Pyramid Scheme by David Freer and Eric Flint

Pyramid Scheme 

By: David Freer and Eric Flint






Pyramid Scheme is a fun and irreverent story that revolves around the myths and legends of both Greece and Ancient Egypt.  I cant really decide if this story is Fantasyish Science Fiction or Science Fictionish fantasy.  It is a little bit of both since the main protaganists end up in "Mythworlds" where there are gods, monsters, and magic but they are sent there by what amounts to an alien probe.  However you classify it though, it is a very entertaining read with clever hero's who team up with the underdogs of both Greek and Egyptian legend.

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan Book Review

The Lightning Thief 

By: Rick Riordan






This book is a fun ride through a landscape of Greek myths and legends in the modern world.  The Greek gods are very much alive and well, and still up to their old tricks including having children with mortals.  Most  modern people never see this world, or rather they see it but they rationalize it away.  This is helped by the fact that most demigods and monsters use the aura of awe and confusion around them to keep hidden.  The book is the first book in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, and does a good job of introducing the world.  The book is intended for young adults, but anyone who can get over the fact that many of the characters are very young has a good chance of enjoying this book.

WebMage by Kelly McCullough Book Review

This book is a very fun and fast paced read.  It has just the mix of fantasy/mythology and modern or futuristic setting that I really like.  This story navigates through a cyberpunked version of Greek mythology where the fates run giant magical computer networks to keep track of all the threads, and the fury's are Necessitiy's system admins for reality.

If there is anything that I don't like about this book it is the fact that you don't want to put it down to go to sleep at night.  There is always something going on in the book and it kept my interest the whole way through to the point that it was hard to find a good place to stop.  Be warned you may want to have the time to finish this book in one or two sittings if you are anything like me.  Thankfully the book is not too long.

The main character in this story is named Ravirn.  He is literalally a descendant of one of the fates, and he is a hacker of reality.  He has a webgoblin familiar that helps him with his magic or code named Melchior that can shape shift from goblin to laptop.  Ravirn's special bit of divinity is to find the loopholes, and cracks in any spell or code, which makes him a great hacker but his clan matriarchs(the fates) see him as the ultimate debugger.  When Atropos asks him for help he has no choice but to see what she wants.  It turns out she has a bug in her latest program to remove that pesky free will from the world which would make the fates jobs much easier.  Before he can say no and send out a warning she lays the Pandora curse on him as the ultimate non disclosure clause.  Sure he can tell people whats going on but nobody will believe him.  So he sets off to save free will with Melchior and the few friends who will help him no matter what.  In his quest to save free will Ravirn bounces all around the multiverse and makes a lot of enemies and a few friends along the way.  In the end its hard to catch or stop the demigod of loopholes, and with the help of Eris and a webgoblin underground he manages to save the day.

 In my opinion this book is appropriate for anyone who likes a great adventure story with a few exceptions that I can see.  First science fiction or fantasy fans who don't like to see the two genre's mix are not going to like this.  Second people who are fans of Greek mythology will either love it or hate it depending on their perception of who and what the Greek gods are.  Ravirn does not treat the gods with much reverence, but to him they are family so it makes sense to me.  Most of us don't revere our great uncles and aunts very much either.

This book can be bought in print or in e-book form at www.amazon.com or check your local bookstore and ask them to order it.

Path of the Fury/In Fury Born by David Weber Book Review

This story is a mix of greek mythology, and military science fiction.  It takes place in a future star empire of mankind.  Humans now possess faster than light starships, weapons that can destroy worlds, and bioenhancement technology that would make greek gods take notice.  Well it would if anyone could find them.

This story starts out with Tisiphone, the fury, being breifly awoken several times by a bright spark in her mind until finally she is awoken fully from her slumber to find herself horribly alone.  She can find no trace of the gods or closer to home her sister selves.  What she does see is the bright spark that awoke her flaring and dying.  Its need for vengance has woken her from her slumber, and when she examines it she sees that the mortal it belongs is worthy of her help.

Alicia DeVries was once an elite member of the Imperial Cadre, A group of technologically enhanced special forces soldiers, and one of the best they ever trained.  Due to political reasons she finds herself retired long before she planned, and moves to a new colony world with her extended family.  The pirates came when she was out hunting one of the large predators on her world, and she came home to find her outpost being raided and her family dead.  With just a hunting rifle she manages to take out the entire raiding party, but is badly injured in the process.

This is when Tisiphone finds her and offers her vengance, at the possible cost of herself.  When Alicia accepts the pirates will wish they had never set foot on her world, and the galaxy may never be the same. 

Though the topic is grim, the book does have its light moments.  Tisiphone really doesn't get the implications of modern technology, and this leads to some funny situations.  The Empire is also not prepared for things like Tisiphone, and the author plays this up to lighten the mood at several points.

This is a great adventure story that really explores the difference between vengeance and justice, and the lengths that grief will drive people to.  I recommend this novel to anyone who likes space battles and paranormal entities.  It can be found at www.amazon.com in print, or in the collection In Fury Born as an Ebook or in print.  In Fury Born is this book together with more stories about Alicia to give you better background.