Little Brother - Cory Doctorow

Little Brother - Cory Doctorow

by Renjith Joseph
This small, (legitamately) downloadable book brings up ideas of freedom and what the government can do to the country. Sadly, it is

set in America and I don't know how much it applies to Aus. There is also extensive information about hacking and methods of how you

can bypass security measures. The story is about how the life of a "normal" 17 year old, Marcus Yallow, changes so fast and

dramatically.

He tries to get into a shelter after a bomb goes off close by, but his best friend gets stabbed (apparently for no reason) so he

climbs back to the surface of the street. Then his 3 friends and him get arrested (!) on suspicion that they were involved with the

bomb. It turns out that it was the DHS, the Department of Homeland Security that took them in and they almost torture Marcus for the

password for his phone. They release him, but tell him that they have got an eye on him. When he gets back home and lies to his

parents about where he had been, he checks his room for cameras (which is very cool).



Marcus then finds out that all his friends have been released, except for his best friend, Darryl, the guy that got stabbed.

He then sets up a whole new network with XBox's and Linux Operating Systems with his friends, and soon every kid in in California is

using the "XNet" to bypass internet censoring and spying. There are also many interesting stories about Marcus and of hacking.

I encourage you to read the intro, the afterword and the bibliography. I really liked this book, even though it wasn't the one I was

looking for (I asked for a book by Chris Wooding/s or someone about a nuke and a guy with a Japanese ex- girlfriend and a guy that

gets bullied so much he breaks and shoots one of his bullies down. If you know which book I am talking about, please tell me!) and

even though I'm not really into hacking and that kind of stuff.

10/10

The link for the download: http://craphound.com/littlebrother/download/

Or ask me for a copy.

EDIT: I really like Cory Doctorow. His beliefs about copyright and privacy make sense and a lot of his books are half-rant. You can

get most, if not all, of his novels for free from his site, and yes it is legal. For now.

Little Brother is getting a sequel in 2013 called Homeland.

Kill Alex Cross - James Patterson

Kill Alex Cross - James Patterson

by Renjith Joseph
Book 17 in the Alex Cross series by James Patterson is suprisingly simplistic.

Alex Cross is a black detective, previously a psychologist. Usually, the series has weird and outlandish plots. He has had multiple

partners killed, has dealt with (now) two kidnappings, has had his family taken, has been betrayed by his best-friend, and has even

dealt with a cult of vampires. Vampires.

In Kill Alex Cross, the president's children have been kidnapped, and the kidnapper has left no trace of his or the childrens'

whereabouts, or evidence of their existence. I still don't understand the motive for the crime, and why he even kept the kids alive.

It is also a short book, but because of the font size and the size of the chapters, the book looks bigger than it is.

I was dissappointed with Patterson's latest novel, but it was still a decent mystery.

6/10

How I Live Now - Meg Rosoff

How I Live Now - Meg Rosoff

by Renjith Joseph
I picked this small book up at random. It looks quite girly, with a rose-red cover and butterfly stencils. But the novel is really

good. It is about Elizabeth, known as Daisy, an American teenager that is sent to live in the English countryside with her cousins by

her "evil" stepmother. It isn't fantasy or fairytale, though. This is during World War II and because she has nothing to do, she

decides to get to know her cousins. She immediately likes Piper, Isaac and Edmond, but Osbert (I think that's the correct name) is

more concerned about what is happening with the war. Aunt Penn seems nice enough and Daisy wants to ask her questions about her

(Daisy's) mother but she has to go on a business trip (don't hold me to that either. I read it recently, but I wasn't paying attention

to this). Soon the children hear that Aunt Penn is stuck overseas because of the escalation of the war. Daisy realises that Edmond can

hear thoughts. She knows when he is listening because he always tips his head to a side, so she is careful about what she thinks of.

Daisy soon finds herself falling in love with her cousin. When she "thinks" this to him, they make out and start a relationship, if

you know what I mean . It is between cousins, but there are no extensive details, so it's all good. The children get seperated and the

thoughts of a teenage girl in WWII can be fully understood. The voice is "faultless" as Mark Haddon says. 9/10.

There is a movie set to come out in 2013 with the same name, but has a different plot. The author said that the script was different

but good, I don't know if the film will be good. Most movies that have been adapted from a book have been ridiculously crap. One

exception for me is The Green Mile.

