Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters

Dear readers
I began reading this book with grave misgivings. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies had been a disappoint after all. But what a great read! The author managed to stay true to Austen's language and to neatly incorporate the new theme. The new character portrayals are perfectly suited and make complete sense. Never once do you forget about the threat of the Sea Monsters (which also have a wonderfully mysterious source) and all the characters are grounded firmly in the new world. I loved the fact that London is portrayed as an underwater city - akin to Atlantis - which is destroyed by a fish-army. There are pirates and treasure hunters, sea witches and fish men. This author managed what the author from Pride and Prejudice and Zombies could not. He wrote a complete novel. The book does not rely on the fact that it is 'co-authored' by Jane Austen. Ben H. Winters did not need to rewrite a famous classic. He could have very written a book which is solely his own and I for one hope that he will. I look forward to great things (especially something fantasy-like) from this author. If you like Jane Austen and some classic fantasy or modern science fiction then I can definitely recommend this book. The next book in this theme is Jane Slayre. However I am currently reading the Millennium trilogy and so will review that next.
Here's to books that do not insult my intelligence.

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies

Dear readers

Now this book has been out for quite some time but I picked it up for the first time a week ago. I was intrigued at how a modern author would be able to keep the style of writing for which Jane Austen is famous. No worries there. The language is impeccable but in terms of plot I was severely dissapointed. I expected a horror with intense action sequences and heightened emotions. Instead the zombie scenes were comical and clichéd. The fact that England is overrun with the undead sometimes seemed forgotten before being mentioned again in a quick and silly phrase. The references to martial arts and eastern training were rudimentary in their knowledge. The character of Mr Darcy seemed to be somewhat appropriately altered to that of a daredevil warrior but this was lost as the book progressed. There was one plotline that I greatly enjoyed which had something to so with poor Charlotte and her husband. But again it was too funny as opposed to worrisome or shocking. I rather got the feeling that the subsidiary author had set out to mock both the classic original and the horror genre. I do not doubt that many of you disagree with me. I do admit that I did not hate the book. I merely expected more. The next book in this field is Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters. I sincerely hope that it makes a beter read.