CSS Appomattox: A Thomas Devareaux Alternative History Military Adventure by Chris Stoesen
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I was very curious to read CSS Appomattox because I believe it is a “steampunk” version of an incident in history about which I knew nothing but using 19th century steam technology. Having recently become interested in the social history during the Industrial Revolution I was prepared to be educated a little more but from the angle of an alternate victory in the USA when the Confederates won their independence in the Civil War and were allied with Spain – I think.

The main problem for me was the continuous distractions caused by a few editing errors and the constant battles “at sea” when the airship was fighting the Germans or the US and their allies, Britain and France. There were times when battle stations seemed to go on forever followed by quite long passages when conversations or descriptions were too lengthy and I lost the complications of the plot. My lack of knowledge about the history involved probably did not help and my flagging interest in the story continued. There were several characters, Devareaux, Benjamin and members of his crew, that were well drawn and some realistic dialogue but an occasional expression used that was more contemporary of modern times. Although some of the battle scenes were fast and exciting I just found it too much after a while. There is a dramatic court martial scene (no spoiler!) and I enjoyed some of the details about weaponry in the appendix but I am not sure I would rush to read a sequel to CSS Appomattox.


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Princess Malorove and Other Short Stories by M_
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

This is a book of moralising story-poems for children, with good intentions no doubt but unfortunately, needing a re-think and lot of attention from a good editor. The layout and formatting of each story/poem was not child-friendly and did not flow smoothly or rhythmically. It was a difficult read, even for an adult, to find the correct metre when reading to a child and there were some errors in punctuation and spacing that did not help. Although the illustrations were interesting, even surreal, they were much too dark and foreboding for children – despite the message of right and wrong contained in the poem/story. Some of the pictures did not appear to be relevant to the story told on the page. I would not like to give or read this book to a child of mine without some changes and much improvement.

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Ship Rats by Rhian Waller
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This charming and exciting children’s story about a group of very young white rats, who stray aboard a wooden sailing ship and become involved in all kinds of adventures as it journeys across the high seas, is obviously written by a person who has kept them as pets. I can say that as someone who also had pet white rats as a teenager and whose daughter was equally captivated by these clean and clever pet creatures. The story is fast moving and full of challenging incidents that the three central characters, Lu, Rip and Preen, must face and overcome. There is a main adversary, Black Spot, a wild rat who is the leader of a gang aboard the ship who forces the young trio to take a number of special tests in order to prove they are not “pets”. He is particularly unpleasant and meanwhile of course the human crew, who the rats call the Bigs, display all the usual fears and prejudices against rats. And who, incidentally, express their misogyny about women aboard ships when a young Swedish girl is found as a stowaway.

Rhian Waller includes lots of curious, and often amusing, terms and new words in a “ratty” sense which will appeal to young readers of around 8 to 11 years I would guess. I especially like the word “rittens” used to describe baby rats as opposed to “kittens” the usual appellation. I also applaud the fact that the author wishes to use money from the sales of the book to support the HeroRATS of an organisation that uses trained rats to find the hidden landmines from various wars. The book would greatly benefit from the inclusion of a number of illustrations throughout the story as it is aimed at children. Otherwise, I can recommend it as an interesting and intriguing tale that is definitely different.


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Parallel Worlds: A Journey Through Creation, Higher Dimensions, and the Future of the Cosmos by Michio Kaku
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Michio Kaku’s brilliant book is one of those few that make the reader feel sad at the end. This is not because it has a denouement that pulls out the tears for the events that overtake any of the participants but because of the author’s skill of inspirational explanation about such an incredible subject. You just feel as though you want more of this kind of elegant and entertaining exposition. What could be considered to be very dry and difficult areas of physics to make explicable to those with little interest in or knowledge of science are made as compelling and as intriguing as any crime thriller. The main subjects Kaku tackles are cosmology and quantum theory, as well as a fair dose of string theory which is his specialism. But his weaving of philosophy, science history and the many anecdotes surrounding famous names, for example Newton, Einstein, Darwin, Hawking, as well as some less well-known physicists to layperson readers, has produced an extremely comprehensive book about parallel universes that is accessible and fascinating – without as I recall any sign of an equation throughout it!

The “events” of which I spoke earlier are all those, physical, chemical, or biological that have occurred since the so-called Big Bang and Inflation; and those that are still yet to descend upon all planets, galaxies, universes; and include all forms of life and consciousness as the “participants”. When the author moves towards the end of the book on to the subject of the purpose and meanings of life and the universe it is with great sensitivity, even optimism, and his undoubted enthusiasm and awe for the wonders and mysteries of “everything” in this universe also comes through. Many of the subjects are handled with a hint of fun and amusement from Michio Kaku and this often helped to balance my own large lumps of scepticism in some of his discussions. Another great bonus for this particular reader was a better grasp of string theory, which I once despaired of ever achieving. Highly recommended to anyone interested in the destiny of humanity in this or any other world – one that may be just a few millimetres away.


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Orson's Lessons in Wealth: A story of financial education for children by Karl Woodhouse
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Orson’s Lessons in Wealth is a children’s book that has a curious statement in the front matter of the book that I assume was meant to be ironic. Most probably it is aimed at the adults who may read the book with their younger companion(s) for it advises them not use the contents in order to make a financial or investment decision! However, we also have to assume that the advice given to Orson about his “wealth” is sound advice - despite the curious statement.

The story is full of curious meetings between Orson and various characters, known to Captain Harrison, the other main character. The amusing moments are generally just that – amusing! – and the illustrations are simple and charming. I can see children of between the ages 8 and 11 joining in with the various songs and chuckling at the jokes and oddball people that Orson receives his financial advice from, though I am not so sure they will readily learn the lessons given. The author has to be commended for his efforts at attempting to teach the rather dry subject of finance to youngsters through this book. Without giving away too much of the plot I have to say that the experience of receiving information via cabbages batted through the air with a tennis racket is one that is surreal and weird enough to make any pupil remember it, whatever their age or experience! Maybe departments of education everywhere should start taking notes?


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