Four Blind Mice - James Patterson

Four Blind Mice - Alex Cross - James Patterson

by Renjith Joseph
Four Blind Mice is the eighth book in the Alex Cross series, one that I hadn't gotten round to reading until recently. The formula is

much the same as the other books. In the beginning Patterson shows you who the killers are and then you watch as Alex and the Three

Blind Mice (the killers) have close calls with each other. I'm so used to the Cross series formula, that now it doesn't seem as

exciting. For others, it might be.

7/10

Mama's Boy - Charles King

Mama's Boy - Charles King

by Renjith Joseph
What do you do with a boy that witnessed the murder of his just-adopted parents? What do you do when he refuses to speak or draw or

try to recall what happened that night whatsoever? Jake Harrow, a young, handsome New York police officer gets called by a fellow

officer while he was receiving a medal for bravery. He finds that Roger, his brother, has just killed his own family, including both

his under 7 year-old children. Jake refuses to believe this and rages at the fact that the police investigating the incident missed an

entire human being while searching the house: Winston Churchill Harrow. Winston is a young black boy recently adopted by the Harrow

family and saw everything. It seems he is so terrified that he is now not talking. Then the murderer hunts them down, afraid and angry

that his careful planning had been blown by a single 8-year-old boy. The story takes massive turns and interesting flashbacks into the

killer's past.
The characters are really well thought and fleshed out. Jake is extremely clever and resourceful and every single character in the

book has their own distinct personality that is used to its full in the story.

10/10

For The Win - Cory Doctorow

For the Win - Cory Doctorow

by Renjith Joseph
Another YA novel by Cory Doctorow, this time based on goldfarming (in games), economics, and workers' rights.

The book contains short scenes in sections, each depicting one specific character in the story. In between, Doctorow adds small

messages to the readers explaining some economic facts or how something works. This can be weird, and some might be put off by this,

but if you stick with it, the novel will be interesting, as well as informative.

The universe Doctorow has created is much like ours, but many, many people play MMORPGs (Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing

Games for you non-gamers) as part of their "work".

There are a number of main characters, Matthew Fong (in China), Wei-Dong (also known as Leonard Goldberg), who initially lives in

America, but then moves to China (the way he gets there is also interesting), Mala, a.k.a. General Robotwallah (a girl from Dharavi,

Mumbai, India), Yasmin Gardez (Mala's best friend, also in Dharavi), Big Sister Nor, in Singapore with Justbob and The Mighty Krang,

Conner Prikkel (the main economist for Coca-Cola games, in America), Lu (China again), Ashok Balgangadhar Tilak (a man that helps the

girls in Dharavi), Mr Banerjee (Mala's and Yasmin's employer), and Jiandi, a girl that has millions of factory-girl listeners on her

radio show.

All of the characters are fleshed-out and the story covers many important social issues.

10/10 for Doctorow.

First to Die - James Patterson

1st To Die - James Patterson - Women's Murder Club

by Renjith Joseph
1st To Die is the first book in the Women's Murder Club series by James Patterson. The story starts off with the protagonist, Lindsay

Boxer, contemplating putting a bullet in her head.

During the story, we learn of Lindsay's passion for The Job, and the fact that she has Neglis Aplastic Anemia, a serious obstacle in

her career, and her life. We meet her partner on the San Fransisco Police Force, Jacobi, as well as her best friend Claire Washburn,

who is a medical examiner.

We are also introduced to the serial killer, and we are witnesses to the first crime. A newlywed couple are slaughtered just minutes

after the reception of their wedding. Lindsay and Jacobi, being part of Homicide, are called in right away.

Cindy Thomas, a budding journalist, craftily manages to make her way to the floor of the hotel, of the crime scene, where she stumbles

upon Lindsay, crying for the young, dead wife.

The name of the series, the Women's Murder Club, is started as a way for Claire, Cindy and Lindsay to help each other get to the top

of their work ladders, in a world of men, and also to help with investigations. Later in the novel, Jill Bernhardt, an assistant

District Attorney, is invited to join the Club.

With James Patterson's books, there is always a twist in the last few chapters. And with chapters being 3 pages maximum, the books

always end with a large impact.

This is a pretty good start for a great series. I'm reading 2nd Chance right now, the second book.

