tekstos. Personīgi galīgi neesmu reliģiozs un arī ne no ticīgajiem, bet žēl par dažu tēlu rīcību grāmatas beigās. Toties bagātības vismaz būs pielietotas kaut cik lietderīgi.

Cepure nost mīklu un piedzīvojuma sastādītājam! : )

                                                                                                                                                

As to how truthful the historical facts mentioned in this book I don’t know but they’re a lot. Another interesting version about Templars, what allowed them to become so powerful and where all their treasure remained.

For more than a year Malone has retired from active duty and become an antique book seller in Copenhagen. But seemingly innocent visit from ex-boss Stephanie throws him back into action on high stakes.

If anyone thought that Templars were completely destroyed then they are wrong. Recent death of the master and election of a new one, who were already searching for the Great Devise, accelerates the events. But even between themselves in the order there are disagreements about what to do if and when it is found.

Stephanie’s motivation is very simple. While her husband Lars was alive she considered his work and passion as foolishness. Which was on of the reasons why her relationship with son Mark departed. There will be chances for both of them to make things better. Few realizations for Malone too.

There are plenty side players that would be happy to have some piece from treasure.

The reasons why Templars were so strong of course are religious (Christianity) and considers Jesus himself, that he was just a man to which I agree. Frequently there are mentioned contradictions in the religious texts. Personally I’m not a religious person or a believer but I hoped that characters would have done something different with that information. But at least the value of those treasures will be used usefully.

Earl Javorsky ”Down Solo”

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Grāmatas apraksts no Goodreads/Synopsis from Goodreads:

Things haven’t been going well for Charlie Miner. His work as a private investigator involves him with an endless roster of shady characters. His ex-wife is borderline crazy. And he hasn’t been getting to spend anywhere near enough time with his teenage daughter Mindy, the one person in his life who truly matters to him.

When he wakes up on a slab in the morgue with a hole in his head, though, things get even worse.

Just before the shooting, Charlie was investigating a case involving fraud, gold, religious zealots, and a gorgeous woman who seemed to be at the center of everything. Even with a fatal bullet wound, Charlie can connect the dots from the case to his attack. And when his daughter is abducted by someone involved, the stakes get exponentially higher. Charlie needs to find Mindy before the criminals do the same thing to her that they did to him.

After that, maybe he’ll try to figure out how he’s walking around dead.

Irreverent, circuitous, and surprisingly touching, Down Solo introduces a crisp new voice to suspense fiction.

Izdevniecība/Publisher: The Story Plant

Kā tiku pie šīs grāmatas?/How I got this book?

E-grāmatas kopija no autora apmaiņā pret recenziju

Vērtējums/Rating: 3.75/5

Mana recenzija/My review

Neparasts veids kā pasniegt mistērijas un drusku krimināla rakstura stāstu, jo galvenais varonis Čārlijs lielāko daļu drīzāk būtu pieskaitāms pie staigājošiem miroņiem nekā dzīvajiem. Tas dod iespēju dažubrīd izmantot pāris joku un humoru, bet ne līdz tādam brīdim, ka nāktos sakoncentrēties, lai varētu turpināt lasīt.

Čārlijam(privātdetektīvs) ir ne vien jāsaprot, kurš viņam palīdzēja nokļūt morgā, bet arī jāatrisina līdz galam pēdējā lieta, kas savā starpā vienotas. Iesaistītas lielas summas, kas ne vienmēr visiem ļauj domāt skaidri un liek rīkoties pat neapdomīgi.

Spriedzīte un apgriezieni drusku palielinās, kad Čārlija meita Mindija tiek nolaupīta, bet ne uz pārāk ilgu laiku.

Sižetiski vienā nozīmīgā brīdī varēja sajust reliģisku piesitienu, kā arī vēl šis tas, kas drusku samazināja vērtējumu. Bet ideja kā tāda par galveno varoni man patika ļoti.

                                                                                                                                                

Extraordinary way how to present a mystery and a bit crime story in which the main character Charlie Miner is more (walking) dead than alive. That allows a place for humor and few jokes but not that funny that you would need to stop and concentrate to continue reading.

Charlie is PI and besides finding out who he has to thank for waking up in morgue, he also needs to solve the last case which are related. There are big sums involved so not everyone can think clear and makes some rash decisions.

The tensions rises a little when Charlie’s daughter Mindy gets kidnapped but that doesn’t last for much too long.

There is one moment where I could smell a religious touch and few more things that lowered the rating. But the idea about Charlie I liked a lot.

Paldies par atbalstu! – Patreon