The Great Geek Manual

Book: Mercury Rises
ISBN-13: 978-1612180861

Author: Robert Kroese
Series: Mercury Trilogy
Publisher: AmazonEncore
Genre: Sci-Fi / Comedy
Release: October 18, 2011
Length: 275 pages (Paperback)

Book Rating: B- (80 / 100)
Series Rating: B (85 / 100)

Verdict

Mercury Rises, like its predecessor, is a fast-paced, absurd story about an unlikely hero on a quest to save the world that plays out like an Adam Douglas re-write of Kevin Smith’s Dogma. The result is a light-hearted, pop-culture-studded romp that’s recommended escapism for any geek or urban fantasy fan looking for a good laugh. Unfortunately, as the second book in a trilogy, Mercury Rises features a somewhat unsatisfying ending that leaves the book feeling like a transitional piece.

Pros: Fast-paced. Hilarious. Witty dialogue.

Cons: A little over the top. A little long. Somewhat disappointing ending.

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Book: Ripley’s Believe It Or Not! Strikingly True
ISBN-13: 978-1609910006

Series: Ripley’s Believe It Or Not!
Publisher: Ripley Publishing
Genre: Non-Fiction / Trivia
Release: September 13, 2011
Length: 256 pages (Hardcover)

Verdict

Each time I pick up one of Ripley’s super-sized coffee table books, I can’t help but think that, if Reddit’s front page were a book, this would be it. (Except, you know, the complete lack of trolls.) Strikingly True is choked full of the same riveting sort of trivia, photos, and anecdotes that the lure me away from my work and onto the internet each day. Only, this compact version makes for an eye-catching centerpiece for your coffee table.

If, like me, you loose track of the time pouring over Digg, Reddit, and Tumblr online, you’ll love this latest entry in the Ripley’s Believe It or Not series.
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Book: Darkness Rising
ISBN-13: 978-0061797026

Author: Kelley Armstrong
Series: The Darkness Rising, Book 1
Publisher: HarperCollins
Genre: Paranormal Romance /
Young Adult Fantasy
Release: April 12, 2011
Length: 368 pages (Hardcover)

Rating: F (30 / 100)

Verdict

Three hundred pages of a excruciating teen awkwardness and little-to-no plot. I can’t imagine anyone enjoying this book, even young girls who enjoy books about teen awkwardness. Darkness Rising is easily Kelley Armstrong’s dullest book to date.

Pros: It eventually ends.

Cons: Excruciatingly oblivious protagonist. Excruciating awkward teen romance. Nearly no plot development. Predictable paranormal romance plot.

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Book: Write More Good: An Absolutely Phony Guide
ISBN-13: 978-0307719584

Author: The Bureau Chiefs
Publisher: Three Rivers Press
Genre: Humor
Release: April 5, 2011
Length: 272 pages (Paperback)

Rating: B+ (90 / 100)

Verdict

The perfect book for a blogger to celebrate April Fool’s Day with. Written in a style that will feel very familiar to fans of The Daily Show and The Colbert Report, Write More Good is a modern day Devil’s Dictionary for the internet generation.

Pros: 90 percent original material. Hilarious from beginning to end.

Cons: Poses a huge distraction to getting anything done for about three days following purchase.

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Book: Lord of Emperors
ISBN-13: 978-0451463548

Author: Guy Gavriel Kay
Series: The Sarantine Mosaic, Book 2
Publisher: Roc Trade
Genre: Historical Fantasy
Release: October 5, 2010 (Reprint)
Length: 448 pages (Hardcover)

Rating: A- (95 / 100)

Verdict

Guy Gavriel Kay concludes The Sarantine Mosaic with the same intricacy and grandeur with which he began in Sailing to Sarantium. Kay matches Jordan and Martin with the astonishing scope of his narrative and the depth with which he develops his characters. However, where Jordan and Martin couch their tales in elaborate magical systems and foreign worlds, Kay’s books are set in a past where the superstition and faith of early civilization gently blurs the line between historical fact and fantasy. The result is a literary novel of humbling quality.

If you’re looking for excellent writing and a world in which to loose yourself, look no further. If you’re looking for high fantasy or a light bit of reading, look elsewhere.

Pros: Extremely well written. Fascinating historical backdrop. Exciting races.

Cons: Long on history, short on fantasy elements. Slow pacing.

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Book: The Calculus Diaries
ISBN-13: 978-0143117377

Author: Jennifer Ouellette
Publisher: Penguin
Genre: Non-Fiction
Release: August 31, 2010
Length: 336 pages (Paperback)

Rating: A- (95 / 100)

Verdict

The Calculus Diaries is a must for math nerd, geeks grappling with high school (or college) math, and trivia buffs alike. The idea of learning math recreationally may sound ludicrous, but don’t let it put you off. Ouellette delivers a fascinating series of math lessons so neatly couched in humor and the sort of odd historical minutia that keep you riveted to the History Channel that the math almost becomes beside the point.

Pros: Lots of fun. Very educational. Very easy reading.

Cons: The book opts for covering a large number of topics briefly, rather than a few topics in depth.

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Book: The Passage
ISBN-13: 978-0345504968

Author: Justin Cronin
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Genre: Horror / Suspense Thriller
Release: June 8, 2010
Length: 784 pages (Hardcover)

Rating: A (100 / 100)

Verdict

In a single stroke, Cronin has single-handedly returned dignity to the vampire genre.

The Passage is one of the most beautifully written horror novels ever written. It tells a story encompassing dozens of characters over a span of a hundred years with such deft skill as to leave other post-apocalyptic novels in its dust. It’s a must read for all fans of Margaret Atwood, Stephen King, or post-apocalyptic thrillers!

Pros: Epic story. Excellent characters. Compelling story. Authentic suspense.

Cons: Starts slowly. Ends abruptly.

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Book: Imager’s Intrigue
ISBN-13: 978-0765325624

Author: L. E. Modesitt Jr.
Series: Imager Portfolio, Book Three
Publisher: Tor Books
Genre: Fantasy
Release: July 20, 2010
Length: 496 pages (Hardcover)

Rating: C (70 / 100)

Verdict

Considered as a whole, the Imager Portfolio is fairly good reading for those who enjoy political maneuvering in a fantasy setting, but Imager’s Intrigue is the weakest installment in the series. Fans of the first two books owe themselves the resolution this book brings to series, but L. E. Modesitt Jr. has once again allowed a series that started strong to peter out. It’s highly doubtful that any future entries in this series will be worth the cover price.

Pros: Plenty of twists and turns. Interesting plot. Good magic system.

Cons: A bit lengthy. Characters have little emotional depth. Too little action.

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