9/10

TimeRiders: The Gates of Rome - Alex Scarrow (Book 5)

TimeRiders: Gates of Rome - Alex Scarrow

by Renjith Joseph
I forgot to write this up right after I finished it. Book number 5 in the TimeRiders series was hectic.

In the future, a team of scientists, dispairing over the state of the world, decide to take 300 of the richest and most "useful"

people back into the past to change the outcome of human history. The leader is Dr Rashim Anwar. He tries to get them to 54 AD in

Rome, but miscalculates and they appear 17 years earlier, in the middle of the reign of Caligula, a crazy, insane emporer. Liam and

Bob are sent back to 54 AD by Maddy to observe and then come back safely (Becks' body dies in #4). Of course this does not happen.

The main secret/mystery of the series this far is being closely examined by the TimeRiders. When they remember what their "coach" said

about contacting the "agency" they work for, they try it out, only to find themselves being "hunted down" by "combat units" from the "future".

Yeah. Exactly.

Sal and Maddy get plopped into Rome, a week after Liam and Bob are sent (a week was when the return time-travel portal was arranged).

They realise that they have to somehow build another time-travel machine to go anywhere. Teaming up with a clan from Rome, they try to

kill Caligula, who has half a dozen combats units.

A really great book with tons of action. At the end, it was kind of too fast, as they abandoned someone they knew for a few hours,

for someone they knew for a few minutes.

10/10

As said before, ask for GOR and I'll give it to you. I don't have any other TR books, though, just 4 & 5. (And 6 now :D)

TimeRiders: The Eternal War - Alex Scarrow (Book 4)

TimeRiders: The Eternal War - Alex Scarrow

by Renjith Joseph
Book 4 of the TimeRiders series is about how the early death of Abraham Lincoln could affect world-wide history. The trio of teens, their two super-human support units and their "talking" computer find themselves stuck in the middle of the American Civil War. In 2001. With Abraham Lincoln gone, the Civil War's main differences didn't change to the abolition of slavery.

Liam and Bob travel back to 1831 and save Lincoln from falling beneath a horse-drawn carriage. However, he follows them back to 2001, resulting in the new shift in reality. In 2001, Maddy and Becks help a regiment from each side of the battle to come together to form a rebellion, as well as gaining the components needed to make a new "time-travelling machine".

More secrets are revealed, with as many new ones being formed. I am totally hooked on the series. Reading book 5 right now, I can't wait to get my hands on number 6.

10/10

P.S.

Ask and it will be given to you... (Matthew 7:7)

Same with number 5.

TimeRiders: The Doomsday Code - Alex Scarrow (Book 3)

This is the third in the Timeriders series and this is the one that sends Liam, Becks and Bob (he’s back, yay!) into England in the time of King Richard the Lionheart. “The Hood”, a mysterious bandit that is believed to be invincible, has stolen an ancient relic that Richard has been looking for, for ages. It is called the Holy Grail. The Holy Grail.

Liam is appointed as the Sheriff of Sherwood, or something, by John (Richard’s younger brother and future king) and he has to track The Hood down and return the scroll (the Grail is believed to not be the chalice used at the Last Supper) to John to bargain with Richard for his (John’s) life.

The first pages of The Doomsday Code list a few facts. One of them is that the true identity the Sheriff of Sherwood is unknown.

2001 has changed from the massive city to a simple French fishing village. Yet again, they are running off the generator.

Liam is in charge of Sherwood castle while a rebel group siding with Richard try to storm the castle. Richard’s intentions are to regain possession of the Grail and then kill his brother that had dared to try to keep it from him. The outcome of the battle is set to decide the fate of the future. In 2001, the world shifts between timewave after timewave. Skyscrapers one second, small brick houses and boats the next.

One of the things I like about this series is the support units. Bob and Becks are clones from the same basic genes, although male and female. They have complex computers in their heads that are hooked up to a small organic brain. The “growth” of the support units is interesting as they try to become more human, trying humour and different facial expressions.

It is a good story with a lot of mystery that will definitely keep you wanting more from the series.

TimeRiders: Day of the Predator - Alex Scarrow (Book 2)

TimeRiders: Day of the Predator - Alex Scarrow

by Renjith Joseph
Liam and a new support unit, Becks, is sent to 2015 to a zero-point energy plant, to look out for Edward Chan, the first “inventor” of time-travel. But when Maddy stuffs something up, a huge explosion takes place at the plant, and Liam, Becks, Edward and about 30 other school students are thrown back into the Cretaceous period, 65 million years ago. It is the same basic structure as the previous book: Liam has to find a way to communicate to Maddy so that they can safely return to 2001.

