“The Hedgehog and the Fox” by Isaiah Berlin

As with “War and Peace,” I feel a bit silly writing a review of such a classic work of literature and scholarship, but since I read it, by golly, I’m going to get a review out of it. Berlin begins by arguing that there are two general classes of thinkers and artists: foxes (e.g., Pushkin, […]

“Badlands: New Photo Edition” by Melinda Camber Porter

“Badlands” is a peculiar novel, although it’s only a novel in a very loose definition of the word. But it is stunning nonetheless. An Englishwoman travels to South Dakota with her American boyfriend Adam, who has agreed to represent Henry Blackfoot, a Sioux man who’s initiated a lawsuit against a local white farmer whose land, […]

“A Small Corner of Hell” by Anna Politkovskaya

In “A Small Corner of Hell,” Anna Politkovskaya continues her reportage of the Second Chechen War. While “A Dirty War,” the first collection of her articles, conveys them in more or less their original form, “A Small Corner of Hell,” while still divided into individual reports, is a more coherent, book-like narrative, with large sections […]

“Sin” by Zakhar Prilepin

Zakhar Prilepin represents much of what is confusing and contradictory about contemporary Russia. And on the other hand, it’s all absolutely simple. He’s a pro-Stalinist member of the anti-Putin opposition, a writer who exposes the dark side of modern Russian life while volunteering in the army of the pro-Russian Donetsk People’s Republic. Western readers […]

“A Dirty War” by Anna Politkovskaya

Anyone tempted to say that heroes no longer exist need look no further than opposition Russian journalists to be proven wrong. Although there are many heroes and martyrs amongst that group, the name Anna Politkovskaya is particularly sacred. A furious truth-teller, Politkovskay always had the courage of her convictions, descending into chaos, corruption, and the […]

“Darkstorm (The Rhenwars Saga #1)” by M.L. Spencer

A fast-paced and vividly rendered story of dark magic, “Darkstorm” is full of twists and turns. Merris Bryar is an acolyte mage in Aerysius who stumbles into a conspiracy between high-ranking officials of her own country and Caladorn, their sworn enemies. Before she knows what is happening, she has to flee to Caladorn and take […]

“Meeting with My Brother” by Yi Mun-Yol

Meeting with My Brother (Weatherhead Books on Asia) Korea is divided and families are torn apart. What would it really be like to finally find the family you’ve never met? Would there be any common ground, or are the divisions between the two countries two great even for blood to overcome? Such are the questions […]

B2BCyCon is Here!

Yes indeedy! B2BCyCon is here and there’s loads and loads to do! Here’s the main page: http://b2bcycon.com/view-all-events/ You can also check out all the books at the book expo, visit with the authors at the author showcase, check out blogs at the blog hop, go on a genre tour (the fantasy one will take you back to me!), pick up free books […]

“All The Galaxies” by Philip Miller”

All the Galaxies Some time in the near future, after another failed referendum on independence, Scotland is torn apart by seemingly senseless violence. Meanwhile, a boy finds himself exploring the planets of the dead in his own post-life body, with his faithful childhood dog companion at his side. “All The Galaxies” defies genre distinctions. It’s […]

“Invisible Armies” by Max Boot

Invisible Armies: An Epic History of Guerrilla Warfare from Ancient Times to the Present A compelling survey of irregular warfare from the pre-Christian era to the present, “Invisible Armies” covers both guerrilla fighting, which Boot calls “the oldest form of warfare,” and terrorism, which he considers “strikingly modern.” While exhaustively researched, this is not a […]