Kindle Keyboard 3G, Free 3G + Wi-Fi, 3G Works Globally, 6″ E Ink Display.

Not being much of a traveler I haven’t been able to test the 3G working globally but the rest is true!

Government overview and Government competition cause them more hurt than the monsters. As our hero to be throws his boss out of the thirteenth floor window we know something is wrong here. If you enjoy a tale that is mindlessly entertaining, a heavily action based urban fantasy, with an accountant who is built like an outhouse and talented fighter and shootist then this is the book for you.

The Sworn has a typical Martin dark opening as plague and famine scourge the Winter Kingdoms, a vast invasion force is mustering from beyond the Northern Sea.

At its heart, a dark spirit mage wields the blood magic of ancient, vanquished gods. Summoner-King Martris Drayke must attempt to meet this threat. Neighbouring countrys reel toward anarchy while plague decimates their leaders.

Drayke must seek new allies from among the living – and the dead – as an untested generation of rulers face their first battle. All fine so far but then someone disturbs the legendary Dread as they rest in a millennia-long slumber beneath sacred barrows.

Their warrior guardians, the Sworn, know the Dread could be pivotal as a force for great good or evil. But if it’s the latter, could even the Summoner-King’s sorcery prevail?

Well I’m about half way thru at the moment and things look definately difficult dark dank and dodgy to me!

The Dread
To finish of this Fallen Kings duology ( an exuberant adventure of swordsmanship, sorcery and a new terror threatening a kingdom in crisis). Our Hero King Tris Drayke takes what remains of the Margolan army north to fight a war Margolan is ill-prepared to fight.

As spies confirm Tris’ worst fear a new threat rises across the sea: a dark summoner who intends to make the most of the Winter Kingdoms’ weakness.

In Isencroft, King Donelan is assassinated and Tris’s wife, Kiara, his daughter, will now have no choice except to return and claim the crown. The rogue mage’s agents will go to any length to prevent her from reaching her goal.

Despite all this Kiara and Tris must discover the truth behind the dark summoner, the mysterious power surrounding their infant son, and face the awesome power of the Dread as they rise from their barrows for the first time in over a millennium.

Even tho my copy had been double double discounted (and this on its first day!!) I had value for money worries. This was not Mr Smith at his prime. Far from it in fact. Since the Tata novels he has been spending more and more time talking about action in the bedroom than the boardroom. We soon got the idea with this one. Without giving too much away it goes very much as standard. Boy and girl meet – girl dislikes boy – heoric handsome boy performs service only he could – - girl changes mind and demonstrates this change all over the rest of the book. Even his friend finds girl etc.

The story and its theme are tried and tested and a world leading wordsmith like er Mr Smith should have no problem with it but it just does not gell. I can see there being a geed number of comments about this one.

Excerts etc

Another outstanding adventure from one of the world’s best loved storytellers

Hazel Bannock is the heir to the Bannock Oil Corp, one of the major oil producers with global reach. While cruising in the Indian Ocean, Hazel’s private yacht is hijacked by African pirates. Hazel is not on board at the time, but her nineteen year old daughter, Cayla, is kidnapped and held to ransom. The pirates demand a crippling twenty billion dollar ransom for her release. Complicated political and diplomatic considerations render the civilized major powers incapable of intervening.

When Hazel is given evidence of the horrific torture which Cayla is being subjected to, she calls on Hector Cross to help her rescue her daughter. Hector is the owner and operator of Cross Bow Security, the company which is contracted to Bannock Oil to provide all their security. He is a formidable fighting man. Between them Hazel and Hector are determined to take the law into their own hands.

Cayla was not certain what had awakened her. She thought she must have heard something. She sat up sleepily on the rumpled bed and listened with her head on one side.

You give it a read and let me know.
Philip
http://singlesseeksingles.com

Last Argument of Kings

” Last Argument Of Kings: The First Law: Book Three:” as Amazon refers to it is not the end of our journey with Joe Abercrombie I’m already halfway thru Best Served Cold but more of that at a later date.

Last Argument Of Kings is difficult to review without giving away too much of what could be described as an apocalyptic ending.

An author should always end with the best and with Last Argument of Kings this theory is put into practice. The last of Joe Abercrombie’s debut fantasy collection, The First Law, demonstrates everything a finale should: gives some answers, and ties together the loose ends from a variety of plots. This series was always a swords and some small sorcerytale that used a wry dialogue with interleafed plotlines. Its not a comedy there is a large amount of tounge in cheek humour.

