Anneke.Net > Books > Books I've Read > Books Completed in 2002

The following is a list of books I've read during 2002, with the dates completed, lengths, and my ratings of them, as well as any comments I felt like including. In association with Amazon.com, any linked titles point to the book's listing on Amazon.com, in case you want to look at/purchase it. You can also look at my page of book recommendations as well. Books are listed in reverse chronological order, according to the date completed.

Title	Author	Length	Completed	Rating	Comments
Total YTD: 61 Books, 28,658 pages (Averaging 469.8 pages per book, 78.5 pages per day)
Jackdaws	Ken Follett	512 pgs	12/25/2002	3.5/4.0	I'm pleasantly surprised by Follett's books, now that I got around to reading his work again. Jackdaws is about a group of women in WWII who parachute into France to destroy the Nazi's essential telephone exchange before the allied invasion.
A Dangerous Fortune	Ken Follett	568 pgs	12/22/2002	3.5/4.0	I enjoyed this book a fair amount; intrigue and love galore between social classes and within a rich banking family.
The Pillars of the Earth	Ken Follett	983 pgs	12/14/2002	3.5/4.0	Started off somewhat slow (and I put it down for over a year), but when I picked it up again it was suddenly very interesting. A lot of intersting characters, a marvelously hateful villian (or two), and an involved plot. If you can handle long involved books, it's good.
Principles of Contract Law	Stephen J. Burton	650/699 pgs	12/2002	4.0	Minus only a few cases, I read this casebook for my Contracts course in my first semester of law school at Seton Hall. I really enjoyed it, but a large part of enjoying the textbook probably stemmed from my appreciation of the professor/course itself. I found the cases to be interesting and insightful, however. For additional reading in Contracts, I suggest the book recommended by my professor: Farnsworth's Contracts. A long 1000-plus page paperback book, it discusses contract law from soup to nuts, including footnotes on and citations to literally hundreds, if not a thousand cases. Look up the case, and it's inevitably footnoting a rule.
The Queen's Gambit	Deborah Chester	464 pgs	12/5?/2002	2.5	A novel that takes a semi-main character from her Trilogy, this book follows a Princess in her race to take and keep the throne. Unfortunately, I wasn't too impressed with this book. Okay, but nothing special.
The Chalice (The Sword, the Ring, and the Chalice, Book 3)	Deborah Chester	400 pgs	12/2/2002	3.0	Maybe it was because I was rushing to get through the last book to eagerly read this one, but I think the conclusion of the trilogy had too many wildly fantastical escapes from danger with chance saves, and had too much happen in too short a time. It seemed like Chester was in a hurry to wrap up all of the lose ends. That said, however, it wasn't half bad.
Luck in the Shadows	Lynn Flewelling	479 pgs	12/1/2002	2.5/3.0	The first in the Nightrunner Series, this is a decent book of Alec, learning to be a spy and theif under Seregil's tutilage, but not quite as interesting as Deborah Chester's trilogy below. Flewelling's "Bone Doll's Twin" was better.
The Ring (The Sword, the Ring, and the Chalice, Book 2)	Deborah Chester	426 pgs	11/27/2002	3.5	The second in the trilogy, and progresses well from the first, being even slightly better than the first without its frantic introduction. Dain elevates himself yet further in the human surroundings, and discovers his true status as heir to Nether, whose throne was usurped by his uncle. Looking forward to the third.
The Sword (The Sword, the Ring, and the Chalice, Book 1)	Deborah Chester	393 pgs	11/25/2002	3.0	The first in the trilogy. I put this book down the first time I began it because the beginning scampered along at too quick a pace with too little character development. The second time, I read a bit further, and realized that the fast-paced action was more of an introduction to the main character's past; the trilogy focuses on the King's son, Faldain, not the King himself. Once I got further into it, the characters became more interesting and I eagerly finished the first book and began the second. Dain, or Faldain, is an eld (pointy ears and all) who was raised with his sister by a dwarf blacksmith, Jorb, until the latter's (and his sister's) death in an attack by the enemy. Dain goes to live with humans as little more than a gutter rat and an outsider, with the heir to the throne as his enemy and tormentor, as Dain makes his way in unfamiliar surroundings. A good start to the trilogy.
