Earth Star is Janet Edwards‘ second book about teenage wonder girl, Jarra, and had a lot going for it in the beginning. Jarra’s first-person narration has wonderful style, some world building elements are intriguing enough that I wanted to know more, and Jarra’s handicap–an immune system unable to function on any other planet besides Earth–creates […]
Kindle Daily Deal and Review of NO RETURN by Zachary Jernigan
May 3, 2014 by 1 Comment
No Return by Zachary Jernigan is on sale today only for $1.99 on Kindle. I’ve made no secret about my appreciation for this debut novel, naming it to my Top 5 of 2013 list and interviewing Zachary on the podcast (AISFP 207 – Educational Paths to SF Writing/AISFP 209 – No Return Discussion). His book […]
Book Review: SCOURGE OF THE BETRAYER by Jeff Salyards
May 2, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Not only are there a lot of Fantasy books out there to choose from, Grimdark no less, but in the next three months I have a large stack of books coming out that are all competing for this genre’s attention. I’m not going to list those other books because Jeff Salyards’ book, Scourge of the […]
Book Review: RANGE OF GHOSTS by Elizabeth Bear
April 30, 2014 by Leave a Comment
I have heard for years that Elizabeth Bear is a rare talent, and I wish I hadn’t waited this long to read her. Her ability to mesmerize me with her prose reminds me of Mercedes Yardley, but with her own flair. I highlighted many passages from Range of Ghosts, but I’ll start with the first […]
Book Review: CHERUB by David C. Hayes
April 23, 2014 by Leave a Comment
I first encountered David C Hayes in an online writing workshop I took last year. His stories for the workshop were fun to read, and when he was looking for reviewers his new novel Cherub, I jumped at the opportunity. A small town misfit gives birth to a giant baby so large that it breaks […]
Book Review: THE FINAL TRICK OF FUNNYMAN and OTHER STORIES by Bruce Taylor
April 16, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Like Andre Duza, Bruce Taylor, (a.k.a. Mr. Magical Realism), is an author who’s work I first came across in the Orange edition of the Bizarro Starter Kit. The Final Trick of Funnyman is Bruce’s first collection of short stories and includes the story that hooked me on Bruce’s writing: “The Breath Amidst the Stones” is a […]
Book Review: COLDBROOK by Tim Lebbon
April 10, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Seeing my enthusiasm for this book’s kickbutt ending, a friend teased me: “you and your zombies.” Yes, I still love zombies, but the more I read them the more I need the story and characters to stand out and excel. Coldbrook by Tim Lebbon suits every tastebud of my zombie fettish, even sprinkling on a […]
Book Review: A DARKLING SEA by James Cambias
April 4, 2014 by Leave a Comment
There are many reasons to enjoy science fiction. If hard science fiction is your thing, read how Kim Stanley Robinson extrapolates our current technology to posit a utopian future. Or if you prefer social science fiction, pick up a novel by Ursula K. LeGuin and see how she integrates anthropology into fictional worlds as if […]
Book Review: HOLLOW WORLD by Michael J. Sullivan
April 2, 2014 by 2 Comments
One of the first things that appealed about Hollow World was how easy it was to get into the story. Written in the classic style of H.G. Wells’ The Time Machine, Michael J. Sullivan’s Hollow World produces a modern story just as enjoyable, if not more so, than its predecessor. The main character, Ellis Rodgers, […]
Book Review: ALIEN: OUT OF THE SHADOWS by Tim Lebbon
March 31, 2014 by Leave a Comment
The deep-ore mining vessel, Marion, is in orbit above the inhospitable planet LV178 from which the Kelland Mining Company is extracting precious trimonite. During a shift change, the Marion’s crew of 10 are concerned by the lack of contact with the remaining 40 crewmembers on the surface. They soon discover what’s happened to them when […]