Its probably worthwile plagarising a paragraph from Colin P Linsey who puts it rather well:

“I’d hazard a guess though that there will be some readers who may not like how this series ended…because it isn’t necessarily pretty and it certainly isn’t a fairy tale ending. Unlike those tidier fantasy stories, Abercrombie doesn’t forget that battlefield corpses don’t just magically disappear and besieged cities aren’t magically made whole at the end of the day. His is a dirty, gritty world every bit as nasty as medieval Europe and the story and the endings reflect this adherence to realism. As Logen Nine-Fingers often says, you have to be realistic. Abercrombie definitely is realistic and the story reflects it. Wounds come at the price of disfigurement and death, people will do awful things to accomplish their goals, and people aren’t charitably motivated. The weak get squashed, soldiers get maimed, the powerful do horrendous evil to hang onto their power and the more things change, the more they stay the same. You have to be realistic about these things dear reader, and that realism is what sets this trilogy apart and makes it such a great read. ”

So last its over. The dead are dead and most of the living seem so. The rich are rich and the poor are er… poor. It remind me of tales of medieval England during the times of the 100yr war. My verdict thirteen out of ten. Not at all what I expected and after all my years this takes some doing. Well done Joe Abercrombie long may you entertain me!

Philip

Divine Justice – David Baldacci

We pinched this from From Booklist

*Starred Review* Readers who have been holding their breath since the end of Stone Cold (2007), the previous Camel Club novel, can inhale: Oliver Stone did survive his plunge into the water. For the uninitiated, Baldacci’s Oliver Stone isn’t the noted film director; he’s a former government assassin who has made a risky living foiling government conspiracies. Now, having eluded capture after committing a pair of necessary assassinations, Stone (or John Carr, if you prefer to use his real name) is on the run, hiding out in rural America, where he discovers that small-town intrigue is at least as intricate and dangerous as anything he’s come up against previously. Combining the Camel Club series’ wit and fast pace with a Fugitive-like story (casting Stone as Richard Kimble, the man on the run who risks his life to protect the lives of strangers), Baldacci shows once again that he is a sort of thriller Renaissance man: a master of plot, dialogue, and character. It’s fascinating to observe how Stone operates when he’s entirely on his own, too. Not only is he evading his pursuers, especially Macklin Hayes, whose obsessive determination to capture Stone may be based more on personal reasons than professional ones, but he’s also cast himself adrift from his comrades, who are working feverishly behind the scenes to find him and keep him safe. A rousing success, although this should come as no surprise to faithful Baldacci readers. –David Pitt –

and this from from – Publishers Weekly

Near the start of bestseller Baldacci’s less than compelling fourth Camel Club thriller (after Stone Cold), former CIA assassin Oliver Stone (aka John Carr) boards a New Orleans–bound train at Washington’s Union Station after shooting to death a well-known U.S. senator and the nation’s intelligence chief, the two men responsible for his wife’s murder. Ever the Good Samaritan, Stone intervenes in a fight on the train, but when the Amtrak conductor asks to see his ID, he gets off at the next station, knowing his fake ID won’t withstand scrutiny. So much for Stone’s vaunted ability as a resourceful planner. This sudden detour takes Stone to Divine, Va., a mining town where he becomes enmeshed in corruption and intrigue—and falls, in just one of several clichéd situations, for an attractive if beleaguered widow. Series fans should be satisfied, but this effort lacks the imagination that distinguished Baldacci’s debut, Absolute Power (1996). (Nov.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Philip Jubb
http://www.109b.com et al (40 odd)

The Kindle Wireless Reading Device

You just have to have heard of the Kindle. With every type of media battering away with Kindle adverts I thought we should at least publish the kindle party line. Have you got one – Kindle that is. Does it work – is it still in one pce – is the Amazon hype true. Let us know….An outrageously valuable prize for the best comment. In case you don’t know what I’m talking about below is a partial reproduction of the blurb. Straight from the well nuff said.

All-New Design

Lighter & Thinner – Only 241 Grams

When reading for long periods of time, we know that weight matters. That’s why we worked hard to make our newest Kindle lighter than ever – only 241 grams – so you can read comfortably for hours with just one hand. Kindle is lighter than a typical paperback, and thinner than a magazine. Just 8.5 mm in profile, Kindle fits perfectly in your hands.

Ergonomic Design

Kindle is easy to hold and read. We designed it with long-form reading in mind. When reading for long periods of time, people naturally shift positions and often like to read with one hand. Kindle’s page-turning buttons are located on both sides, allowing you to read and turn pages from any position. The new soft-touch, textured back is comfortable to hold and never gets hot in your hands.

