Tag: Charles Ingrid

Sand Wars parts 4 to 6 by Charles Ingrid and the nine fingers

~ Veselin ~ Leave a comment

Parts 4 and 5 of the Sand Wars series were back to the roots of what was enjoyable in the first part – battles, new worlds, spaceships, and mild mystery. Part 6 went into the torture territory and was off-putting to me. I would rate the books 4/5/2 for an average of about 3.

The nine fingers

Back in 1993 or 1994, I wrote fiction. One of my main characters was a warrior and I wanted to highlight that you can’t be that without losing a limb or two, so he was missing a finger. Of course, it was the pinky finger so the sword-yielding was unaffected.

In 2006 I read “The Blade Itself” by Joe Abercrombie. It introduced the incredible warrior Logen Ninefingers or The Bloody Nine. He lost a middle finger due to his vicious lifestyle, having the bad habit of battling gigantic northerners. He was very similar to my nine-fingered creation. Jack Storm from the Sand Wars is also a pinky-misser due to a cryogenic accident. Charles Ingrid was more modest than Joe Abercrombie or perhaps had a worse editor.

My father is an engineer whose hobby was making furniture. I had a first-hand experience with finger-related injuries. If a blade encounters fingers, it starts with the index finger, soon to be followed by the middle one. Soon equals milliseconds. Science confirms that observation. The most likely reason for losing fingers is not sword fights but using mundane objects like doors, windows, and power tools. It would be very realistic and ironic if Logen Ninefingers lost his index finger to a folding chair rather than a sword fight. Jack Storm’s accident could’ve been a door.

Both authors left their fingers in the early character building and bounced back to create some good books.

Celestial Hit List by Charles Ingrid book review

~ Veselin ~ 3 Comments

The elite battlesuit carrier and a walking tank Jack Storm goes to a new planet. He’ll face prophecies, miracles, magic, and a human nemesis. Or at least the nemesis he thinks he has. I’m sure there will be no shortage of future nemeses to Jack and his sentient suit. One of the major opponents is a civilization of cruel and clever cockroaches that’s unlikely to go away.

The series is still interesting to me. I’m captivated by books with complex worlds and simple plots. The enemies are clear, and the solution to the problems they create is also clear. There will be battles with lasers, jets, and spaceships. What is not clear is who will endure all the challenges and who will be sacrificed by the writer.

I think the score for this one is 4/5.

Lasertown Blues by Charles Ingrid book review

~ Veselin ~ Leave a comment

Jack Storm is kidnapped to a forced labor colony and his friends will try to save him. Needless to say, if the suit and the owner are connected, things will not be looking good for the kidnappers. Until then, Jack needs to be creative.

The story doesn’t matter much. I liked the spirit of the 1950s sci-fi with spaceships, alien life forms, and the simplicity of everything, with plot holes here and there. I keep drawing parallels with Asimov. For part 2, I’d say it looks more and more like Lucky Starr than Foundation, despite the mild fantasy elements. The military setup can’t be compared with Starship Troopers or any similar story because the author doesn’t try to reproduce anything an actual military would do. Who could imagine that weapons and barracks are actually guarded in the army?

The relationship between Jack and Amber is unrealistic. What’s wrong with two young people who live together becoming a couple? Stephanie Plum, Thraxas, and now this. The problems these two should have, given that they’re late teens/early 20s would normally be in the area of “Why are your socks on the floor” and “Something is rotting in the sink” rather than “May I kiss him”. The relationship is described as if the characters are not badass soldier/medium young adults but 12-year-olds.

4/5. Big plot holes but engaging and easy to read.