SPACESHIP EARTH, Tom Schwartz, Reagent Press, $17.99 HC, $9.89 Trade, 172 pages, ISBN: 9781575451435, reviewed by Barry Hunter.
There have been many novels dealing with the end of the world and mankind’s attempts to insure that “we” would survive and the human race continue to flourish. Tom Schwartz has taken a bigger project and writes about mankind’s surviving the end of the universe.
Schwartz uses the Big Bang creation of the universe as one cycle of many that have happened before and will possibly happen again. He proposes a cycle of 70 billion years in which the Universe is created, expands, and then contracts to start all over again.
His story starts with creation and then skips four billion years into the future wherein the scientists reveal their plan to convert the Earth into a spaceship in order to avert mankind’s destruction with the impending collapse. During the billions of years it will take to make this possible, the human race advances into extremely long life spans; but the pettiness of humanity and the politicos continue to clash with scientific thought.
Schwartz has written an interesting tale that has been reviewed for religious and scientific accuracy, but it still leaves a lot of unanswered questions. That is one of the aspects of writing a novel with this scope; it leaves the reader with questions and forces them to think about the ideas presented herein. The book is available through Amazon, Barnes and Noble and BooksAMillion.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Noise, Coronets and Steel, and When Blood Calls reviews
Noise
Darin Bradley
Spectra (Random House), Aug 31 2010, $14.00
ISBN: 9780553386226
When the country converts from analog to digital, Salvage broadcasts underground stations in the lower frequency airwaves. It tells the populace what to do to survive in the face of the collapsing society and the words are bound in the Book. In the college town of Slade, Texas, best friends Hiram and Adam collect the wisdom of the Salvage so they can be ready when the collapse of American civilization occurs.
The predicted Event happens leaving America rudderless as the country declares bankruptcy and the government loses all control. The Narrator calls himself Hiram and Adam renames himself Levi. They gather other people amongst the homeless of the dead society to go to Amaranth. It is an isolated place where they will be safe. Other groups join them on the bloody journey to the Promised Land.
Reminiscent of the Lord of the Flies merged with Deliverance, Noise is a deep look at civilization spinning out of control into anarchy before leading to a rebirth. The cast is solid with plenty of violence and gore making the aftermath effort to get to Amaranth feel plausible. Darin Bradley writes an entertaining futuristic cautionary thriller as out of the death of America rises the Phoenix of a new order.
Harriet Klausner
Coronets And Steel
Sherwood Smith
DAW, Sep 7 2010, $24.95
ISBN: 9780756406424
Bored Los Angeles graduate student Kim Murray’s French only speaking grandmere is ill. As grandmere recovers from the debilitating fever, she remains mute; but encourages strongly for Kim to travel to Europe to learn her family’s genealogy. Before leaving the States, her grandma gave her minuscule bits of information about their heritage, but refuses to go into any depth.
After Paris proved fruitless, she reaches Vienna lacking information as to where to start so she visits a genealogist. Kim goes on a tour when she notices what looks like a ghost. Soon after that, a suave male treats her like an old friend he has not seen in a while although she swears she never met this sophisticate before. She and this Alec go for drinks, but when she awakens she is on a train though she is unsure how she got on it. However, the biggest shock of all is to learn she looks so much like missing cousin Ruli, they could have been twins. Alec wants her to pretend to be Ruli so he can find her.
Told by the third generation American, this is an exciting at times jocular but always action-packed thriller as Kim digs up her roots in Europe. Fast-paced, fans will enjoy the heroine’s European adventure as she is 200 proof American believing she can do anything while also being facetious and irreverent when she is drugged, abducted, and confronting family ghosts. This is her tale as the rest of the cast supports her escapades as a young brash American trashes her kidnapper and taunts the spirits that haunt her and her family. Harriet Klausner
When Blood Calls
J.K. Beck
Bantam, Aug 31 2010, $7.99
ISBN: 9780440245773
Manhattan-based government attorney Sara Constantine is euphoric following her win in court. She celebrates her victory by spending a heated one night stand with stranger, Lucius Dragos; who is at the tavern because Braddock, who he will kill later that night, is there. Sara is rewarded with a promotion to Division 6; whose lawyers prosecute vampires, werewolves, hellhounds and demons.
