Bonnie Milani Combines Sci-Fi and Fantasy

Book Title: Home World

Author: Bonnie Milani
Genre: Science Fiction / Fantasy
WOW! Blog Tour Dates: 11/18/2013-12/23/2013
Book Hashtag: #HWorld

 

Book Summary: 

 Amid the ruins of a post-apocalyptic Waikiki, Jezekiah Van Buren thinks he’s found a way to restore Earth – Home World to the other worlds of the human Commonwealth – to her lost glory. 

Ingenious even by the standards of the genetically enhanced Great Family Van Buren, Jezekiah has achieved the impossible:  he has arranged a treaty that will convert Earth's ancient enemies, the Lupans, to her most powerful allies.  Not only will the treaty terms make  Earth rich again, it will let him escape the Ring that condemns him to be Earth's next ruler.  Best of all, the treaty leaves him free to marry Keiko Yakamoto, the Samuari-trained woman he loves.  Everything’s set.  All Jezekiah has to do is convince his xenophobic sister to accept the Lupan's alpha warlord in marriage. Before, that is, the assassin she's put on his tail succeeds in killing him.  Or the interstellar crime ring called Ho Tong succeed in raising  another rebellion.  Or before his ruling relatives on competing worlds manage to execute him for treason. 

But Jezekiah was bred for politics and trained to rule.  He’s got it all under control. Until his Lupan warlord-partner reaches Earth.  And suddenly these two most powerful men find themselves in love with the same woman.   A woman who just may be the most deadly assassin of them all.

Author Bio:

I still remember the book that made me decide I could out-write another writer: it was a junior reader's biography of Sir William Harvey, the 17th century English physician credited (in the West) with discovering how blood circulates. After about 30 pages of telling myself "I can write better than that!" So I grabbed a crayon that just happened to be blue and started editing. I was maybe 7 at the time. And unfortunately for my juvenile bottom it was a library book. I followed the dream through college and after grad school, freelancing feature articles for newpapers along the East Coast. Even wrote a cover story for Science Digest! Only life and grown up responsibilities caught up with me by my late twenties and I put writing away with too many of my other dreams while I followed a career track. Wasn't until I lost my whole family that I realized story telling wasn't something i just wanted to do - it's the gift God gave me to do. So here I am: a middle-aged pudge working on getting back into a writer's kind of real life.

Finding the author  online:

Website: www.homeworldthenovel.com 

bonnie.milani@yahoo.com 

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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Prolific Reviewer Likes Sci-Fi with Twins Protagonists

Title: Division

Author: Karen A. Wyle
Author’s Web site link: http://www.KarenAWyle.net
Division’s Web page: http://www.KarenAWyle.net/division.html )
Available for e-books at http://amazon.com/Division-ebook/dp/B00G82BBQQ/
In other countries it is available at http://smarturl.it/Division
Genre: Near-future science fiction


Fascinatingpresent-day drama with just a touch of the future


Reviewed by Sheila Deeth 


Twins share many things, but Karen Wyle's novel, Division, explores what happens when twins grow up sharing even more than most, including the same body. Gordon and Johnny are so close they cannot move apart, but so separate that a lifetime of compromise can't keep them together. With different interests and different attitudes to life, they've lived as closely joined as two people can be and have learned to dream and cope. Meanwhile the girl next door has become their closest ally and friend. Their mother quietly supports and encourages. And adulthood looms large.

Particularly convincing is the small-town feel of a place where conjoined boys are just two guys in the graduating class, and tourists' stares are a hazard of summer sun. But a near-future world is changing around these boys, offering possibilities previously unknown. They travel, go to court, argue, laugh, and seem so achingly real in their conflict that readers will genuinely wonder whose side to take. Is it more stubborn to change, or stay the same? Is it cruel to think of your own needs above your twin's? Is it more honest to stay with the past, or to reach for future's promise? And where will we, or our future selves, draw the line in moral debate?

The story's as convincing in its court scenes as in the home, or on the road. The characters are just as human when they're friends as when they're foes. And the future world has no easier answers than the present day after all. But the questions will leave readers pondering possibilities and implications.

Beautifully researched and convincingly told, this novel reads like a present day drama with just a touch of the future--just enough to make us question the present more truly. I really enjoyed it.

Disclosure: The author kindly offered me a free ecopy because I'd enjoyed her work in the past.

