Originally posted 9/3/2013
In the attic, I have, much to my wife's chagrin, boxes and boxes of science fiction paperbacks. Probably not quite a thousand of them, but getting there. Given that I have three kids in a two-bedroom house, the notion of being able to have that many books in a device the size of a thick pad of paper is exciting to me. And so I've decided to embrace the notion of the Kindle wholeheartedly, beginning with a book written by author, sculptor, and fellow dad Philip Williams.
Now, as a parent, I don't have a lot of time for personal entertainment. When I do get the chance to read a book or watch a movie, I prefer something fun and enjoyable, not something that I have to think about and that will get me upset. (No Bonfire of the Vanities for me.) If I wanted that, I'd watch the news; there's plenty there to piss me off. So The Griffin: Ashes of Honor, the first book in the Griffin Series, was right up my alley. If there was a deep meaning or grand lesson to the story, I'm happy to say I missed it completely.
Instead, what I got was a good time and a good tale of adventure. The characters are not difficult to understand -- the former fair-haired boy turned independent rogue (think Malcolm Reynolds from Firefly), his loyal-to-the-end crew, the mysterious woman with an unknown agenda, and, of course, the powerful forces behind the scenes working for their own interests -- but that isn't to say they're simple or one-dimensional. They are complex characters that keep you interested and involved.
The overall story idea is clever -- the rescue of stolen critters apparently bred to have special powers -- but that's not what makes this book a good read; it's the engaging writing and exciting details that draw you in and leave you wanting more. The only downside to the story is that it does end leaving you wanting more -- more excitement, more adventures, and, of course, more about what happens to the critters and characters. Luckily, the rest of the books in the series are on their way. I'm looking forward to the next three volumes and as for my paternal duties, well, the kids have to go to bed sometime.
—Roger Sinasohn from Amazon