Shopping

Was nodding off so took lunch break in which I bought presents for nieces and nephews. Passed by The Australian Geographic Shop who were having a sale, so I was happy to find a nice furry blue dolphin for youngest nephew, complete with dophin squeek. I also bought a robot dinosaur for second-youngest nephew (no, actually I think he's the third-youngest) and a dinosaur keychain with a bright red LED light. Yes, I know he's all into LotR stuff at the moment, but he used to be into dinosaurs, so I don't think I could go wrong with the above.

Then went into Minotaur seeking "The Riddle Master's Game" (an omnibus reissue of Patricia McKillip's Riddle-Master trilogy) for my second-eldest niece, which they did have, and Elizabeth Moon's "The Deed of Paksenarrion" for my eldest nephew, which they didn't. So I bought "Hunting Party" by Elizabeth Moon instead. He likes military SF, so he should hopefully like this, though I will read it before I give it to him, just to make sure it's okay. But I don't expect to go wrong with Elizabeth Moon. I enjoy military SF too, but not to the same degree as my nephew and brother do. I introduced them to Lois McMaster Bujold and David Weber, and now my brother has more David Weber books than I do!

I also bought myself a copy of the old Steve Perry novel "The Man Who Never Missed". I have read a couple further on in the series, but didn't really care for them (a bit too Mystical Ninja for my liking) but this first one stands as a classic; it's one of my favourite types of stories, the Hidden Hero, like the Scarlet Pimpernel -- and the fact that he deliberately sets out to build a legend just makes him a clever hero, not an egotist. If you're a one-man army, then psychological warfare is a good tool. The other books were a bit of a let-down after this one, really. Don't have the same kind of deliciousness.

My mother had put dibs on getting "The Snow Queen" by Joan Vinge for my niece, so that's why I got the Riddle-Master books instead. I will probably get "Valkyries" by Jerri Massi for my eldest niece for Christmas, as they may well be coming down this year.

I really ought to read the John Marsden "Tomorrow" series... I just never seem to be in the right mood for a grim post-apocalyptic tale, though.