ABOUT THE REVIEWER

Sheila is a Top 1000 Reviewer and a Vine Voice on Amazon and also reviews for her blog, Goodreads, and others. Learn more about her at:

www.KarenAWyle.net

www.facebook.com/KarenAWyle

 

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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

A Must-Read First Novel

 

Title: Black Breath

Author: B. A. Ritzenthaler
Author's Web site: www.baritzenthaler.com
Genre: Science Fiction
ASIN: B000EBUW5XA
Reviewer: Dark Wolf
Publisher: Self-published

Available at: www.amazon.com/Black-Breath-Common-Series-ebook/dp/B00EBUW5XA/ref=cm_pdp_rev_itm_title_1

Reviewed by Dark Wolf originally published on Amazon

Reviewer's rating: 5 stars

 

B. A. Ritzenthaler gets everything right with his debut novel. There is no padding, no waffle. It's straight to the nerve endings with this book that will manage to induce both fear and hope. With an appealing freshness and confident, unique voice, the author weaves a tale that will leave you eager for more.

 

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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Engaging, Character-Driven, Dystopian for Your Summer Reading List

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Title: Pipe Dreams
Author: Destiny Allison
Author’s Website: http://shapingdestinythebook.com/
Genre: Sci-Fi/Dystopia
ISBN-10 0615823742 (Kindle)
ISBN-13 978-0615823744 (Paperback)
5 Stars

Reviewed by Robyn Chausse


Due to bio warfare we are now under military control—a scary, yet common, dystopian scenario. But add some genetic engineering, an organized “underground”, spice it up with potential romance and stir with the manipulator of all manipulators and you have a novel that keeps the pages turning.

What I love about Pipe Dreams, and what frightens me the most, is the believable plot that could very well happen tomorrow. The story centers around current research into behavioral genetics, the identification of gene markers that scientists hope will help control or modify negative behavioral traits.

Allison keeps up the pace with plenty of plot twists and engaging dialog. She offers us a diverse cast of characters each with their own convictions and strives to illustrate “how our individual pursuit of dreams affects our collective reality.” She pulls us into the story with visually descriptive scenes conveying her character’s emotions as in this example where the main character encounters one of society’s outcasts:

“Something brushed her ankle. Jerking her leg away from whatever slithering thing had braved the morning, she slapped the pavement with her purse. Nothing moved and she dared a glance beneath her. Amidst dead and rotting leaves, an arm was barely visible. Vanessa startled, but did not scream. She didn’t need to rouse the callers from their dirty sleep. She just needed to leave. As she began to walk away, a tiny voice scratched out a noise that sounded horribly like, “Please.” Vanessa froze. In the silence that followed, there was no voice, no wind, no movement. The hushed world waited, as if everything would take its cue from her.”

Although listed as dystopian/science fiction, the current day placement of the story and character-driven focus makes this novel attractive to a broader range of readers.

This is Destiny Allison’s first novel, but it is her second book. Shaping Destiny, her memoir, was published in March of 2012.

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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Mary Fan Reviews New Science Fiction and Fantasy Novel

Title: Temple of the Sixth
Author: +Ross Harrison
Author's Website: www.ross-harrison.com
Genre: Science Fantasy
ISBN/ASIN: 978-1481164078 / B00ANSWQTM
Publisher: Self-Published (Kindle, Smashwords, Createspace)
Reviewer's Rating: 5 Stars 

 Reviewed by Mary Fan originally for her blog, Amazon, and Goodreads

"Thardriik Jhunassi Kortlyn III, better known as Theak, is an ex-military pilot seeking his fortune as a private investigator, so when he receives an anonymous note basically saying, "meet me at this space station, and you'll make vast amounts of money," he immediately jumps onto ship and zooms over. What he finds when he reaches the station is a massacre. The next thing he knows, he's pulled into an ancient conflict between godlike beings, forced to fight for the side of good when all he really wants is to get paid--and live to tell the tale. Meanwhile, in another part of the galaxy, Omar and Palitz, two City Guard secretaries, find their planet overrun by undead former citizens, surrounded by omens of the apocalypse.

Temple of the Sixth takes its conflict to a grand, end-of-the-universe scale. The stakes could not be higher. If this mysterious, ancient evil is not stopped, everything will cease to be. But why are these godlike beings so bent on destruction? What can a mere batch of mortals--not all of them heroes--do to stop them? Therein lies the epic conflict that keeps the pages turning.

