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Books matching: morally ambiguous landscape

18 result(s)

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Showing 1 - 10 of 18 
  1. #1
    The Black Company
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    Book 1 in the series:The Black Company

    The Black Company - The Black Company by Glen Cook
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    The Black Company is a gritty military fantasy novel that follows the exploits of a mercenary band in service to a powerful sorceress known as the Lady. The story is narrated from the perspective of Croaker, the company's physician and annalist, providing a unique viewpoint of the conflicts between the Lady and the rebels who oppose her. The book delves into themes of loyalty, survival, and the blurred lines between good and evil in a world where mercenaries must navigate treacherous alliances and deadly battles.

    Lightning from a clear sky smote the Necropolitan Hill. One bolt struck the bronze plaque sealing the tomb of the forvalaka, obliterating half the spell of confinement. It rained stones. Statues bled....

  2. #2

    The Blunderer by Patricia Highsmith
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    'The Blunderer' by Patricia Highsmith is a psychological thriller that follows Walter Stackhouse, a man who harbors gruesome fantasies about his distant and neurotic wife, Clara. When Clara's body is found in a manner similar to another murder case, Walter becomes the prime suspect, while the actual murderer, Kimmel, goes unpunished. The story delves into the twisted minds of the characters, the blunders they make, and the manipulative tactics of a detective named Corby who is determined to prove their guilt.

    The girl in the ticket booth was stupid, he thought, never had been able to make change fast. He tilted his fat bald head up at the inside of the lighted marquee, read NOW PLAYING!Marked Woman, looked...

  3. #3

    Yesterday's Heroes - Consortium of Chaos by Elizabeth Gannon
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    'Yesterday's Heroes' in the series 'Consortium of Chaos' by Elizabeth Gannon is a humorous and engaging story that introduces readers to a group of unconventional characters in the world of supervillains and anti-heroes. The plot revolves around Wyatt, also known as The Fabricator, seeking revenge and finding an unlikely family within the Consortium of Chaos. The writing style of the book blends humor, witty dialogues, and intricate character dynamics, creating a unique and entertaining narrative that turns traditional superhero tropes on their head.

    The book serves as an introduction to a diverse cast of characters, each with their own quirks and abilities, while also exploring themes of friendship, romance, and the blurred lines between heroism and villainy. With a mix of action, humor, and unexpected twists, 'Yesterday's Heroes' sets the stage for a series that promises a fresh take on the superhero genre and keeps readers entertained with its colorful storytelling and imaginative world-building.

    A hound pursued a hare for some distance, sometimes biting at him, and at other times fawning all over him, as if in play with another dog. The hare said to him, "I wish you would act sincerely with ...

  4. #4

    A Boy and His Dog by Harlan Ellison
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    'A Boy and His Dog' by Harlan Ellison is a post-apocalyptic novella that follows the story of a young scavenger, his telepathic dog, and a girl. delves into the concept of morality in an immoral world, posing questions without necessarily providing answers. The writing style is described as evoking a range of emotions, from shock and repulsion to humor, creating a dark and gritty atmosphere that explores the darker aspects of human nature.

    I was out with Blood, my dog. It was his week for annoying me; he kept calling me Albert. He thought that was pretty damned funny. Payson Terhune: ha ha. I'd caught a couple of water rats for him, the...

  5. #5

    Bel-Ami by Guy de Maupassant
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    'Bel-Ami' by Guy de Maupassant is a novel set in 1880s Paris, following the rise of Georges Duroy, a manipulative and seductive man who climbs the social ladder through exploiting and discarding women. The narrative revolves around Duroy's immoral actions and the consequences he faces, or lack thereof, in a society where corruption, greed, and lust prevail. The writing style is described as cynical, realistic, and vivid, capturing the decadence and moral decay of Parisian society during that era.

    He felt somewhat awkward, somewhat self-conscious and apprehensive. He was wearing evening dress for the first time in his life, and was uneasy about his whole appearance. He felt deficient in every r...

  6. #6

    Lost Girl by Adam Nevill
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    Lost Girl by Adam Nevill is a departure from his other work, in the sense that the main meat of the novel does not deal with any supernatural or otherworldly horrors. The story follows a father, known as The Father, whose world turned upside down when his four-year-old daughter was abducted from their home. Ignored by the police, he embarks on a relentless quest to find her in a dystopian world plagued by climate change and societal collapse. As he navigates through a deteriorating global situation, criminal underworld, and surreal dreamscapes, the father's journey leads him towards a realm that defies description, pushing him to his limits in a world where violence speaks louder than words.