Never Gets Hot

Unlike a laptop or tablet, Kindle never gets hot so you can read comfortably as long as you like.

Simple to Use, No Computer Required

Unlike most electronic devices, we wanted to keep Kindle simple. Kindle is wireless and ready to use right out of the box – no setup, no software to install, no computer required.

Long Battery Life – Up to a Month

Battery Life of Up to One Month

A single charge lasts up to one month with wireless off. Keep wireless always on and it lasts for up to three weeks. Battery life will vary based on wireless usage, such as shopping the Kindle Store, web browsing, and downloading content.

Charge Via USB

Kindle is delivered with a UK power adapter and a micro-USB cable for charging your Kindle from a computer USB port. The UK power adapter supports voltages 100V-240V.

Kindle Wireless Reading Device, Wi-Fi, Graphite, 6

Books in 60 Seconds with Built-In Wi-Fi

Get Books in as Little as 60 Seconds

Whispernet utilises Amazon’s optimised technology plus Wi-Fi networks to enable you to wirelessly search, discover, and download content on the go. Your books and periodicals are delivered over Wi-Fi via Whispernet in less than 60 seconds. Wireless download times can vary based on file size.

New, Built-In Wi-Fi

Kindle automatically detects nearby Wi-Fi networks at school, home, or your favourite café. At a hotel or café that requires a password? Simply enter the password and connect to the network. Once you have added a Wi-Fi network, Kindle will automatically connect to that network the next time you’re near the hotspot. Kindle does not currently connect to enterprise or peer-to-peer networks.

Carry Your Library in 241 Grams

Holds Over 3,500 Books

The ultimate travel companion, Kindle weighs 241 grams and holds up to 3,500 books. No longer pick and choose which books to fit in your luggage. You can always have your entire Kindle library with you.

Those in Peril – Wilbur Smith

As its not available untill March 31 2011 there is not much to say beyond what Amazon has here. I for one have pre ordered at £9.99. I’m a sucker for Wilbur Smith.

Product Description

Hazel Bannock is the heir to the Bannock Oil Corp, one of the major oil producers with global reach. While cruising in the Indian Ocean, Hazel’s private yacht is hijacked by African pirates. Hazel is not on board at the time, but her nineteen year old daughter, Cayla, is kidnapped and held to ransom. The pirates demand a crippling twenty billion dollar ransom for her release. Complicated political and diplomatic considerations render the civilized major powers incapable of intervening.

When Hazel is given evidence of the horrific torture which Cayla is being subjected to, she calls on Hector Cross to help her rescue her daughter. Hector is the owner and operator of Cross Bow Security, the company which is contracted to Bannock Oil to provide all their security. He is a formidable fighting man. Between them Hazel and Hector are determined to take the law into their own hands.

Those in Peril is available tp pre-order or order here. Good Reading!

Product Description

The action-packed new novel featuring Roman army officers Macro and Cato from Sunday Times bestselling author Simon Scarrow. While centurions Macro and Cato are returning to Rome from a harrowing campaign against the Parthians, their transport ship is almost capsized by a tidal wave. They barely make it to the port of Matala in Crete where they are stunned to find a devastated town. An earthquake has struck the island, destroying its cities and killing thousands. In the chaotic aftermath, large bands of the island’s slaves begin to revolt and local bandits, taking advantage of the slave rebellion, urge the Cretans to overthrow the Roman administration. With many of the island’s troops either killed or wounded during the earthquake, the governor of the province calls on Macro and Cato for help. Can they move swiftly enough to counter the rebellion before it sweeps the Romans from the island?

Synopsis

A gripping new novel featuring Roman army officers Macro and Cato on their most dangerous mission yet. While centurions Macro and Cato are returning to Rome from a harrowing campaign against the Parthians, their transport ship is almost capsized by a tidal wave. They barely make it to the port of Matala in Crete where they are stunned to find a devastated town. An earthquake has struck the island, destroying its cities and killing thousands. In the chaotic aftermath, large bands of the island’s slaves begin to revolt and the local bandits, taking advantage of the slave rebellion, urge the Cretans to overthrow the Roman administration. When the local governor of the province hears that Macro and Cato have arrived on the island, he summons them at once. With many of the island’s troops either killed or wounded during the earthquake, the governor calls on these experienced Roman officers for help. Can Macro and Cato move swiftly enough to counter the rebellion before it sweeps the Romans from the island?

I like the following quote By Sqn Ldr Raymond Leach :-

“Another episode featuring the two Romans Cato and Macro. I am looking forward to the sequal. In earlier days it would have been classed as ‘a ripping yarn’. ”