Solitaire

Solitaire: A Novel
$13.95
Her whole life, Ren "Jackal" Segura has been trained by Ko, the world's first corporate nation state, to be part of an elite group which will take on powerful positions with the world government. But when she is embroiled in legal trouble, the corporation abandons her to an eight-year sentence in virtual reality solitary confinement. The book's futuristic settings are realistic, the characters are intelligent and vibrant, and Eskridge writes an engrossing story. Unfortunately, the book falters with a too-quick conclusion that leaves themes unrealized. Nonetheless this is a unique and compelling read, and I recommend it.

The vast majority of Solitaire is unusual and quite brilliant: detailed, intelligent, and compelling. The settings, from a corporate nation state to a computer-generated isolation cell, are convincing and open the doors to an equally vivid story. Jackal is intelligent, perceptive, but hardly infallible, character traits which make her unique but deeply sympathetic--a perfect protagonist for a story about the reclamation of personal identity. And the pacing, for the most part, is spot-on, balancing quiet character-building against plenty of forward motion. It's odd to see a novel with both business models against quiet romance, odd to see a narrator who analyses body language as much spoken language, but it's unexpectedly effective: Solitaire is unusual enough to hold the reader's attention, brilliant enough to reward him for his efforts.

At the very end of the book, however, falters. The conclusion feels rushed, forgoing the elsewhere intelligent detail and careful pacing in a hasty attempt to tie up all the plot threads in too few pages--an attempt which actually leaves too much hanging. In particular, Jackal's troubled relationship with Ko resolves so quickly that the resolution feels insincere. It's a pity: the book is intriguing and intelligent, but it hiccups just when it needs to excel and so it ends on a sour note. The frustration of the ending doesn't destroy the book--I still greatly enjoyed Solitaire, and I recommend it. It's unusual, quite clever, and difficult to put down. I only wish that it better fulfilled its potential at the end, because then it would be truly exceptional.

Handheld LCD Solitaire Game (Vegas or Standard Style-3 Levels)
$7.99
This is a nice hand-held game which is fun to play but it needs to have a light on it to make it easier to view.

Big Screen Solitaire - White
$24.99
THE LARGE NUMBERS MAKE IT EASY TO SEE AND PLAY. NICE GAME FOR THE MONEY.

The 100 Best Solitaire Games
$9.95
Probably the best selection of solitaire card games that I've seen. Many good games. Definitely a game for everyone.
Rich