There is a wonderful twist this time, though. A lost species of dinosaur is watching the new arrival of pale, thin-skinned creatures, and learns how to use spears, how to make huts and bridges, and they evolve. A timewave is caused by this unplanned evolution and turns New York 2001 from a noisy colourful city to a dark jungle filled with biped lizards and Maddy and Sal end up running off their generator.

I loved this book as much as the previous one, but was disappointed in one thing. The last page of the novel seems like Scarrow added it in for no reason other than to make a few jaws drop. It messes the story line up and also tells us how the three teenagers will eventually die if you think hard about it. 7/10 because of this, otherwise it would have been a 9.

EDIT: After reading book 6, this rating is entirely wrong. Definitely a 9/10.

TimeRiders - Alex Scarrow (Book 1)

Timeriders – Alex Scarrow
The first novel in the TimeRiders series is fantastic. Liam O’Conner is saved moments before his death aboard the Titanic in 1912 by a mysterious old man that is not even wet (stop sniggering). In 2026 an old man holds his hand out to Sal Vikram who is in the middle of a burning room in a building on fire in Mumbai, India. The old man promises life, an invisible life, but a life nonetheless. 2010, amateur hacker and game debugger Maddy Carter learns that the plane she is on is going to blow in about 60 seconds. An old man holds his hand out saying that he can get her out of the plane, but no one else.

They have been “recruited” by a secret agency that helps prevent history from being changed by other time-travellers. With all of mankind on the brink of destruction, devolution, or complete non-existence, these three teenagers and Foster might be the only people that can stop any changing history.

They all live in a disused archway under the rails in New York. The only days they experience are Monday the 10th and Tuesday the 11th of September 2001. (9/11) :P

They find out someone has changed the outcome of the Second World War. The Nazis have won and the swastika has been replaced by an oroboris. Liam must go back to 1942 with a “support unit” called Bob and find what and who happened. Missing the appointed return “window” to 2001, Liam and Bob must find a way to communicate with Maddy, Sal and Foster, while looking for the cause of the victory of the Nazis. Liam is a bit more confident with a seven foot tall wall of muscle and flesh by his side (Bob) who has a computer in his head, whatever a computer is.

Meanwhile in 2001, the bland grey world of Nazi rule is then transformed into a desolate, post-apocalyptic world with a red sky and the half-collapsed buildings of New York. Foster, Sal and Maddy find out that it is not abandoned, as they had thought, but is inhabited by a population of ghostly pale creatures, that seem to be descendants of humans after a nuclear war.

With no electricity and power running out from the old generator, they have to find Liam’s message (if he’s managed to leave one) and get him back. They also need enough power to time-travel again and remove the “contaminators”.

The story is a good one and the Second World War seems like an appropriate start for the series. If you didn’t know what the next books had in store, what would you guess as the next altered timelines? One of them results in Liam being sent into Medieval England, in the time of Robin Hood. The series has a unique idea that will, hopefully, contain a lot of mystery and will probably confuse many readers. In a good way. 9/10 from me.

Brigands MC - Robert Muchamore

Brigands M.C. - Robert Muchamore

by Renjith Joseph

This book is the eleventh book in the CHERUB series which is written before, but set after the Henderson Boys series. The title is the name of a biker gang in South Devon, England.

The story is mainly about a boy called Dante. He still gets nightmares about the brutal murder of his family by the Brigands' President, Ralph "The Führer" Donnington. His baby sister and him were the only survivors. The court, however, dismissed the case because of a lack of evidence and Dante was furious. 4 years later, Dante, having been recruited by a secret spy agency full of kids, is returning from his first mission. Which lasted 3 years. His second mission is to infiltrate the Brigands M.C. with James Adams (the main character of the other books in the series) and his sister Lauren Adams. He is ready to use everything he's learned to get revenge on the murderer of his family.

The characters are fully fleshed out like in all of Muchamore's books and although the idea of a spy network full of kids sounds corny, the series itself is quite enjoyable with all the things that come from a whole school of teenagers with no parents. :P

The series is already read by a lot of people, but if you haven't, I recommend it highly.