Overall I enjoyed this series. Card has created an interesting potential future and draws it out in detail. Often too much detail. The first novel in the series was plagued with an over abundance of trivial data that did not ultimately reflect on the story. The plot drowned in atmosphere and character development. In fact the first two novels in the series felt like one larger book that had been broken in two. The story would have been more cohesive as a single novel.
In ships of Earth the characters of the adults have been developed and some attention is paid to the children. Overall however, more time seems to be spent on advancing the plot than in the previous to volumes. If not that, then perhaps the plot was merely more interesting in this novel. This book was probably my favorite of the five in the series.
Many people complain or admire Card's use of religeous symbolism. I myself have not read the book of Mormon so I could not attest to those claims. If he steeped this story in theology he did it in such a way to make it palatable to a larger market. The only real argument I could see for this story having a theological orientation is its poor science. Card seems to have little understanding of some of the biological sciences especially genetics. Such a small group of individuals does not represent a viable gene pool to colonize a planet. Thoughts of the results of all of that inbreeding makes me shudder. It also seems highly unlikely that Humans could be on Harmony for forty million years without experiencing any changes. Perhaps the oversoul was providing a genetic bottleneck to prevent evolution.
If you like the first two novels by all means read this one. If you did not, then let this book pass by. I would recommend the series to any person who has not read it as any ideas that feel new in science fiction are a rarity.

Edmond Dantes was a happy and fortunate young man, blessed with a beautiful fiance, good looks, and an upwardly mobile career. In short he had everything that a man could want. As is always the case, one man's fortune breeds another's envy. Jealous of Edmond's good fortunes three of his friends conspire to remove him from the scene. The plan might not have worked were it not for his bad fortune in chief prosecutors. His fortunes soured, Edmond is sentenced to life imprisonment.
What follows along this plotline is one of the greatest novels ever written. Edmond escapes, finds his fortune, and begins a long road of revenge. Not satisfied with killing his enemies, Edmond instead seeks to do unto them as they have done unto him. Ruin their lives by taking away everything that they hold dear.
I cannot emphasize enough the quality of this book. The plot is complex and intriguing. The characters are deep and fully fleshed. Always intelligent, often whimsical, occassionally romantic, and interspersed with action, this novel has something for everyone.

Read this book!!!

This movie is a remake of the 1950's classic in which a scientist accidentally combines himself with a fly, creating a hybrid organism. While the science is more believable in this version the original is a better movie. Jeff Goldblum is a marginal actor at best and does little to hold your interest. As uninteresting as he is however, this is probably his best role. He actually evokes a sense of pity for the nerdy physicist.
One of the factors of this movie that is most controversial is the graphic representation of his transformation (as well as other choice scenes). The effects are expertly done, and look very realistic. The problem is that there is simply too much of it. A little bit if fine to establish the mood, or set the image, but when you saturate the film with it loses its effect. Either it becomes tedious, or overly disgusting. The only people who enjoy it are those who derive a primitive pleasure from graphic violence and images.
The sad part was that this could have been a good movie without the 'gross out' factor. The disgusting effects weren't really necessary. The writer, producer, and director should have spent some time watching Hitchcock movies. There is an art in leaving some of the more climactic scenes to the viewer's imaginations. Their own minds can supply far more horrifying images than you can produce on film.
I've seen this movie, and don't really care if I ever see it again. I will stick with the original

With Prince of Chaos Roger Zelazny brings his classic Amber saga to a close. The book is left slightly open ended as though he had conceived of additional novels, but died before they could be written.
This book brings some satisfaction in that most of the major plot points are tied up, but the conclusion feels abrupt and rather contrived. Additionally there are some glaring continuity issues with the earlier books that distract from the pleasure of the reading experience.
Although Merlin lacks Corwin's majesty and style, he has a more realistic feel to him. Corwin was always larger than life. Merlin is somewhat bumbling and obtuse which makes him easier to identify with as a realistic character.
While this is my least favorite book in the series I highly recommend this series of novels to any and every literature fan out there. Roger Zelazny is one of those few SFF authors who assure that genre's place among more recognized forms of literature.

Take my word for it and read these books. You won't regret it...

Book two of Rodger Zelazny's first series of Amber novels follows Corwin, prince of Amber on his path to unseat his usurper brother Eric from the throne of Amber. After having his eyes burnt out with hot irons and five years of imprisonment, Corwin has grown new eyes and escaped.
I found this novel to be one of the more interesting of the original Amber novels. You get more of a feel for Corwin than you did in the first book of the series. The characteristics of a scion of Amber that makes them such interesting characters are all there, the scheming, the majesty, the style, even the pettiness.
Having discovered a compound that will work as gunpowder in the mystical realm of order he sets out to move once more in his quest to take the throne for himself. The characters are interesting and the style is enchanting. The only thing I would have liked to have seen elaborated on was the nature of pattern magic. As it was none of those details were really dealt with at all until the beginning of the second series (With Trumps of Doom).
If you have not read this series before get Nine Princes in Amber and treat yourself to one of the great science fiction/fantasy series of all time.

