What's in a Name 5 Challenge!

Between January 1 and December 31, 2012, I will read one book in each of the following categories:

• A book with a topographical feature (land formation) in the title

Robert B. Fleet. Last Mountain -- finished 1/31/2012

• A book with something you'd see in the sky in the title

Poul Anderson. Trader to the Stars -- finished 7/23/2012

• A book with a creepy crawly in the title
• A book with a type of house in the title
• A book with something you'd carry in your pocket, purse, or backpack in the title
• A book with a something you'd find on a calendar in the title

Trader to the Stars by Poul Anderson

First sentence:

"Captain Bahadur Torrance received the news as befitted a Lodgemaster in the Federated Brotherhood of Spacemen."

Description:

"Their space-yacht, pursued by angry Adderkops thirsting for their blood, has run into serious engine trouble. Picking up the trail of another alien spaceship, they decide to board it and force its crew to take them home. But once aboard, its not so easy to find the crew: they're faced with cages full of bizarre, other-worldly animals: Tiger apes, Elephantoids, Gorilloids, Caterpiggles, Helmet beasts, Tentacle centaurs. One set of these extraordinary creatures must be the crew, in hiding. But which? Survival depends on finding the right answer. . .

And this is just the first of the problems facing Poul Anderson's intrepid space-merchant venturers in this masterly SF book!" -- from the back cover

My thoughts:

I liked this science fiction book of space-faring traders. I especially liked the challenge in the first story of trying to determine who were the crew and the cultural misunderstandings depicted in the last story. I look forward to reading the first book in the series, War of the Wing-Men.

Date read: 7/23/2012
Book #: 27
Series: Polesotechnic League, #2
Challenges: A-Z Challenge 2012, What's in a Name 5 Challenge, Off the Shelf Challenge 2012, TBR Challenge 2012
Rating: 3*/5 = good
Genre: SF

ISBN-10: 0586022147
ISBN-13: 9780586022146
Publisher: Panther
Year: 1965
# of pages: 155
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
LibraryThing page

Last Mountain by Robert C. Fleet

First sentence:

"How long it has since sunset he did not know."

Description:

Real World

Nancy del Rio is a teenager struggling to grow up in the gang-ridden streets of Los Angeles. But Immigration wants to send her away from the only home she's ever known.

Real Magic

For centuries the Unicorn has been hunted for the magic of his horn, but the call of beauty can still draw him from hiding. Now the chase is on for both Nancy and the Unicorn. They are each other's only hope. And only together can they hope to reach...

Last Mountain

My thoughts:

This was a good fantasy book. I liked the account of Cortes in Mexico from the Unicorn's point of view. I also liked Nancy's interactions with her family and Karus, the Rider.

Date read: 1/31/2012
Book #: 3
Challenges: TBR Challenge 2012; New Author Challenge, Whats in a Name 5 Challenge, Off the Shelf Challenge, A-Z Challenge 2012
Rating: 3*/5 = good
Genre: Fantasy

ISBN-10: 0441000622
ISBN-13: 9780441000623
Publisher: Ace Books
Year: 1994
# of pages: 288
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
LibraryThing page