    Adam Nevill's writing style in Lost Girl is described as astounding, engaging all senses with incredible descriptions that evoke terror, fear, disgust, and the sounds of death. The novel presents a bleakly original tale exploring a father's unwavering determination to recover his kidnapped daughter, delving into themes of human nature, societal breakdown, and the lengths a parent would go to protect their child in a world on the brink of collapse.

    In his mind the father had replayed the scenes of that hot afternoon more times than it was possible to remember. One thousand times, in the first six months following the abduction, might not have be...

  7. Blood Meridian: Or the Evening Redness in the West by Cormac McCarthy is a brutal and violent tale set in the American Southwest and Mexico during the 19th century. The story follows a young man known as The Kid who joins a group of scalp hunters led by the enigmatic and ruthless Judge Holden. The book delves into themes of violence, survival, and the darkness of human nature, all portrayed through McCarthy's haunting and vivid prose. The narrative is bleak and unrelenting, showcasing the harsh realities of life on the border between Mexico and America, where evil takes on human form in the physical world.

    The book is described as a western where the Wild West is stripped of any heroic illusions, focusing instead on a group of merciless scalp hunters collecting bounties along the US-Mexico borderlands. McCarthy's writing style is elegant, detached, and breath-catching, rendering the beauty of the desert landscapes, the brutality of survival, and the emotional bankruptcy of the characters with exquisite detail. The characters, especially the enigmatic Judge Holden, provide a glimpse into mankind's addiction to violence, making the novel a gripping and thought-provoking exploration of morality and human nature.

    See the child. He is pale and thin, he wears a thin and ragged linen shirt. He stokes the scullery fire. Outside lie dark turned fields with rags of snow and darker woods beyond that harbor yet a few ...

  8. #8
    Hammered
    Book 1 in the series:Jenny Casey

    Hammered - Jenny Casey by Elizabeth Bear
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    In "Hammered" by Elizabeth Bear, readers are introduced to Jenny Casey, a fifty-year-old ex-soldier living in a gritty, near-future world where cyber enhancements are failing and painful memories haunt her. The plot delves into a conspiracy involving crime lords, AIs, and a struggle against the government that used and discarded her. The writing style is described as fast-moving, with a mix of military, cyber, and traditional elements, narrated through a jangly multi-POV prose that brings out the complexities of the characters and the dystopian setting.

    Later, I wash my face in the stained steel sink and dry it on a clean rag. I catch myself staring into my own eyes, reflected in the unbreakable mirror hanging on my wall. I look chewed. Hell, you can...

  9. #9

    The Digger's Game by George V. Higgins
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    The Digger's Game by George V. Higgins follows the story of a degenerate gambler and his brother, a man of the cloth, as the former digs himself into a deep hole with a loan shark and plans a robbery for insurance money. Set in 70s Boston and other locations, the book delves into themes of gambling, debt, family issues, criminal elements, and the complex relationships between the characters. Higgins' writing style is characterized by gritty dialogue-driven storytelling, with conversations playing a central role in driving the narrative forward.

    The plot of The Digger's Game weaves through various locations and characters, portraying a world of criminals, enforcers, chancers, and family dynamics. The book's focus on dialogue, flawed characters, and morally questionable individuals creates a rich and realistic portrayal of Boston's less reputable social circles during the seventies. Higgins' unique approach to storytelling, where characters are studied through their interactions and conversations, adds depth and authenticity to the narrative, making it a compelling read for those interested in character-driven crime fiction.

    “Back door,” the driver said. “Three steps, aluminum railing, no outer door. No alarm. You got a problem of being seen. There’s a whole mess of apartments back up on the place, and they got mostly kid...

  10. #10

    Night Train by Martin Amis
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    Night Train by Martin Amis is a dark and compelling novel that delves into the mystery of a woman's suicide and the subsequent police investigation led by Detective Mike Hoolihan. The story is divided into three parts, with a focus on psychological autopsy, suicide, and the night train. The narrative is intense, with detailed descriptions of wounds and violence, pushing readers to explore the deepest pits of human character through the protagonist's perspective.

    I am a police. That may sound like an unusual statement—or an unusual construction. But it's a parlance we have. Among ourselves, we would never say I am a policeman or I am a policewoman or I am a po...

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