Although it's classified as "science fiction" due to the nature of its universe--spaceships, aliens, robots, laser guns, and the like--Temple of the Sixth reads more like fantasy, reminiscent of some of the more world-ending story lines featured in comic books such as X-Men. Psychic powers, out-of-dimension locations, higher levels of existence, possession--all is fair game. Bit by bit, Harrison reveals the mythology behind his universe.

There's something satisfying about opening a sequel and hearing familiar voices, reentering a familiar space. Harrison's dry sense of humor illuminates the text with his unique style of storytelling. He once again shows off his strengths as a writer of thrilling action scenes and creator of immersive worlds. In Temple of the Sixth, he expands upon the concepts he set up in the first book and illustrates his universe from a different angle. It is really more of a spin-off to Shadow of the Wraith than a sequel. Travis Archer, the main character from the first book, doesn't show up until more than halfway through the book and plays a supporting role to his buddy Theak. Other characters, such as Juni, have only brief cameos (for those of you who are wondering--yes, Arkuun-Marl makes an appearance). As such, it can be read as a stand-alone novel even if one hasn't had a chance to read the first book yet.

In Temple of the Sixth, Harrison tells his story from multiple angles in a rather cinematic fashion. While Theak is the thread that ties the novel together, he doesn't drive the action--he reacts to it. Flashes to Omar and Palitz's struggles, to the small man trying to recruit agents for the side of good, and to the perspective of the godlike Sixth herself give the reader a panoramic view of the universe and its conflict. But despite all the noise surrounding him, Theak nevertheless shines through as a memorable and likable character. Confident, cavalier, and a tad ridiculous at times, he's not exactly the noble hero type and doesn't even take himself too seriously. Nevertheless, he does what's right, even if he's somewhat annoyed that he has to.

For those who read and enjoyed Shadow of the Wraith, Temple of the Sixth, while very different, is a welcome return to Harrison's world of starships and ancient conflicts, robots and fantastical powers. Harrison's writing is tighter and more understated than in his debut novel, and yet it retains its snarky sparkle. For those who haven't--and why haven't you?--the book stands on its own as a fascinating take on the age-old battle between Good and Evil. Clever, thrilling, and entertaining on all levels, Temple of the Sixth is a page-turning journey through a universe in chaos."

But the book in
Kindle & Paperback abd
Other E-Formats
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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor. As a courtesy to the author, please tweet and retweet this post using this little green retweet widget :

Ralph Zernoff Writes Self-Empowering Novel

Title: All-That-Is

Author: Raphael Zernoff
Genre: Inspirational/Self-Empowering Novel
ISBN 978-1-291-09787-0
KINDLE USA: http://www.amazon.com/ALL-THAT-IS-ebook/dp/B009M5OXBG
PAPERBACK: http://www.lulu.com/shop/raphael-zernoff/all-that-is/paperback/product-20443930.html

 

Synopsis 

The book presents a story of a young man Tnesdog (god-sent, spelling in reverse) who belongs to an ancient family, who treasures a secret knowledge about humanity.

The world is not what most of us have been taught about it, according to the storyline. In ancient times, there were many powerful and highly developed civilisations who emerged and disappeared leaving various pieces of information for posterity. The remote past of humanity explains where we come from, and what we are capable of.

Anaid (Diana in reverse) a descendent from the forgotten continent of Mu, and later Atlantis, identifies Tnesdog as the one who will embrace the knowledge of Ra and then hand it down to his fellow humans, who prefer to live in a new reality free of fear and limitation. While assimilating the information in the form of energy that expands one's consciousness, his life radically transforms from an average jaded life to an explosion of synchronicity surrounded by wealth and self-acceptance.

The approach to the crossing of the threshold of 2012 creates a perfect opportunity to share the knowledge of all-that-is with others. Tnesdog learns that it is the time of a splitting-prism. It means that now all human desires and preferences are being magnified. Hence, those embracing more joy in free expression, and other creative means, will experience even more of the same. Conversely, those who choose to stay in the lower energy will experience the passage of time in a magnified lower energy manner. Tensdog learns that everyone may choose in what fashion they prefer to cross the threshold year.