To her chagrin, fate deflates her enthusiasm when she is assigned to argue the government’s case against alleged killer Lucius Dragos. He likes Sara and not just because of the great sex. She somehow abates his demon. He argues she needs to take the blindfold off as he insists justice is not a blind legal adherence to the law because where evil deserves death; while she insists the law is the law even as she wonders if the man she prosecutes and loves is a vampire.
Ignoring conflict of interest based on the Judge Scalia defense of not recusing In Cheney v. United States District Court for the District of Columbia Supreme Court case, this is a fascinating legal thriller inside an urban fantasy setting with a touch of romance. Though there is plenty of action in the first Shadow Keepers thriller, the story line is owned by the lead couple who debate justice. Readers will believe the Beck universe is real while pondering the same questions that disturb dedicated prosecutor Sara. If someone murders a serial killer they may be legally a criminal but morally are they delivering justice to an amoral ergo inhuman predator? That is the essence of Lucius’ argument as he insists he killed a malevolence that deserved death, but as Sara (and the audience) ponders should he be judge, jury and executioner as a seemingly vigilante. Their falling in love enhances the legal vs. moral argument. Harriet Klausner
Darin Bradley
Spectra (Random House), Aug 31 2010, $14.00
ISBN: 9780553386226
When the country converts from analog to digital, Salvage broadcasts underground stations in the lower frequency airwaves. It tells the populace what to do to survive in the face of the collapsing society and the words are bound in the Book. In the college town of Slade, Texas, best friends Hiram and Adam collect the wisdom of the Salvage so they can be ready when the collapse of American civilization occurs.
The predicted Event happens leaving America rudderless as the country declares bankruptcy and the government loses all control. The Narrator calls himself Hiram and Adam renames himself Levi. They gather other people amongst the homeless of the dead society to go to Amaranth. It is an isolated place where they will be safe. Other groups join them on the bloody journey to the Promised Land.
Reminiscent of the Lord of the Flies merged with Deliverance, Noise is a deep look at civilization spinning out of control into anarchy before leading to a rebirth. The cast is solid with plenty of violence and gore making the aftermath effort to get to Amaranth feel plausible. Darin Bradley writes an entertaining futuristic cautionary thriller as out of the death of America rises the Phoenix of a new order.
Harriet Klausner
Coronets And Steel
Sherwood Smith
DAW, Sep 7 2010, $24.95
ISBN: 9780756406424
Bored Los Angeles graduate student Kim Murray’s French only speaking grandmere is ill. As grandmere recovers from the debilitating fever, she remains mute; but encourages strongly for Kim to travel to Europe to learn her family’s genealogy. Before leaving the States, her grandma gave her minuscule bits of information about their heritage, but refuses to go into any depth.
After Paris proved fruitless, she reaches Vienna lacking information as to where to start so she visits a genealogist. Kim goes on a tour when she notices what looks like a ghost. Soon after that, a suave male treats her like an old friend he has not seen in a while although she swears she never met this sophisticate before. She and this Alec go for drinks, but when she awakens she is on a train though she is unsure how she got on it. However, the biggest shock of all is to learn she looks so much like missing cousin Ruli, they could have been twins. Alec wants her to pretend to be Ruli so he can find her.
Told by the third generation American, this is an exciting at times jocular but always action-packed thriller as Kim digs up her roots in Europe. Fast-paced, fans will enjoy the heroine’s European adventure as she is 200 proof American believing she can do anything while also being facetious and irreverent when she is drugged, abducted, and confronting family ghosts. This is her tale as the rest of the cast supports her escapades as a young brash American trashes her kidnapper and taunts the spirits that haunt her and her family. Harriet Klausner
When Blood Calls
J.K. Beck
Bantam, Aug 31 2010, $7.99
ISBN: 9780440245773
Manhattan-based government attorney Sara Constantine is euphoric following her win in court. She celebrates her victory by spending a heated one night stand with stranger, Lucius Dragos; who is at the tavern because Braddock, who he will kill later that night, is there. Sara is rewarded with a promotion to Division 6; whose lawyers prosecute vampires, werewolves, hellhounds and demons.
