Karsa Orlong

Yay! Right . . . For a while he stood on the front lawn looking up and down the silent length of Cimarron Street. He was a tall man, thirty-six, born of English-German stock, his features undistinguished except for the long, determined mouth and the bright blue of his eyes, which moved now over the charred ruins of the houses on each side of his. He’d burned them down to prevent them from jumping on his roof from the adjacent ones. After a few minutes he took a long, slow breath and went back into the house. He tossed the hammer on the living-room couch, then lit another cigarette and had his midmorning drink. Later he forced himself into the kitchen to grind up the fiveday accumulation of garbage in the sink. He knew he should burn up the paper plates and utensils too, and dust the furniture and wash out the sinks and the bathtub and toilet, and change the sheets and pillowcase on his bed; but he didn’t feel like it. For he was a man and he was alone and these things had no importance to him.

The Shining?

Book #61: Desolation Island by Patrick O'Brian From Amazon: Commissioned to rescue Governor Bligh of Bounty fame, Captain Jack Aubrey and his friend and surgeon, Stephen Maturin, sail the Leopard to Australia with a hold full of convicts. Among them is a beautiful and dangerous spy – and a treacherous disease which decimates the crew. Thoughts: This is the fifth of O'Brian's books in his 'Aubrey/Maturin' series. In this one, Captain Jack Aubrey is delighted to have been awarded command of the Leopard, with a mission bound for Australia. What he doesn't know, at first, is that he is to transport a hold full of convicts, something which infuriates him as a navy man. But his friend Stephen Maturin, ship's surgeon and spy, twists his arm before he can reject the commission. Maturin has his own reasons, for amongst the convicts is a woman who has been charged with espionage on behalf of the Americans, and Britain and America are on the verge of war. I'm starting to find O'Brian's books to be the perfect remedy when I feel in need of a complete change of pace. I read a fair amount of historical fiction, I suppose, but - apart from Hilary Mantel - I'm finding his writing more immersive than any other in its evocation of a time and place, its grasp of character, and dialogue that just seems right. It doesn't mean that I suddenly have a grasp of all the nautical terms, though - I still struggle with those, but I'm less concerned with it now, and don't find myself stopping reading to find out what it all means. Desolation Island has some thrilling moments (especially one prolonged sequence where the Leopard is fleeing from a Dutch Man of War in the midst of a ferocious storm), some great surprises, several laugh out loud moments, and a brilliant ending. Loved it. 9/10

Bit difficult to set books on Jupiter when it's a gas giant Just sayin'

Ain't that the truth! Both Carrion Comfort and The Terror are excellent

Depends if: a) You know how to operate a powerlifter b) You can use a pulse rifle c) You look good in a boiler suit

I really like the album, it's very melodic Currently addicted to this:

Has it got to 800 yet?

I don't think there's a plan for that, it just happens I would like to upgrade, yes. Maybe at Christmas I think the 'bugs' are fairly isolated. You know what it's like with Amazon reviews, people generally only comment if they're going to rave about something or complain about it, whilst most others just keep quiet and enjoy what they've bought

Yes it is! Mind you, I've got so many series on the go it doesn't happen to me very often

Oh thanks for that! I notice he's halfway through the second book. So publish the first one already!

Why did I get an image of you shouting that from the door of a helicopter with Ride of the Valyries blasting away in the background?

Great review of Kraken, bb

Oh for sure, but not first

Yeah, you're right. At least he might have some quality control, unlike some others I could mention *cough* Brandon Sanderson *cough*

Read Malazan, forget the rest until afterwards. You'll please at least two people that way

Ooh! Publication date for Mark Lawrence's next book, Prince of Fools (Red Queen's War Book 1) Oh wait, June 2014. can't he write any faster??

The tickets didn't arrive, so I'm glad I sorted out replacements. It was all hassle free, no queue, walked into the Albert Hall, straight to the box office desk, got the tickets in about 10 seconds. Then had to hang around for an hour before the gig because we got there early anticipating a queue All worth it, though. It was possibly the best 'gig-that-wasn't-Rush' that I've ever been to. Just stunning

I did get a bit fed up with them ending every sentence of dialogue with 'darling' though (slight exaggeration . . . maybe ).

I read that before watching it - spoiled the surprise a bit! The Walking Dead 4x01 Bates Motel 1x06

The film did quite well worldwide, but it not so well in America, and that's what killed it, I think. Certainly, if you hunt around, you'll find plenty of detail as to why they didn't go ahead, but - as it involves religion - it's probably best discussed elsewhere. It seems New Line got scared off due to opposition from certain quarters. I'm glad you liked it cuppycakes

I was intending to get them on Kindle, but the new covers are so nice it makes me want to get them all in paperback

I think he is still dead, but he's got a ghostwriter They're his older books, though - pre A Fire Upon the Deep