The second book of Robert Charrette's 'Secrets of Power' series is better than the first novel. He weaves several sub-plots into an at least semi-coherent whole, but many of the flaws present in his first book are present in this as well.

There are few characters for the reader to really identify with. His 'hero' Sam Verner is a whiney, pedantic, and obtuse. He possesses few character traits that lead you to care about him, but we are forced to follow him nevertheless.

If you enjoyed the first book, or are a fan of shadowrun then you will love this. The concept is interesting, and the writing style is adequate, if not particularly memorable. The reading level for this book (as with his other two) seems to be about seventh grade level. If you are seeking a deep, meaninful novel that makes you think, then I suggest that you pass this one by. Otherwise dig in. It is a nice 'mindless' read that I pull out from time to time when I don't want to tackle anything more compelling.

Book three to Robert Charrette's Secrets of Power trilogy is easily the best novel in the series. Like the previous two novels the only character that I really cared about was Dodger, the elven decker. Charrette's main character Sam remains whiny and obtuse, unable to inspire me with any interest in his fate.
Charrette's writing style has improved slightly in this third book. Though it is still of junior high reading level, his technique is getting slightly more polished. The ending is a little odd, and leaves Sam's fate unclear. Having burnt out his magical powers correcting the problems his own stupidity caused, he is left with a good singing voice and lots of fringed leather jackets. Oh boy, what a trade. It would have been a lame end had I even remotely been interested in the character of Sam. I did like the ending with Janice.
If you like Shadowrun, read the books. If you like pulp science fiction that doesn't require a large intellectual commitment, read the books. If you are looking for deep thought provoking science fiction, move on to Asimov, Heinlein, or Niven and let these slide. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy these books. Every couple of years, when I need something to read that is light and undemanding I dust these off and have at them again.

If you are happy with entertaining pulp then this is for you.

I enjoyed the plot concept for this novel. The mixture of magic and high technology was successfully merged. If you are a fan of shadowrun, or cyberpunk novels than this is a good choice for you.

On the down side. Charrette had a difficult time making me care at all about any of his characters. Sam Verner is whiney and self-indulgent. He spends far too much time wallowing in personal angst when he could be doing something interesting.

The plot was ok, if a bit shallow for the length of the book. I recommend it as a good 'mindless' read, but anyone past seventh grade reading level shouldn't expect too much.

Have Space Suit - Will Travel, is an excellent example of Heinlein's juvenile works in his early career. The plot is deceptively simple. Clifford 'Kip' Russel is an average (but fairly bright) teenager who wins a second hand space suit in a contest. Through the influences of his father, and his own desire to visit the moon he educates himself and brings his dump-ready space suit up to operational readiness. Of course he becomes enmeshed in an interstellar plot filled with exotic life forms and intergalactic politics.
Like so many of Heinlein's novels this one draws you in with its adventure and accessible characters. As always, the plot is built upon a foundation of solid science and technology. It is a wonderful way to press knowledge on young people in a palatable format. I know it worked on me as a youngster.
One of the things I love about this book is its datedness. While it is nominally science fiction it provides a fascinating view of the life and culture of the 1950's. As is so often the case with science fiction they make drastically unrealistic leaps with their visions of the future, while society and its moral and political structures remain fixed as they were when the novel was written.
Despite its having been aimed for a pubescent audience, I find myself digging this one out to read at least once a year. I would highly recommend it to you as well.

Dark and brooding, this movie left me a bit cold. Where previous classics such as Metropolis, Blade Runner, and The Matrix pulled me in and made me love them, this movie pushed me away. It was odd, it was disturbing, it was dark, what it wasn't was entertaining. What plot there was was unbelievable. Many reviewers compared this movie to The Matrix, but the parallels were mostly superficial. The Matrix had a believable story line, this was too wierd and arbitrary for me to suspend disbelief. I was never really able to connect with the main character at all. In fact the only character worth watching was Jennifer Connelly. Who is always a delight in any role (yes, even in 'Career Opportunities').
If you are wanting to watch this because you liked Blade Runner or The Matrix, skip it, it isn't worth your time. If you are one of those pseudointellectual film student or movie critic types, who loves a movie for its style, even when the story is bad or non-existent, then this movie is for you