To her chagrin, fate deflates her enthusiasm when she is assigned to argue the government’s case against alleged killer Lucius Dragos. He likes Sara and not just because of the great sex. She somehow abates his demon. He argues she needs to take the blindfold off as he insists justice is not a blind legal adherence to the law because where evil deserves death; while she insists the law is the law even as she wonders if the man she prosecutes and loves is a vampire.
Ignoring conflict of interest based on the Judge Scalia defense of not recusing In Cheney v. United States District Court for the District of Columbia Supreme Court case, this is a fascinating legal thriller inside an urban fantasy setting with a touch of romance. Though there is plenty of action in the first Shadow Keepers thriller, the story line is owned by the lead couple who debate justice. Readers will believe the Beck universe is real while pondering the same questions that disturb dedicated prosecutor Sara. If someone murders a serial killer they may be legally a criminal but morally are they delivering justice to an amoral ergo inhuman predator? That is the essence of Lucius’ argument as he insists he killed a malevolence that deserved death, but as Sara (and the audience) ponders should he be judge, jury and executioner as a seemingly vigilante. Their falling in love enhances the legal vs. moral argument. Harriet Klausner
Friday, October 1, 2010
Holiday Review
HOLIDAY, M. Rickert, Golden Gryphon, $24.95, 164 pages, ISBN: 9781930846654, reviewed by Barry Hunter.
It has become rare to find a story or novel that will knock your socks off or make you stay up until you finish it. In this all too short collection, M. Rickert presents some of those stories that end too quickly, but leave your mind racing thinking about what you have just read.
I am reminded of Stephen King’s CYCLE OF THE WEREWOLF where the moon’s cycle and the werewolf’s killings are rendered in twelve stories as the year progresses. M. Rickert has twelve tales based on the holidays of the year and presents twelve extraordinary tales giving us a year’s worth of HOLIDAY’s to be remembered.
“Holiday” is the story of the ghost of a six year old blonde beauty queen, and other young ghosts, appearing to a writer that has ghosts of his own to face. “Memoir of a Deer Woman” shows the effects of cancer and a woman’s unusual solution in her fight against the disease. “Journey into the Kingdom” tells of the lighthouse keepers’ daughter, her talent and her method of remaining alive. The origin of the nightingale is re-imagined in “The Machine”. The “lost boys” and their now grown leader are featured in “Don’t Ask”. “Traitor” is a new twist on modern warfare. “Was She Wicked? Was She Good?” is a story about how far would you go to discipline your child. “You Have Never Been Here” and “The Christmas Witch” are the other tales to complete the collection.
The two other stories in the volume that really touched me are “Evidence of Love in a case of Abandonment: One Daughter’s Personal Account” and “War is Beautiful”. In the first story, we see the results of a future where those who have had abortions meet the judgment for the crime and the results that fall upon the children and families. In “War Is Beautiful”, I was transported to the jungles of Vietnam and the descriptions Mary uses herein make it as real as it was in 1970. She has the “feel” of the country, the smell of the remnants of a falling rain, the descriptions of the people, and reality of what it took to remain alive.
Rickert has written a collection of ghost stories that will remain close to you for a long time to come. The only thing that may bother you more is how many of the ghosts are already living with you.
It has become rare to find a story or novel that will knock your socks off or make you stay up until you finish it. In this all too short collection, M. Rickert presents some of those stories that end too quickly, but leave your mind racing thinking about what you have just read.
I am reminded of Stephen King’s CYCLE OF THE WEREWOLF where the moon’s cycle and the werewolf’s killings are rendered in twelve stories as the year progresses. M. Rickert has twelve tales based on the holidays of the year and presents twelve extraordinary tales giving us a year’s worth of HOLIDAY’s to be remembered.
“Holiday” is the story of the ghost of a six year old blonde beauty queen, and other young ghosts, appearing to a writer that has ghosts of his own to face. “Memoir of a Deer Woman” shows the effects of cancer and a woman’s unusual solution in her fight against the disease. “Journey into the Kingdom” tells of the lighthouse keepers’ daughter, her talent and her method of remaining alive. The origin of the nightingale is re-imagined in “The Machine”. The “lost boys” and their now grown leader are featured in “Don’t Ask”. “Traitor” is a new twist on modern warfare. “Was She Wicked? Was She Good?” is a story about how far would you go to discipline your child. “You Have Never Been Here” and “The Christmas Witch” are the other tales to complete the collection.