What the reader can find in this book is a point of view that emerges from a diverse myriad of other points of view. This is the royal way to illumination. Namely, the understanding that everything is a part of one the same existence. Therefore, all points of view are valid and once you know it, you may choose what you prefer without invalidating other perspectives that are not compatible with your preference in any given moment. The author encourages the reader not to believe in, and blindly accept anything that he says, or you might learn from the protagonist. Readers are encouraged to observe what works for Tnesdog, and to then see what works for them. If it brings bliss, happiness, wealth and an exciting adventure, it may be a good idea to follow it, if this is what one prefers. At the same time if the recipients feel that they are not ready for change, and they prefer to continue their lives full of suffering, problems and self-devaluation, it would not be taken away from them, because it is an equal choice they have made. It is up to them how they want to lead their lives.

ALL-THAT-IS by Raphael Zernoff, a new inspirational novel available on paperback&ebook
KINDLE UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/ALL-THAT-IS-ebook/dp/B009M5OXBG/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1349535075&sr=1-1

KINDLE USA: http://www.amazon.com/ALL-THAT-IS-ebook/dp/B009M5OXBG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1349535199&sr=8-1&keywords=Zernoff
PAPERBACK: http://www.lulu.com/shop/raphael-zernoff/all-that-is/paperback/product-20433372.html;jsessionid=1D6762A194CA69C8B3118B90DAD1AB16

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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor. As a courtesy to the author, please tweet and retweet this post using this little green retweet widget : Publisher: R.Z.

Reviewer Calls Reality of the Virtual a Must-Read

Title: The Reality of The Virtual
Sub-title: Presage
ISBN: 978-9881675118
Format: E-book and paperback
Publisher: Pebbles Publications
Publication/: End December, 2012
Launch Distribution: Amazon, Ingram, Lulu
Category: Alternative History/Sci-fi Novel
Author:Betsy Cheung
Amazon : http://tinyurl.com/9gyv2rf   
Review:
‘The Reality of The virtual’ is an edge-of the-seat-saga, which takes place between the real and the virtual. Cheung’s debut novel is packed with thrilling ideas about near-future technology. It has a balance of the believable and unbelievable that makes the plot seem very real. What’s more, it touches upon existential issues of human existence in the virtual.

The year is 2018. Nothing is what it seems and mis-information rules the Media. People are livid and riots abound surrounding a controversial new class system. Hugh van Santen is the Editor in Chief of a major newspaper reporting on the social turmoil. While governments go bankrupt, the grass roots are geared up to do community work and replace social welfare. Meanwhile Hugh relies on scoops to keep his newspaper afloat and recruits rogue reporter Sophie Chantal for his most ambitious and outrageous scoop to date. Sophie’s first assignment is to write a feature on the bicentennial birthday of a persona non gratis whose past doings wrecked havoc and caused the Cold War. She solicits the help of Sam, a computer scientist, who creates accurate simulations of humans down to their thoughts. Even before publication, the story is leaked and Sophie’s
feature becomes breaking news with explosive effect on the world and an
implosive effect on the news paper itself. It also alerts the CIA, who is after Sam’s simulation technology at all cost. To distract them, Sam designs a game called ‘Presage’ in which gamers and intelligence agents begin their race to find Sam’s secret in the reality of the virtual.

A crucial idea of this exciting boo is the conflict between the world, i.e. the totality of things work and the individual. The notion that the collective interest and wellbeing is suppressive of the individual interest and wellbeing is the same notion of why evolution and 'survival of the fittest' is necessary, but causes suffering and sacrifice of the individual animals and why the ‘have-nots’ suffer in a capitalist system. This book depicts what happens when a few individuals combine aspects of capitalism, collectivism, social media and technology to a new system and try to make the shortcomings of the previous systems right. The
problem they encounter is an old one: Although this new system makes a lot of sense to people, It is the human consciousness and the fundamental way in which it is taught to work when we are ‘socialized’ which prevent people from seeing the bigger picture in their actual life and stops them from walking the talk. With
intelligence and crazy imagination, the same idea and theme are reflected and reinforced in the sub plots.

The book is rich with intriguing, deep, believable characters, who reflect the different ways individuals are wired to be in or out of tune with the world. Some are totally stuck in their own way of looking at things like Mick Fallon, the spy. Some understand this and manipulate this to their own advantage like Otto Chantal, the CEO, Hugh can Santen, the editor in chief and Jim Hershel, the media baron. Some manipulate it to the advantage of society like Hal, a new breed of union leader while at the opposite ends of the spectrum you have idealists willing to sacrifice themselves like Thomas Pierson, the chairman of the

Alpha Federation and Sam Sheppard, the main protagonist and creator of the game Presage and Mindroids. And then, you have people, who study this phenomenon and find it all mighty interesting for a social-anthropological reason like the character of Dominique Sagresse, the Elvis among philosophers.

