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Archive for the ‘Comedy’ Category

La Muse written by Adi Tantimedh and illustrated by Hugo Petrus treats divine intervention in a new way for most readers. Two sisters are borne of non-corporal omnipotent creatures, one, Susan – chain-smoking, lesbian, rabble-rouser – inherits all the powers one might imagine, the other, Libby – all business and conformity – seemingly has inherited none.

Susan uses her powers to create a perfect world – at least her vision of it. The joy of the book is in watching so many that should get their comeuppance get it. Everyone from evil businessman to sleazy politicians learn that they are no longer in power. Even the ’secret’ government gets theirs from Susan.

Now, there is one glitch when Susan is called in front of her parent’s people for fixing everything. This happening calls her parents to what she is doing and she and Libby find themselves confronting their folks while trying to protect reality. Libby reveals a few secrets of her own.

La Muse is a fun romp in wish fulfillment. This is not a serious book but a nice commentary of what could be done if someone was truly omnipotent.

Me and My Shadow (Silver Dragons, Book 3) by Katie MacAlister would have been better if it had been about May instead of constantly going back to Aisling’s pregnancy. I picked this up to read about May not Aisling. I understand that there is some intersection, but adding the entourage from Aisling’s series just made for too many characters to keep track of for what is supposed to be very light reading.

That isn’t to say I didn’t enjoy the parts that had May in it. I did. May finds herself trying to rid herself of the dragon shard while deciding just who she is. Matters are not helped when she finds that as consort to one of the former prince’s of Abaddon, she is given responsibility for him and his powers. She does come up with a rather unusual and entertaining solution to that problem.

Now, since Aisling’s entourage is part of the story, Drake’s mother makes an appearance. She is intrigued by Magoth, and he by her. While I enjoyed Me and My Shadow (Silver Dragons, Book 3), it felt off compared to the other dragon books.

How appropriate that my first review after Bright-sided: How the Relentless Promotion of Positive Thinking Has Undermined America is Terry Pratchett’s newest (and likely last) Discworld book, Unseen Academicals (Discworld). Pratchett, for those who do not know, has been diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s. No amount of wishful or positive thinking is going to change that sad fact.

Unseen Academicals (Discworld) involves a cast of characters associated with Unseen University – the Wizard’s University in Ankh Morporkh. It seems that the portly wizards must take up soccer (“foot the ball” in the book) in order to keep themselves in food. It also centers on the night cook, Glenda, and the journey of self-discovery of the dribbler Mr. Nutt.

Of course, Lord Vetinari has already decided that this game of hooligans must be tamed in the same manner as the criminals had been in earlier books. They must be organized! He decides that it is fortuitous to involve the wizards in this.

The story is complicated in ways that other Discworld novels are not. There was something off about this novel. I believe it is a sign of Pratchett’s deterioration. Unlike other Discworld novels I was not laughing out loud as I was listening to the wonderful narration of Stephen Briggs. Usually, my husband is wondering if I have lost my mind from my incessant giggling when I listen to a work by Pratchett.

Unseen Academicals (Discworld), though a worthy addition, is not as good as others within the franchise. I will recommend it to those who love the series.