The Law of Becoming (Jaran, Book 4)	Kate Elliott	743 pgs	11/14/2002	3.5	The beginning of this book, the fourth in the series, starts 5-7 years after the conclusion of the third novel. This time lapse, as well as trying to catch up with an almost confusing amount of characters, makes the first hundred pages a bit difficult. It picked up admirably, though, and had a few surprising twists, that I'm sort of surprised the author chose. I was, however, eager to pick up the book again whenever I put it down, and had to convince myself to put it down at night so I could get enough sleep for work the next morning. So far, I've enjoyed this series a lot, and it's been consistently good.
His Conquering Sword (Jaran, Book 3)	Kate Elliott	495 pgs	11/02/2002	3.5	Also a good book, continuing where book two left off (below). Not /quite/ as good as the second, but still very good. Overall, I think this series is holding up better than her Crown of Stars series did at this point. Still recommended. Each of the main characters progresses, and new minor
An Earthly Crown (Jaran, Book 2)	Kate Elliott	500 pgs	10/28/2002	3.5/4.0	(Copied from the first time I read it...) I can always tell a good book from a bad one by how eager I am to finish my workday, so I can go home and find out what happens next. This was such a book. I'm realy enjoying Elliott's Jaran series so far. This book continues to follow Tess, caught between her Jaran husband Illya, from the nomadic people on Rhui, and her brother, from Earth, who owns the planet Rhui she now lives on. Definitely recommended, you won't want to put it down.
Jaran	Kate Elliott	496 pgs	10/20/2002	4.0	When I first picked up this book and read the back cover, I thought it looked boring, and didn't want to buy it. However, I'd read Elliott's other books, and enjoyed them, and needed something to read while traveling, so I bought it anyway. I was glad I did: I definitely enjoyed this book, and found it to be just as good (if not better) than the Crown of Stars books so far. Kate Elliott is a consistently good fantasy author.
Shadows and Light	Anne Bishop	432 pgs	10/10/2002	3.5	The second book in the Tir Alainn trilogy, which follows the fight of a few Fae and a few human witches against the Black Coats, the equivilent of a fantasty witch-hunt in a world where the witches anchor Tir Alainn, the otherworld where the Fae live, by living in the Old Places. All of Anne Bishop's books are good.
Carrie's Story	Molly Weatherfield	220 pgs	10/4/2002	3.5
The Bone Doll's Twin	Lynn Flewelling	524 pgs	9/15?/2002	3.0/3.5
The Invisible Ring	Anne Bishop	416 pgs	9/12/2002	4.0
Queen of the Darkness	Anne Bishop	430 pgs	9/11/2002	4.0
Heir to the Shadows	Anne Bishop	482 pgs	9/10/2002	4.0
Daughter of the Blood	Anne Bishop	368 pgs	9/8/2002	4.0/4.5	About the Witch who will be the realm's next queen..but only if she can live to come of age (currently only seven) in a world where the other members of the Blood, the nobility, will let her.
Pillars of the World	Anne Bishop	432 pgs	9/6/2002	4.0/4.5	The first book I've read by this sci-fi/fantasy author. Really draws you in- very interesting read. Went out and bought everything else she'd written.
Me Talk Pretty One Day	David Sedaris	272 pgs	8/?/2002	3.5	A bunch of autobiographical stories inspired by the author. A good sense of humor, and a fast read.
The Black King	Kristine Kathryn Rusch	448 pgs	8/15/2002	3.5	The second in Rusch's Black Throne series.
Final Appeal	Lisa Scottoline	352 pgs	8/12/2002	3.0	Another legal thriller by Scottoline, following Grace Rossi.
Flag in Exile	David Weber	416 pgs	8/10/2002	3.0	The fifth book in the Honor Harrington series.
Field of Dishonor	David Weber	384 pgs	8/6/2002	3.0	The fourth book in the Honor Harrington series.
The Short Victorious War	David Weber	376 pgs	8/5/2002	3.0	The third book in the Honor Harrington series.
The Veil of a Thousand Tears	Eric Van Lustbader	672 pgs	8/2?/2002	4.0/4.5	The second book in the Pearl series. Remarkably well flushed out culture and plot, with developed characters.
The Honor of the Queen	David Weber	422 pgs	7/27?/2002	3.0	The second book in the Honor Harrington series.
The Ring of the Five Dragons	Eric Van Lustbader	673 pgs	7/24/2002	3.5/4.0
The Blue Sword	Robin McKinley	248 pgs	7/22/2002	3.0
The Hero and the Crown	Robin McKinley	227 pgs	7/20/2002	3.0
Through Wolf's Eyes	Jane M. Lindskold	608 pgs	7/18/2002	3.5/4.0	A girl raised by wolves until age fifteen, and her insertion into human society (with her wolf companion).
