Pyramids by Terry Pratchett (review by Mr. Silk)

Pyramids by Terry Pratchett
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Fans of science fiction with a twist of Egyptology will really enjoy this entry into the Discworld series. "Pyramids" is basically an alternate history, asking what if the ancient pyramids really held magical powers, and what if those powers got out of hand? There is plenty of action, adventure, and comedy throughout the book as we follow the dead king - frustrated that he is being mummified, the new king and his camel (a brilliant mathematician; the camel, not the new king), and the pyramid builders as their world starts to unravel around them. Not for everyone, but if you like stories that are a bit "wacky" this one is for you. - Mr. Tony Silk (Harker teacher)

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Girlfriend in a Coma by Douglas Coupland (review by Elisabeth S. '16)

Girlfriend in a Coma by Douglas Coupland
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Girlfriend in a Coma is an excessively thought-provoking look at the world in the present and the future. The book details the lives of a group of high school friends whose lives fall apart after one of them, Karen, goes into a coma for 17 years without any explanation. Karen's boyfriend Richard is left with a letter she wrote the day before about disturbing visions of the future she had been having. Well written to an extreme (and quotable to an extreme), this novel is filled with wry wisdom through the various POV characters' thoughts, especially Karen's perspective, because she can note exactly how the world changed between when she went to sleep and when she woke up, and the changes are not always positive. Another highlight is Jared, the other protagonist who also happens to be dead. Towards the end, the novel has an apocalyptic twist that eventually serves to comment on the general condition of adults at the turn of the century. Overall, though the novel was excellent, I would caution against it for readers who get bored easily with the mundanities of life. - Elisabeth S. '16

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Aunts Aren't Gentleman b P.G. Wodehouse (review by Andrew R. '17)

Aunts Aren't Gentlemen by P.G. Wodehouse
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In Aunts Aren’t Gentlemen, Bertie Wooster and his butler Jeeves, the heroes of fourteen preceding Jeeves and Wooster novels, find themselves embroiled (as usual) in several ridiculous conflicts, all thanks to the meddling of Bertie’s overbearing Aunt Dahlia (also as usual). Not only does Aunt Dahlia want Bertie to sabotage a horse-race so she can beat her rivals in a bet, she also wants him to kidnap a cad from under the nose of one of his many ex-fiancées, Vanessa Cook—who, incidentally, is currently engaged to a brawny Communist with a violent temper who is all too eager to turn Bertie inside out if he catches him in the same room as his lover. Anyone who’s enjoyed more than one or two Wodehouse novels will have noticed that they all follow the same formula; the author discovered early on that mixing one aunt, one fumbling narrator, two to three marriage proposals, and at least five aggressive, beefy rivals will always result in comedy. But even though Aunts Aren’t Gentlemen is nothing new, it showcases Wodehouse’s signature wit and cheekiness—and, in the end, isn’t that all that really matters in a Jeeves and Wooster novel? – Andrew R. ‘17

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On Stranger Tides by Tim Powers (review by Elisabeth S. '16)

On Stranger Tides by Tim Powers
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

On Stranger Tides details the adventures of former puppeteer John Chandagnac, whose ship is captured by pirates and who is forced to change sides and become a pirate at gunpoint. He becomes "Jack Shandy," to the pirates, and he inadvertently saves the pirate captain's life, thus becoming a full-fledged pirate. The book was neither overwhelming nor underwhelming, neither incredibly avant-garde nor too comfortably formulaic. Jack Shandy made for an enjoyable protagonist, though the novel gets kind of muddled two-thirds of the way through. The pacing felt too slow for the kind of blow-by-blow action-adventure book it's trying to be. It was also unfortunate that the female character was useless--too much of a damsel in distress. The romantic subplot felt too one-sided and like too much of an afterthought to engage the reader. However, the novel does improve with a highly intriguing magic system and strong characters like Davies, Blackbeard, and even Hurwood. Overall, On Stranger Tides was an entertaining read but not much more than that. – Elisabeth S. ‘16

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The Trials of Renegade X by Chelsea M. Campbell (review by Monica K. '14)

The Trials of Renegade X by Chelsea M. Campbell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Trials of Renegade X by Chelsea Campbell continues soon after the first novel left off, as Damien tries to become a full hero. Obstacles include his snarky personality, a girlfriend at Vilmore, and an emerging villainous superpower. Having the same themes as the first book, the sequel emphasizes family relationships and the letterism of Golden City society. The narration also retains Damien's witty voice and many elements from the first. Towards the end some plot points were a bit too familiar, but overall the story was clever, fun, and heartwarming. Fans of The Rise of Renegade X would definitely enjoy the sequel. – Monica K. ‘14

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