Angels of Vengeance by John Birmingham
Del Rey (2012), Hardcover, 544 pages

A very nice surprise! I don't knowingly start series in the middle, but as a reviewer I get what I get. In this case it was engaging enough that I'm going to hunt up books one and two, and wait and watch for book 4. I want to see the progression of how they got from wherever to here. The book is the third of a stated Trilogy, but the ending is a clear and unambiguous opening for a book Four.

Strong, smart, resourceful female characters. Without having the backstory from books One and Two I'm still missing some key pieces, but the fundamental basics of each character's thread become clear enough. The interweaving of circumstance that link Caitlin, Jules and Sofia are as complex as the shattered world in which they live. Politics, society, and general order are all in a state of flux and potential upheaval. Each of these women has a Cause -- and in working toward them, end up on paths that cross and sometimes coincide.

This isn't exactly a techno-thriller, an action adventure, or a political intrigue novel, although there are elements of all three. There are very few true surprises, but it's not so predictable as to be a 'formula' book. As a stand alone it's not quite rich enough in detail to make the events of the previous books clear, but it's skillfully written and moves fast. As I said before, it was engaging enough that I *will* find and read Without Warning and After America.

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Tales from Super-Science Fiction  Robert Silverberg (Editor), Frank Kelly Freas (Illustrator)
Haffner Press (2012), Edition: 1st, Hardcover, 400 pages


Wonderful, Classic, Super-Science Fiction! No worry about hard science or techno-geekery. A collection of short stories from the 1950s pulp magazine of the same name. Early work by writers who have become icons of the genre, written without pressure or pretentiousness are a true joy to read. Pure, delightful, speculative sci-fi. Shorts make it an ideal book for the nightstand or the break room when you only have a few minutes to read. You will be transported into the alternate realities (and some futures) as envisioned by great creative minds a generation (or two) ago. Well worth reading in small bites -- all the better to savor the taste and texture of each story individually.

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Missed Friday again... legs extra numb for some reason, so cat
decided to help me keep them up in comfy chair. Then... the Kitty
Sleep Field -- it is strong!

Trader by Charles De Lint
Tom Doherty Assoc Llc (1998), Paperback, 464 pages

Tapping the Dream Tree by Charles de Lint
Tor Books; First Edition edition (November 1, 2002), 544 pages

The Magic of Recluce (Recluce series, Book 1) by L. E. Modesitt Jr.
Tor Fantasy (1992), Edition: First Thus, Mass Market Paperback, 512 pages

Ongoing;
Everyday Holiness: The Jewish Spiritual Path of Mussar by Alan Morinis
Trumpeter (2008), Paperback, 352 pages

Floating Worlds: The Letters of Edward Gorey and Peter F. Neumeyer by
Peter F. Neumeyer
Other authors: Peter F. Neumeyer (Editor)
Pomegranate (2011), Hardcover, 256 pages

The Artist's Handbook by Ray Smith
Knopf (1987), Edition: 1, Hardcover, 362 pages

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John Scalzi is brilliant and shares his widely read blog with a physician friend who has some unequivocal things to say about coerced, non-medically indicated, completely unethical and unprofessional administering of transvaginal ultrasound.

With which I Completely Agree. If I were still doing/teaching ultrasound I would be actively reminding my colleagues of this fact and maintaining strong professional ethics. (and if I were still doing ultrasound I would provide an image for use in the Civil Disobedience).

http://whatever.scalzi.com/2012/03/20/guest-post-a-doctor-on-transvaginal-ultrasounds/

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Wow!!! Friday already??!? All those appointment sure do eat up the time.

Nothing officially for review this week. Will probably be slow for those for a few weeks, the next big batch gets awarded around the first of the month then it can take anywhere from 2-8 weeks to *get* the books. Supposedly have one in the pipeline, but it's getting to the point where I have to mark it 'Not Delivered'.

Sandman Slim: A Novel by Richard Kadrey
Eos (2009), Hardcover, 400 pages

Kill the Dead: A Sandman Slim Novel by Richard Kadrey
Harper Voyager (2010), Hardcover, 448 pages

A happy surprise! The Sandman Slim books were loaned to us by Pol who insisted they were something we wanted to read -- he was right. (L has read all three, I just finished the second last night) A refreshingly different look at Hell, Heaven, Demons and Angels and armies of each and poor, small, Earth in between. There are things on Earth that neither Host is quite willing to take on. Human deviousness, adaptability and unpredictability can handle the shambling Undead (you knew there had to be zombies here somewhere, didn't you?) that become the immediate threat to LA. The Demi-Dieties go off to deal with their own challenges; a rogue Angel in The Department of Homeland Security who thinks she's ready to take over the Throne of Heaven, and Lucifer back to Hell to put out a few fires and quell a rebellion. This leaves our boy Slim in LA with a newly unemployed Gypsy zombie-killer, a Jade who's trying to stay on the wagon from soul-sucking, a man who might be as old as time, and a (literal) talking head. And a new threat, one that virtually no one left alive knows about...

Guess what the next book on deck is...


Ongoing projects;

A handbook of ornament with 300 plates containing about 3,000 illustrations of the elements, and the application of decoration to objects, by Franz Sales Meyer
Architectural book Pub. Co., inc (1982), Edition: 4th, Oversize
Paperback Binding, 542 pages

The Fantasy Illustrator's Technique Book (Quarto Book) by Gary A. Lippincott
Barron's Educational Series (2007), Paperback, 128 pages

Plus more ADA Design, VA, DAV and Medicare documents than should ever be on a single desk at one time.

