December 4, 1999
- Finished Terry Prachett's "Sourcery". The eighth son of an eighth son becomes a source of magic, a "sourcer" in Pratchett's Discworld. Not nearly the laughs I'm used to coming from him. But then again I found out two things after I finished reading this paper back. It was originally published back in '88 (the third in the Discworld series) and I paid $12 for a phreaking imported paperback. But it was a good read.

I see I also forgot to mention having read David Morrell's "Double Image". I must have read it around the time I read "Blood Oath" mentioned below. A retired combat photo-journalist is given the job of recreating some famous architectural photos originally taken 40 years previously by the same person that originally took those photographs, in order to show how times have changed. Along the way he gets caught up in some nefarious goings-on. Action, adventure, romance, sex, and psychotics ensue. This wasn't up to the standards of his earlier works, but it was a good read for a $3.99 hard cover. And it did keep you turning the pages, I have to admit.

November 27, 1999
- Damn, can't remember what I finished reading so I could leave it with Mom over the Holidays.

November 16, 1999
- Finished up Trevanian's "Shibumi". This was an interesting treatment of the differences in Japanese and American philosophies as well as an interesting "conspiracy" style novel. The central character, and hero is Nikko Hel, a mixed Russian/German boy raised in pre-WWII Japan that grows up to be the most feared assassin in the world that is inadvertantly involved with the "Mother Company", a cartel of American and Oil producing interests that actually owns/runs the government and to some degree, the world economy. Of course, this book came out in 1982, so the content is a bit dated. But an excellent story.

November 4, 1999
- Just finished up David Morrell's "Blood Oath". A little action and adventure never hurt nobody?

October 24, 1999
- Wow, what have I read recently? ummmm.

Bryan Pfaffenberger's "Linux Clearly Explained". How's that for a complete left turn on my usual reading track? After having read several reviews (by linux users and newbies alike) I decided on this book. And I think I chose rightly. The book is primarily aimed at the user wishing to switch from Winduhs to Linux. It is also written primarily to get the new user set up with RedHat 6.0 and the GNOME interface. Both of which come with the book. And Corel's WordPerfect 8.0 for Linux. Unfortunately, I've only read far enough to understand setting up a user account, and not logging in as the 'root' user. I found out what a piece of shit I have for a pc and sort of put the book down for now. What to do, what to do.

Robert Ludlum's "The Parsifal Mosaic". I needed a break after the Chalice...This is the story of one of the Agency's best field agents who resigns after helping have his lady-love killed. Only to find out by total chance that she's not really dead. The story then follows his chase to find her again, to find the reasons why, and ultimately foil a terrible nuclear plot hatched by his one-time mentor (who's been forced to go quietly insane), a Russian defector, and a mole in the highest reaches of the U.S. government put there by a blood thirsty splinter party of the KGB. While full of the typical Ludlum twists and turns, this book could have been about 100 pages shorter, imho.

Glenna McReynolds' "The Chalice and the Blade". Pretty quickly into this book and it becomes obvious that title is meant as a sexual metaphor. But it was an entertaining read, none the less. A tale of an orphaned sorceress whose mother was killed before she could pass on the knowledge she needed. A warrior that was one of only three survivors of an ill-fated mission during the Crusades, subjected to mind-twisting tortures and taught some dark secrets before he escaped and returned to an out-of-the-way castle to reside as a feared sorcerer mostly by trickery and to some extent by the dark knowledge he posseses. Of course, they meet by chance and save the world from the dark powers. And tease and please each other along the way.

September 24, 1999
- Read Anne McCaffery's "Nimisha's Ship". Hard core Sci-Fi..heavily hardware dependent..and whatever they need, no matter how technically advanced..it's there. With some human interest thrown in. It was a good story..but aimed at a younger audience than myself. However, it provided a great break from the heavy reading below.

September 4, 1999
- Just finished Tad Williams' "Mountain of Black Glass", the third of the Otherland series. First off, I came as quite a surprise when I bought it back in August and yet in the front of the book it says "First Printing: September 1999". But we continue the adventures of the characters in the most mondo virtual world ever dreamt of. It's a virtual world that will become the permanent residence of some of the world's oldest, richest, and most powerful people. An effort at immortality. It seemed this book would finish up the series right up to the final chapter, but no. At least we learn more about the network, the people involved, and the people fighting it. If you've read the others, you'll definitely want to read this one. If not, for God's sake, don't start with this one.

August 21, 1999
- "This week on Biography:" - Got around to reading some books I've had on the shelf for a while:

"Cleese Encounters" an unauthorized biography of John Cleese. Interesting insights into the man and his humor..and his seriousness. "Minister of Silly Walks" was probably his most hated sketch..though he was best remembered for it. His proudest works were "Fawlty Towers" and "A Fish Called Wanda".

And "Brother Sam" - Bio of Sam Kinnison's short, spectacular life..written by his brother. Over all it's the perfect story of someone being given chances, rising to the top, and blowing it all... again and again. Still, it's a shame, anyway.

August 10, 1999
- Finished "Mad Ship" by Robin Hobb. The second in the "Ship" series..and number three ain't due until early 2000. This book had more character development..ie the first 2/3 of the book kinda dragged. But a lot of stuff comes together in the end. So now I gotta wait for the third book. That's what I get for reading series. *sigh*

July 26, 1999
- Finished "Ship of Magic" by Robin Hobb. Interesting concept. Takes place in a predominantly Barter society, heavily dependant on Trading ships. Good old fashioned sailing ships. But some of them are special, constructed of "wizard wood". It takes three generations of "Live Ship" owners to die on the deck to quicken one of these Live Ships. Once quickened, these ships become "alive". The figurehead can move, and talk, and think. And has better control of the ship itself. And then there's dread pirate Kennit with his dream of becoming the "King of the Pirates". And his desire to own a Live Ship for himself.

This is book one of a series, and I'm now reading book two "Mad Ship".

July 2, 1999
- wow..time to start another uh, quarter, so to speak.

Today I finished "Daughter of Witches" by Patricia Wrede. *bleah* I think this was written for younger readers. Everything needed, just happens.