This book delves into the ethics and effects of a changed semi-virtual society in the near future. It gives us a fresh perspective upon the unrelenting human struggle in our continued attempts to wrench ourselves out of Sisyphus’ myth. Highlighting that our greatest enemy—the one, who causes the rock to tumble back to the bottom of the hill each and every time— is ourselves, this book revamps our hope that one day we may succeed. Don't miss this book if you like your mind and imagination challenged! This is truly a MUST READ!

~Author Jerry McGregor is an English teacher living in South-Asia who dapples in creative writing and loves books. His favorite writers are Fyodor Dostoevsky and Knut Hamsun, David Sedaris, Salman Rusdie.
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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor. As a courtesy to the author, please tweet and retweet this post using this little green retweet widget :

Time Machine Troopers

By Hal Colebatch
Sequel to H. G. Wells' The Time Machine.

Genre: Science fiction

ISBN: 978-1-4475-6091-3

Originally reviewed on Amazon

5 stars out of 5

Publisher: Acashic (2011)

Review

by Joy V. Smith

Time Machine Troopers by Hal Colebatch

I enjoyed Time Machine Troopers. It took up where H. G. Wells' book, The Time Mchine, left off. Actually, it delved deeper into the hero's mind as he worked his way through the despair of losing Weena and deciding to do something about the Morlocks and the Eloi. Choosing a companion was an interesting process as he considered such possibilites as Churchill, General Gordon, and even Wells. Major-General Baden-Powell, the Hero of Mafeking, was perfect. (He accomplished a lot later in his life also.) And deciding what supplies, including weapons, to take--being limited in space--was challenging. Baden-Powell helped a lot with that--and other things.

This story is a rousing adventure, while at the same time taking a look at history and choices with fascinating background and literary references. Fighting Morlocks and training Eloi wasn't easy. It's a good thing he had back-up. And some assumptions he had made turned out to be wrong... I can't say more and spoil your enjoyment of the story, but it is imaginative, well-written, full of twists and turns and setbacks and the carnage of war. Highly recommended. This is a classic. And one of the best sequels to any story I've ever read.

Check it out at:

 

Amazon.com: Time Machine Troopers (9781447560913): Hal Colebatch: Books

Joy V. Smith loves and writes science fiction. Some of her stories are collected in her latest e-book, The Doorway and Other Stories, available from Amazon Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007SV1FB2 . However, her upcoming novel, Detour Trail, is a story of the settling of the western frontier.

----- The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor. As a courtesy to the author, please tweet and retweet this post using this little green retweet widget :

Author and Blog Reviewer Loves Sci-Fi

Man-Kzin Wars XIII 
Man-Kzin Wars series
By Larry Niven
Note: The authors vary in each anthology

Available on Amazon  

Genre: Science fiction
ISBN: 978-1-4516-3816-5
Publisher: Baen (2012)

Reviewed by Joy V. Smith, originally for Amazon

5 stars out of 5

I liked all the stories, but Bound for the Promised Land, Tomcat Tactics, Pick of the Litter, and Misunderstanding (the quirkiest) were my favorites. This anthology is highly recommended. (It's rare when all the stories in an anthology are this good.)

Misunderstanding by Hal Colebatch & Jessica Q Fox is a fun story where the Kzin are befuddled by some strangely different aliens.

Two Types of Teeth by Jane Lindskold: I enjoy stories where Kzin and human work together to confound other Kzin or humans.

Pick of the Litter by Charles E. Gannon: Humans attempt to capture and raise and socialize Kzin kits... This premise caught my attention right away. Well executed.

Tomcat Tactics by Charles E. Gannon: A Wunderland (the planet) story. Humans fight back against Kzin occupying their planet. Another good premise, and I was happy to see another Wunderland story.

At the Gates by Alex Hernandez: Humans and Kzin inhabit a lost colony of Earth when a damaged Kzin ship appears above the planet. Suspenseful with a good payoff. (Hmm. I could have added this to my favorites, but I didn't want to include them all!)

Zeno's Roulette by David Bartell: A story involving the Puppeteers and a secret they use humans to retrieve. The Puppeteers aren't my favorite characters, but it was interesting to see them included in another anthology--and it was a puzzling mystery.

