Cannonball Read 17

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

About MarkAbaddon

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Somehow I have turned into a real life Ross Geller, having now been married 3 times. Otherwise, just your normal Jewish geek living in MN. (Learn more about this Cannonballer: MarkAbaddon's Quick Questions interview.)

MarkAbaddon's Reviews:

The Water Dancer – a brilliant novel

The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates

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Since I know Ta-Nehisi Coates was writing the Black Panther comic for a couple of years, and the blurb I read about this book was that it was about a young man with extraordinary abilities, I thought it would be a more action oriented style of novel. I could not have been more wrong. Yes, the main character, Hiram Walker, does possess an ability he calls conducting, but it is used very infrequently in the story as he really does not learn how to use […]

How to take a beloved fantasy story and ruin it

Elric Volume 3 The White Wolf by Michael Moorcock

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As I mentioned in my previous reviews, I love Elric and have read many of the stories set in his universe over the years. I have no idea who the hell this is supposed to be because this main character ain’t Elric. Sure, he is supposed to be Elric, looks like him, even talks like him on occasion, but this is not The Albino Ruler of Mlenibone. Elric is many things but dumb is not a description that would generally be applied to him (Self […]

Well, this Elric series went bad quickly

Elric Vol 2 Stormbringer by Michael Moorcock

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I had a bad feeling about this book after finishing the last volume that was, unfortunately, proven correct. Especially with stories like Elric, I have no issue with writers taking liberties with the story t provide a new perspective on the tale. Where I have a problem is when the changes completely distort the main character to the point of  making him unrecognizable. Elric has always been a self centered, self pitying character but he was never evil, despite being the ruler of a kingdom […]

An interesting take on Elric

Elric Vol. 1: The Ruby Throne by Michael Moorcock

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I first read Elric when I was about 12 or 13 and fell for the character. He was brooding, intelligent, conflicted, it is easy to see how an introverted pre-teen could identify with him. Visually, I have to say that this first volume is extremely impressive. In the notes, the artist talk about how the way the Melniboneans are portrayed is inspired by the Cenobites from Hellraiser. And it works. The reader really gets a sense of the alien nature and cruelty within the Melnibonean […]

The incredible ending to one of the greatest modern speculative fiction stories

Fall of Hyperion by Dan Simmons

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Sticking the landing is difficult in stories. Hyperion built up so many mysteries and threw so much at the reader, it would take a monumental achievement to have a satisfying conclusion. Dan Simmons accomplished that ending so beautifully that even an East German judge would score it a 10 (kids, ask your parents to explain that, if necessary). There are so many disparate stories in this book that are woven together: the pilgrims on their way to the Shrike to either have their one wish […]

Hyperion – a modern classic

Hyperion by Dan Simmons

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Some books make you think and force you to challenge long held concepts. Some books affect you emotionally and can force you to weep during social situations where it may be inappropriate (reading on the bus, for example). Only a true classic can achieve both of those objectives and Simmons’ Hyperion certainly qualifies. This is a book that has won many awards and been hailed as a classic for over two decades and I am now realizing how influential it is when I watch shows […]



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