The two other stories in the volume that really touched me are “Evidence of Love in a case of Abandonment: One Daughter’s Personal Account” and “War is Beautiful”. In the first story, we see the results of a future where those who have had abortions meet the judgment for the crime and the results that fall upon the children and families. In “War Is Beautiful”, I was transported to the jungles of Vietnam and the descriptions Mary uses herein make it as real as it was in 1970. She has the “feel” of the country, the smell of the remnants of a falling rain, the descriptions of the people, and reality of what it took to remain alive.
Rickert has written a collection of ghost stories that will remain close to you for a long time to come. The only thing that may bother you more is how many of the ghosts are already living with you.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Jennifer Rardin, 1965 - 2010
Orbit Books has reported that Jennifer Rardin, author of the Jaz Parks urban fantasy series, died unexpectedly on September 20, 2010 at age 45. No further details are available at this time.
Rardin was born April 28, 1965. First novel Once Bitten, Twice Shy appeared in October 2007. The seventh book in the series, Bitten in Two, will appear in November; the eight and final book in the series The Deadliest Bite, will be published in June 2011. She is survived by her husband and two children.
Rardin was born April 28, 1965. First novel Once Bitten, Twice Shy appeared in October 2007. The seventh book in the series, Bitten in Two, will appear in November; the eight and final book in the series The Deadliest Bite, will be published in June 2011. She is survived by her husband and two children.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Every decision you make has a consequence
On September 28, 1918, the course of history was nearly averted when British soldier Henry Tandey allegedly spared the life of an injured Adolf Hitler, while fighting during World War I. Tandey would tell his compatriots that he aimed at the future German dictator, but did not pull the trigger because he could not shoot a wounded man. While the veracity of the encounter remains debated to this day, Hitler, himself, claimed the tale was true during a meeting with British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain in 1938.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Blameless, Hero, and Seduced by the Wolf reviews
Blameless
Gail Carriger
Orbit, Sep 1 2010, $7.99
ISBN: 9780316074155
Lady Alexia Maccon is a soulless, forever denied an eternal home because she was born without a soul; her touch renders supernaturals (vampires and werewolves) human for a period of time. She is the only known female soulless and her husband Scottish Earl Maccon, a werewolf, denounced her and tossed her out of his pack because she is pregnant. He knows the fetus is not his as werewolves cannot procreate so she obviously cheated. She is fuming at her spouse as she knows that she was only with him
Alexia returns to her parents’ home in England and they are upset because of the scandal she caused; which she notices does not include her spouse. When they learn she is pregnant, they throw her out as they know she cuckolded her husband as werewolves cannot procreate.
In London, vampires try to kill her and ladybugs attack her so she flees to the continent where the supernatural are uninterested in human affairs. She ends up in Florence captured by the Knights Templar because she can be a weapon. However, when they learn of her condition and what she might give birth to they want her dead. Only a miracle can save her and her unborn as everyone she encounters fears the abomination she carries.
The third Parasol Protectorate tale (see Soulless and Changeless) is an action-packed, at times amusing, but always suspenseful historical urban fantasy. Readers will root for the intrepid unsinkable heroine who does not adhere to Victorian societal rules. Usually mild mannered, only her husband can raise her ire, which leads to her landing in out of control dangerous scenarios. This alternate Victorian world is an enthralling thriller. Harriet Klausner
Hero
Cheryl Brooks
Sourcebooks, Aug 1 2010, $7.99
www.sourcebooks.com
ISBN: 9781402229411
Since his brother Tychar found his soul mate (see Rogue), Trag the Zetithian is depressed though he feels great for his sibling as he wants the same thing for himself. An outlaw on many planets, he is careful even when he offers to pay for sex; his talent insures he never has to remit any money as women find him to be the sexual encounter of a lifetime. Still he dreams of meeting a female especially from his now destroyed species, but fears no soulmate exists for him. He is especially despondent when he is with his few surviving male brethren (including his brother) as each has found their females.
Micayla leaves her home world of Earth for the first time in her life. She feels lonely but accepts a truism that men or women don’t turn her on and that somehow she is different than her family and friends. That changes in an instant gut changing observation of the back of a stranger who she finds desiring. However, when she meets the hunk who she wants, instead of jumping Trag’s bones as her inclination screams inside her, she rips his skin off blaming him for her unwanted desire.