On Basilisk Station	David Weber	432 pgs	7/15/2002	3.5	The first in the Honor Harrington series.
Seven Up	Janet Evanovich	368 pgs	7/12/2002	2.0	A whole lot of pages for not a lot of action. I wasn't impressed. An incompetent bounty hunter, Stephanie Plum, is out to bring in her current charge, who just happens to be a half-blind, half-deaf man in his 80's she just can't seem to bring in.
Legal Tender	Lisa Scottoline	464 pgs	7/9/2002	3.0
Moment of Truth	Lisa Scottoline	448 pgs	7/8/2002	3.0	Another legal mystery, following Mary DiNuzio, a unexperienced lawyer defending a man who is framing himself for the murder of his wife.
Running from the Law	Lisa Scottoline	464 pgs	7/3/2002	3.0
Mistaken Identity	Lisa Scottoline	592 pgs	7/2/2002	3.0
The Glasswrights' Journeyman	Mindy L. Klasky	352 pgs	7/1/2002	3.0	Newly released in June 2002, this third book in the series followed Rani Trader and her friend, King Hal, to the neighboring nation to bid for the Princess' hand in marriage. Not as good as the first two, but okay.
Plan B	Sharon Lee & Steve Miller	335 pgs	6/26/2002	3.0	The second-to-last book in the Liaden Universe series, preceding "I Dare," below. Although all of the Liaden books have been good, this one is probably the least gripping, but by no means bad.
I Dare	Sharon Lee & Steve Miller	467 pgs	6/20/2002	4.0
Partners in Necessity	Sharon Lee & Steve Miller	846 pgs	6/18/2002	4.0
The Black Queen	Kristine Kathryn Rusch	436 pgs	6/14?/2002	3.0/3.5
Shards of Honor	Lois McMaster Bujold	253 pgs	6/7/2002	2.0	After hearing nothing but praise for Bujold, I was very dissapointed in this novel. The plot seemed slow and uneventful, and the romance between the Betan heroine and her ex-enemy Aral bloomed out of nothingness essentially on first sight. It was completely unrealistic. Perhaps, though, it only seemed noticably inferior compared to Sharon Lee's work, two of whose books I'd just completed.
Scout's Progress	Sharon Lee & Steve Miller	320 pgs	6/6/2002	4.0	The Sequel to "Local Custom," below, following the Delm Korval (the head of the clan, and Er Thom's brother) on his own quest for personal and romantic fulfillment.
Local Custom	Sharon Lee & Steve Miller	320 pgs	6/5/2002	4.0/4.5	It's been a long time since I enjoyed a sci-fi book this much, and I've read a lot of fantasy recently. I found myself waking up thinking about the characters, and eagerly awaiting when I could come home from work and read more. The culture of the Liaden world is very interesting, and the misunderstandings but continual mutual attraction (and no, it isn't cheesy!) between Er Thom and Anne are great.
Kushiel's Dart	Jacqueline Carey	901 pgs	6/4/2002	4.0
The Lion's Game	Nelson DeMille	926 pgs	5/30/2002	4.0
Plum Island	Nelson DeMille	574 pgs	5/23?/2002	3.0
The Glasswright's Progress	Mindy L. Klasky	352 pgs	5/?/2002	3.0/3.5
The Glasswrights' Apprentice	Mindy L. Klasky	324 pgs	5/?/2002	3.0/3.5
A Painted House	John Grisham	496 pgs	4/?/2002	2.5
The Death Pit	Tony Strong	464 pgs	4/26/2002	3.5
The Rival (The Fey, Book 3)	Kristine Kathryn Rusch	579 pgs	3/?/2002	3.5
Dune Messiah	Frank Herbert	329 pgs	2/?/2002	3.0
Dune	Frank Herbert	535 pgs	2/?/2002	4.0
Dragonquest	Anne McCaffrey	330 pgs	1/?/2002	2.5/3.0
Dragonflight	Anne McCaffrey	303 pgs	1/?/2002	2.5/3.0
Night Probe!	Clive Cussler	345 pgs	1/6/2002	3.5	Another good Clive Cussler/Dirk Pitt series novel.
Dragon	Clive Cussler	542 pgs	1/3/2002	3.0	Since I've read so many Clive Cussler books at this point, there is little left to say but that it's good, and a standard Clive Cussler book. Well done, not too apparent plot-wise.
Want to see more? Look at the books completed in 2001.