Bound for the Promised Land by Alex Hernandez: Bobcat, a tailess Kzin telepath, comes across an opportunity to escape his ship with a telepathic ARM agent hot on his trail.

About the reviewer: Joy V. Smith loves and writes science fiction. Some of her stories are collected in her latest e-book, The Doorway and Other Stories (available from Amazon Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007SV1FB2). However, her upcoming novel, Detour Trail, is a story of the settling of the western frontier.

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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor. As a courtesy to the author, please tweet and retweet this post using this little green retweet widget :

Nicole Zoltack Lauds Satisfying Sci-Fi Ending

Title: Mind Over Mind Author: Karina Fabian
Category: fantasy/science fiction
ISBN-13: 978-1897942369 (print) 1897942362 (e-book)
Format: Trade paperback, e-book
Publication Date: Aug 8, 2011
Pages: 314
Price: $19.95 US (print) $2.99 (e-book)
Available from: DragonMoon Press, http://dragonmoonpress.com  
More Info: www.fabianspace.com

Reviewed by Nicole Zoltack for her blog. 

This book was a refreshing read, both fantasy and science fiction or science fantasy. The blending of the two genres was well done, but the best part for me was the character Deryl Stephens. Strong yet unsure, Deryl learns not only how to control his powers, he also learns who exactly he is. Mind Over Mind is the first in a trilogy and a lot of times, the first book tends to just stop and not have a real ending. Mind Over Mind has a satisfying conclusion as it sets up the second book. Thank you, Karina, for a worthwhile and entertaining read.

~Learn more about the author at http://fabianspace.com, Books to challenge the mind, touch the heart, and tickle the funny bone.She also wrote  Live and Let Fly! Dragons, demigods and super-spies in a spoof that will make you laugh out loud! http://tinyurl.com/amazonllf.

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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor. As a courtesy to the author, please tweet and retweet this post using this little green retweet widget :

Utopian Frontiers: Useful Speculative Fiction

Title: Utopian Frontiers
Author – Drew Tapley
Author's website link – http://www.utopianfrontiers.com
Genre or category – Sci-Fi, Speculative fiction
ISBN-10: 1927005124
ISBN-13:978-1927005125

Welcome to the world of Utopian Frontiers, a fictional story about a secret, prototypical city located on the fringes of national parkland somewhere in the Americas. The city itself is the headquarters of a clandestine transnational research corporation dedicated to developing beneficial technologies in service to humanity. Please enter this unique research environment where alternative social/political/economic/technological options are explored in the interest of the future well-being of environmental and ultimately, human integrity.

Recent and emerging world events indicate a growing mass movement demanding solutions to increasingly disturbing trends that have spawned social unrest. People need and want real solutions to real problems that threaten the very systemic basis of the democracies that claim to support and protect the peace and (so called) freedom which generations before us fought to preserve. Yet the entertainment media, to a great extent, continues to deliver trivialized adventure sagas and doomsday scenarios, whereas the public is in need of messages that imply optimism and hope for the future of humanity, delivered in an edutainment format.

The relationship between humankind and technology, a main theme of Utopian Frontiers, explores the positive applications of technology as a tool in the service of social humanity. The inevitable conflict between vested interests and vying priorities, the dramatic tension that ensues as the impact of change upon people’s lives becomes manifest, and the message of hope for the future integration of technologies with the social imperative: these are the major underlying themes explored by Utopian Frontiers.

Join a vacationing family as they inadvertently stumble upon this futuristic city, and witness their struggles as they attempt to come to terms with the challenge of self- fulfillment and actualization, and ultimately the very survival of life as we know it.

This is a timely tale about a secret, evolving society that suggests change to the basic nature of our global culture may ultimately have to include the co-opting of if not a total break from the very institutions and values that spawned and currently nurture us.

Intended to provoke meaningful discussion regarding the current “human condition”, Utopian Frontiers will make you step outside of the box, expand the envelope of possibilities, and consider the very nature of our ways and why we must nurture the long journey to a better, more meaningful, inclusive way of life for one and all.

Please visit our website at www.utopianfrontiers.com and sample some of the music tracks on our EP Utopian Front while reading the book.

And consider this: Utopian Frontiers is about researching options that will help deliver humanity to a healthier state of being, but not all “investors” agree with priorities... Want to know more about the ultimate challenges that confront the community? Read the book, and enjoy, celebrate, embrace, protect life as we know it!

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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor. As a courtesy to the author, please tweet and retweet this post using this little green retweet widget :