While the overarching story line involving the pandemic destruction of a race and their planet moves forward with insight into who committed the atrocity, the latest Zetithian science fiction romance also contains the most powerful Cat Stars Chronicles coupling to date. That says a lot as previous tales like Fugitive, Rogue, and Slave are excellent. Readers will relish this pairing of two of the universe’s loneliest people; as Micayla makes Trag dance the Macarena to snare his soulmate. Harriet Klausner
Seduced by the Wolf
Terry Spear
Sourcebook, Aug 3 2010, $7.99
ISBN: 9781402237539
In Oregon, rancher Leidolf Wildhaven is worried about the purebred humans wanting to look too closely at the wilderness wolf populace. Not that the timing would be good ever for him and the werewolf pack he leads but this particular moment is disastrous as he just came from Colorado to take over as Alpha leader of a dispirited pack; werewolves who are without spirit and zest for life become easy targets.
Adding to his headaches is the leggy biologist Dr. Cassie Roux who believes wolves in the wild need protection from human predators. She has problems caused by her angry peer, wolf biologist Alex Wellington and her attraction to this rancher who says a wolf is man’s best friend. She can sniff the lupus garou scent he emits. Courageous she tries to protect a she-wolf and newborn litter from rogues (wolves, hunters and enemy biologists) while also trying to keep her heart safe from a hunk of a werewolf.
No one makes werewolves seem real better than romantic urban fantasist Terry Spear continually does with her “Wolf” saga (see Legend of the White Wolf, To Tempt a Wolf, Heart of the Wolf and Destiny of the Wolf). Her fifth were-wolfish thriller is a strong tale of two dedicated people wanting to d the best for the wolfish populace in the northwest. Sub-genre fans will want to roam Oregon with this lead couple as outside a werewolf, a book by Terry Spear’s is woman’s best friend; inside the werewolf it is to dark to read (Groucho is turning over in his grave).
Harriet Klausner
Gail Carriger
Orbit, Sep 1 2010, $7.99
ISBN: 9780316074155
Lady Alexia Maccon is a soulless, forever denied an eternal home because she was born without a soul; her touch renders supernaturals (vampires and werewolves) human for a period of time. She is the only known female soulless and her husband Scottish Earl Maccon, a werewolf, denounced her and tossed her out of his pack because she is pregnant. He knows the fetus is not his as werewolves cannot procreate so she obviously cheated. She is fuming at her spouse as she knows that she was only with him
Alexia returns to her parents’ home in England and they are upset because of the scandal she caused; which she notices does not include her spouse. When they learn she is pregnant, they throw her out as they know she cuckolded her husband as werewolves cannot procreate.
In London, vampires try to kill her and ladybugs attack her so she flees to the continent where the supernatural are uninterested in human affairs. She ends up in Florence captured by the Knights Templar because she can be a weapon. However, when they learn of her condition and what she might give birth to they want her dead. Only a miracle can save her and her unborn as everyone she encounters fears the abomination she carries.
The third Parasol Protectorate tale (see Soulless and Changeless) is an action-packed, at times amusing, but always suspenseful historical urban fantasy. Readers will root for the intrepid unsinkable heroine who does not adhere to Victorian societal rules. Usually mild mannered, only her husband can raise her ire, which leads to her landing in out of control dangerous scenarios. This alternate Victorian world is an enthralling thriller. Harriet Klausner
Hero
Cheryl Brooks
Sourcebooks, Aug 1 2010, $7.99
www.sourcebooks.com
ISBN: 9781402229411
Since his brother Tychar found his soul mate (see Rogue), Trag the Zetithian is depressed though he feels great for his sibling as he wants the same thing for himself. An outlaw on many planets, he is careful even when he offers to pay for sex; his talent insures he never has to remit any money as women find him to be the sexual encounter of a lifetime. Still he dreams of meeting a female especially from his now destroyed species, but fears no soulmate exists for him. He is especially despondent when he is with his few surviving male brethren (including his brother) as each has found their females.