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There's one Sure Thing in life. None of us are getting out of it alive.I kissed off fear of death the first time I didn't die. We've bumped into each other a handful of times since (excuse me? what? time to come play? I Don't Think So). I'm here to tell you there is a list of things that scare me WAY more than death (and I'm not scared of very many things). Life, that can be scary. Really Living It scarier still. There are things I don't like and things I'd avoid if I could. I do the best I can with what I have, though, because it's what I've got - oh, and I'm too stubborn to quit.

This moment inspired by an insightful 14-year-old. Good Girl! http://www.fatnutritionist.com/index.php/the-denial-of-life/

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Eeep! Is it Friday again? Already? Ooops, missed last week, too.

The Anvil of the World by Kage Baker
Tor Fantasy (2004), Paperback, 352 pages

Kris Longknife: Undaunted by Mike Shepherd
Ace (2009), Edition: Original, Mass Market Paperback, 368 pages

Kris Longknife: Redoubtable by Mike Shepherd
Ace (2010), Edition: Reprint, Mass Market Paperback, 336 pages

Kris Longknife: Daring by Mike Shepherd
Ace (2011), Edition: Original, Mass Market Paperback, 368 pages
(yes, this should finish out the 9 Longknife books)

Dead on the Delta by Stacey Jay
Pocket Books (2011), Edition: Original, Mass Market Paperback, 400 pages

Dead Mann Walking: A Hessius Mann Novel by Stefan Petrucha
Roc (2011), Edition: Original, Mass Market Paperback, 352 pages

The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms (The Inheritance Trilogy) by N. K. Jemisin
Orbit (2010), Edition: Reprint, Mass Market Paperback, 432 pages

A Harvest of Bones (Chintz 'n China Series) by Yasmine Galenorn
Berkley Prime Crime (2005), Paperback, 277 pages

Ongoing;

Your Body's Wisdom: A Body-Centered Approach to Transformation by Renee Welfeld
Sourcebooks Inc (1997), Paperback, 256 pages

The Fantasy Illustrator's Technique Book (Quarto Book) by Gary A. Lippincott
Barron's Educational Series (2007), Paperback, 128 pages

The Five Scrolls by Herbert N. Bronstein
Other authors: Albert H. Friedlander (Editor)
Central Conference of Amer (1984), Edition: 1st ed, Hardcover, 323 pages

Plus a couple of Beta reads...

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http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/weird/Woman-Forced-to-Use-Breast-Pump-in-Airport-Bathroom-141733483.html

Regarding traveling with assorted medical devices; advice from a local TSA Supervisor: 'If you're flagged for *anything*, politely ask for a Supervisor. There MUST be one on duty in every service area at all times. Agents are supposed to be able to identify common medical devices; CPAP, TENS, Neurostimulators, electronic testing devices - glucose or otherwise... If in doubt, 99% of the time the Supervisor can keep little things from becoming Big Things.'

I'm pretty sure breast pump would/should fall into this category. (Current TSA rules as of 7MAR12 from tsa.gov; http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/children/formula.shtm)

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(unlike, oddly, my "ARMY" icon)

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=248602195227491&set=a.157796790974699.40772.157750900979288&type=3&theater

For those whom this causes discomfort, consider; WHY, exactly, does it cause that discomfort? Examine those motives closely and only /as they apply to you/. Those motives apply to you. Only you. Not me, not your parents, certainly not the Greater World At Large.

The concept of Sin is in the eye of the beholder (as, in fact, is the concept of God/Goddess, One True Way, Heaven/Hell, Miracle/Magic/k, and a multitude of other things). You are entitled to your concept. I am entitled to disagree -- or agree... but you'll never really know which, because it is against my Better Nature (and my Religion) to go stuffing my beliefs down anyone elses' throat.

These men and women as well as hundreds of thousands of men, women and children pay a high price for Freedom. Freedom of Thought, Expression, Religion... even your right to spew inflammatory vitriol even though they don't agree. The price is paid in blood,, tears, smoke, screams, families, livelihoods and lives destroyed, nightmares for the rest of their lives, the impulse to hit the ground whenever they hear a door slam or a car alarm, the inability to hold a job with others... How's your balance in the First Bank of Freedom/(Karma/Blood)?

The one thing I present as a TRUTH; They have paid up front a high price for Freedom and are entitled to choose any flavor that suits them. How about you? Have you paid your blood price or are you piunking down a credit chit issued based on the 'full faith and credit' of someone elses' blood? You do understand that while you may present that card, any establishment is entitled to decline it or invite you to take your business elsewhere, correct?

FULL FAIRNESS DISCLAIMER; As far as I know, I am not acquainted with the "God" identified as OP. I don't think you need to agree to LIKE or SHARE, and a LIKE and/or SHARE does not imply you agree with any or all of this post. Sharing does mean you are capable of critical thinking and agree that other people are entitled to do likewise if they so choose.

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What Nurses Know ... Chronic Fatigue Syndrome by Lorraine Steefel
Demos Health (2011), Edition: 1, Paperback, 190 pages

Fair Disclosure: This book was received as a LibraryThing Early Reviwer copy. I have accepted no other compensation for this review.

The author, both a nurse and mother of a child with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), has the knowledge and perspective to relate the personal and clinical challenges of the condition. She provides suggestions from helping advocate through the sometimes lengthy process of getting a diagnosis to day to day management and coping strategies.

She combines first-person vingnettes from patients with comprhensible explanations and resources interspersed with boxed bullet points specifically from the 'What Nurses Know...' viewpoint. Covering diagnosis, advocacy, self care, support from and for family members the book presents a variety of information in an accessible, very readable fashion.

Chapter and section construction is such that it can be taken in relatively small bites, which may be the best (or only) pace a person with CFS can manage. It has an extensive list of resources at the end which can provide a quick an useful 'where do I look for...' reference. Very well written and appropriate for clinicians, patients and friends/family to work together in understanding the condition, developing realistic expectations and recognizing limitations to managing the condition for the best possible outcome.