Transformers: Exodus

Okay, this is off my blogs normal theme, but I'm endulging in a little guilty pleasure of mine: my inner nerdiness. I love Transformers, the movies and the cartoons. So now I'm reading the novels too, and subjecting everyone else to my nerdiness. I hope you enjoy.

This appears to be based in the Transformers movie universe. I haven't read any of the comics (although I plan to rectify that once I find where to start), and only barely remember the old TV shows, but I don't remember any of the events mentioned. The book specifically mentions events and characters from the movies (the Allspark being launched into space, Bumblebee's damaged voice, and the Transformers cast, mainly the Autobots). There were other Transformers mentioned, but the ones that appeared in the movies were more prominent. I haven't seen the third movie yet, so it'll be interesting to see what new characters (to me) play a role in the new film.

Overall, I enjoyed most of this book, although it had it's dry spots. One chapter, an archivist is describing the early battles in the war. What could have been intense battles sequences, bitter loses, emotional trauma, all that good stuff, read like a history lesson. I wish the author had taken the time to explore those battles, although it would have been a much longer book.

My favorite part of the book was the interaction between Megatron and his underlings, especially Starscream and his plotting. It was a side story, but it added extra depth to the story, and let us see different aspects of the Decepticons, besides their desire to blow everything up. They had their own personalities. Shockwave, and his constant experiments, were distrurbingly amoral, even to his fellow Decepticons. Starscream was fun to read; not the sniveling coward from the old cartoons, but a cunning planner always looking out from himself. Soundwave was the spymaster, watching everyone and with his fingers in everything. By comparison, Megatron seemed kind of one dimensional, once he started the war. The Autobots had their own strengths, but for some reason they didn't seem as interesting.

Transformers: Exodus became more interesting once the war started. The first part dragged a bit, although I found Megatron's character intriguing. I was interested in his and Optimus Prime's early history, but I didn't really see how they came to rely on each other before the war. The first part of the book had too much "telling," and not enough "showing" why they became friends.

After reading this, I'm even more interested in reading the original comics and seeing how true this is to them. I think people who enjoyed the movies will enjoy this. I would assume that the comic/TV show fans would also enjoy it as well, but I can't say for sure, since I'm fairly certain this is for the movie universe.

Wanderlust by Ann Aguirre

I've just finished Wanderlust, the second Sirantha Jax novel. I enjoyed the first one so much, I was really looking forward to this one. Unfortunately, something just didn't click for me.

My Rating: ★★

Jax and company have upset the social order of the galaxy, but all that happened in the first book. Now they (and everyone else) has to deal with the backlash. As part of that “dealing,” Jax has been named Ambassador and sent to get a hostile alien species to join the government. Wanderlust covers her attempt to reach them, and all the obstacles thrown in. There were parts I enjoyed, but some of the chemistry was missing in this one.

Pros -

Jax and company can banter like pros. I love the bickering between them. It made me laugh, and gives a real insight to the characters. The back and forth sounded genuine, like I'd expect from people forced to like and work in close quarters. It was dialog like this that I loved from the first book.

Cons -

Maybe I wasn't in the mood for this type of book, but it seemed to spend way to much time going over Jax's own internal dilemmas. I never felt like she was whining, per se, but I just wanted to move on with the story. About half way through the book, I almost stopped reading it. I grew tired of the internal drama. It picked up again later, but it slowed the story down.

Off the top of my head, I can name two examples of blatant forecasting on the author's part. (I'll try to keep these vague to avoid any possible spoilers. No names, besides Jax's, mentioned.) First, Jax meets a new character who has a duplicate skill to another of her crew, right as they're planning to leave the planet. I had to wonder if the original crew member wasn't leaving with them. After all, why would they need two people with the same skill? Lo and behold, I was right. And the second, Jax kept mentioning wanting to get a certain piece of equipment, which she couldn't afford. She talks about it several times, even stating a brand name. Near the end, she just finds one laying around, which she fixes. Those “coincidences” could have been slid in more carefully. Maybe the extra person gets introduced at the beginning of the book, or doesn't have the exact same skills, but can “wing it.” And with the piece of equipment? Have Jax run into it, then realize its value and fix it, not broadcast how she wants that very thing for several chapters.


I don't know if I'll continue this series. It ended at a spot that promised more emotional drama ahead, and if it's like this book, I don't know if I want to read that. Wanderlust had its moments, but they were both good and bad. If you liked the first one, try this one. But you may want to borrow it before buying, just in case.

Grimspace by Ann Aguirre

Originally posted here.

Last month, I got my hands on a copy of Grimspace by Ann Aguirre.

My Review: ★★★★

I really enjoyed this one. It's a very gritty, down and dirty narrative. The author writes as Jax thinks it: incomplete sentences, self-deprecitating comments, smart-ass thoughts. Unlike several "smart-ass" heroines, I really got a sense of Jax. And a huge point in her favor, I never wished she'd just shut up. Some authors try for smart-ass, and only get bitchy or whiney. Ann Aguirre pulls Jax off wonderfully. Jax isn't perfect. Far from it. There are several occasions where she points out how broken she is. It works. Jax is an engaging person to read about, and care for.

I wish Aguirre had added a few more descriptions, especially with the few aliens we're introduced to. One, the Morguts, I didn't have any real mental picture of at all. Other times, the narration lost me and I didn't quite understand how Jax made certain jumps in logic.

The story's not terribly original: big, bad corporation has a nasty secret; good guys (don't realise it for most of the book but) know the secret and are moving to stop the corporation; things go from bad to worse; etc, etc, you know the rest. Yes, it's a great story. I enjoyed reading it. But unfortunately, it's not all that original. I had a real good idea how they were going to win at the end. I was right.

I really liked this book and recommend it, although it's not for hard-core sci-fi readers. Too many little details glossed over. It focuses more on the action, than the science. I will read the rest of the series.