Micayla leaves her home world of Earth for the first time in her life. She feels lonely but accepts a truism that men or women don’t turn her on and that somehow she is different than her family and friends. That changes in an instant gut changing observation of the back of a stranger who she finds desiring. However, when she meets the hunk who she wants, instead of jumping Trag’s bones as her inclination screams inside her, she rips his skin off blaming him for her unwanted desire.
While the overarching story line involving the pandemic destruction of a race and their planet moves forward with insight into who committed the atrocity, the latest Zetithian science fiction romance also contains the most powerful Cat Stars Chronicles coupling to date. That says a lot as previous tales like Fugitive, Rogue, and Slave are excellent. Readers will relish this pairing of two of the universe’s loneliest people; as Micayla makes Trag dance the Macarena to snare his soulmate. Harriet Klausner
Seduced by the Wolf
Terry Spear
Sourcebook, Aug 3 2010, $7.99
ISBN: 9781402237539
In Oregon, rancher Leidolf Wildhaven is worried about the purebred humans wanting to look too closely at the wilderness wolf populace. Not that the timing would be good ever for him and the werewolf pack he leads but this particular moment is disastrous as he just came from Colorado to take over as Alpha leader of a dispirited pack; werewolves who are without spirit and zest for life become easy targets.
Adding to his headaches is the leggy biologist Dr. Cassie Roux who believes wolves in the wild need protection from human predators. She has problems caused by her angry peer, wolf biologist Alex Wellington and her attraction to this rancher who says a wolf is man’s best friend. She can sniff the lupus garou scent he emits. Courageous she tries to protect a she-wolf and newborn litter from rogues (wolves, hunters and enemy biologists) while also trying to keep her heart safe from a hunk of a werewolf.
No one makes werewolves seem real better than romantic urban fantasist Terry Spear continually does with her “Wolf” saga (see Legend of the White Wolf, To Tempt a Wolf, Heart of the Wolf and Destiny of the Wolf). Her fifth were-wolfish thriller is a strong tale of two dedicated people wanting to d the best for the wolfish populace in the northwest. Sub-genre fans will want to roam Oregon with this lead couple as outside a werewolf, a book by Terry Spear’s is woman’s best friend; inside the werewolf it is to dark to read (Groucho is turning over in his grave).
Harriet Klausner
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Book of Nathan review
BOOK OF NATHAN, Curt Weeden and Richard Marek, Oceanview, $25.95, 264 pages, ISBN: 9781933515915, reviewed by Barry Hunter.
After Rick Bullock’s wife died, he assumed her role as director of a homeless shelter. Here he is able to see people at their lowest point and tries to give them a helping hand. When Zeus, a gentle giant with the mind of an eight year old, is accused of murder Bullock gets involved to prove that Zeus was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
The murder victim was Benjamin Kurios, a high profile evangelist, who is about to announce the finding of The Book of Nathan, a long lost biblical text that will set the pro-life and pro-choice groups out to obtain the text.
Bullock is aided by two friends from the shelter and gets involved with the mob, a stripper, pro and anti abortion groups, lawyers and billionaires. All of them have their own agendas and all do their best to force Bullock to aid them, no matter what the collateral damage is.
Weeden and Marek have written a comedic mystery unlike any other I have read. This is the perfect read if you want an intriguing, lighthearted way to pass a rainy afternoon, or just something to help you pass some time. I think we may see some more from Rick Bullock and his friends.
After Rick Bullock’s wife died, he assumed her role as director of a homeless shelter. Here he is able to see people at their lowest point and tries to give them a helping hand. When Zeus, a gentle giant with the mind of an eight year old, is accused of murder Bullock gets involved to prove that Zeus was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
The murder victim was Benjamin Kurios, a high profile evangelist, who is about to announce the finding of The Book of Nathan, a long lost biblical text that will set the pro-life and pro-choice groups out to obtain the text.
Bullock is aided by two friends from the shelter and gets involved with the mob, a stripper, pro and anti abortion groups, lawyers and billionaires. All of them have their own agendas and all do their best to force Bullock to aid them, no matter what the collateral damage is.
Weeden and Marek have written a comedic mystery unlike any other I have read. This is the perfect read if you want an intriguing, lighthearted way to pass a rainy afternoon, or just something to help you pass some time. I think we may see some more from Rick Bullock and his friends.
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