In the third collection of Spacetrawler a band of liberated eebs are running amuck, seeking revenge against the galaxy that enslaved them by torching In the third collection of Spacetrawler a band of liberated eebs are running amuck, seeking revenge against the galaxy that enslaved them by torching entire planets with their powerful telekinesis. The six humans who were instrumental in freeing the eebs are faced with the choice of hiding out or trying to stop the genocidal rampage. Of course, with these humans, neither choice will go as planned......more
The fourth volume of The Chronicles of St. Mary's is rather dark. Like the previous books, the characters travel to various time periods and historicaThe fourth volume of The Chronicles of St. Mary's is rather dark. Like the previous books, the characters travel to various time periods and historical events. These jaunts are still narrated with a liberal dose of humor and snark. Ms. Taylor does her usual good job of spinning the tale. But this time, Max is not leading teams of historians to research the past. Instead she's on the run from the bad guys, which makes for a lot more pain and bloodshed. Philosophically, I can appreciate the reframing of a typical St. Mary's novel. But, alas, it wasn't as fun to read. ...more
This one's a time travel tale from 1956 that somehow I have never managed to read until now. It's set in the future, 1970. Dan Davis is an engineer whThis one's a time travel tale from 1956 that somehow I have never managed to read until now. It's set in the future, 1970. Dan Davis is an engineer who gets done wrong by his fiancée and his business partner. Through a series of events he ends up traveling to the future... via suspended animation. He awakes 30 years later in the future future, 2000 A.D. (This was before C.E. became the accepted nomenclature.) As Dan explores his new reality, he comes up with a plan to get his revenge. All in all it was a good read. What I found most enjoyable was reading Mr. Heinlein's vision of the futures that are now about 20 and 50 years in the past. But the story kept my attention as well. If you don't mind a bit of 1950s worldview, go ahead and check it out....more
In this volume, Mr. Abrams takes the unprecedented step of splitting up Riff and Torg. Riff has been transported to another dimension where he is trapIn this volume, Mr. Abrams takes the unprecedented step of splitting up Riff and Torg. Riff has been transported to another dimension where he is trapped in 4U City, a futuristic metropolis where everyone is happy. Said happiness is mandated by law and achieved by a combination of pharmaceuticals and weeding out of the sad. Riff, of course, begins to make his plans for escape. Meanwhile, back home, Torg gathers with Sasha, Bun-bun, Kiki, Sam, and Zombie Head on a Stick to work for the Minion Master. Together they work to eliminate the competing, super scientific, criminal organizations.
While I wasn't fond of the character split when the strips first came out, I do think it gave a kick in quality to the strip. The humor in the Minion Master strips evoke the spirit of the earlier strips in the series. And the unraveling plot in both storylines is enticing. I'll have to splurge on the next collection the next time I get an influx of cash. ...more
Book 18 of Sluggy Freelance. I think this one is my least favorite to date. The main storyline is pretty much just the gang sharing quarters in an apaBook 18 of Sluggy Freelance. I think this one is my least favorite to date. The main storyline is pretty much just the gang sharing quarters in an apartment with an excursion to a spirit dimension. There are plenty of interruptions: another Torg Potter parody ("The Giblets with Fiber"), Stick Figures in Space, Torg's "Gunman Stan McKurt" comics, and a variety of full page gags "from the Art Desk of Torg". (Hmmm, 'tis a very Torgy volume.) There's also a collection of Clay Yount's weekend strips. The best part, methinks, is the Years of Yarncraft story which tells of the gang's addiction to a MMORPG. It plays out with both strips within the game world and strips out in "reality". Anyway, the book has some laughs, but it definitely was not the best work Mr. Abrams has done. Still, it's worth checking out....more
Another novel, another war. sigh Maybe I need to see a therapist. Anyway, this one is the Trojan War, as observed by the time traveling crew of St. MaAnother novel, another war. sigh Maybe I need to see a therapist. Anyway, this one is the Trojan War, as observed by the time traveling crew of St. Mary's Institute of Historical Research. Oh, actually, a couple of them also visit the Battle of Agincourt. So you could say, "another two wars". Then again, they're not really fighting. I mean, there's death and injury, but the protagonists are only observing the fight. So I guess I'll stick to my original intro.
The crew also make other jaunts, as in the other St. Mary's books. Following the pattern some are tragic, like the wars, and others are just silly. And through it all are personal dramas--moments of love, friendship, smiles, and aggravation. Check it out....more
I recently listened to a podcast about the TV series The Expanse, and decided I needed to check it out. But, of course, I opted to check out the origiI recently listened to a podcast about the TV series The Expanse, and decided I needed to check it out. But, of course, I opted to check out the original novels instead of the adaption. Leviathan Wakes is set in the future when humanity has colonized the solar system. There are three main groups: Earth, Mars, and the Belt, which is the loose confederation of settlements on various asteroids and moons. The belters and inyawolda don't really like each other much, but they manage to work together. At least until the crew of the Canterbury discover a wrecked ship that holds a secret that could plunge the system into war.
The book has received a lot of praise, but I can't quite cheer as loud for it. It was an enjoyable read, but I didn't find the characters as compelling as other blockbuster series. What I really appreciated was the milieu of the story. The authors filled the book with all those geeky technical details which delights my inner scientist. (or rather, inner science-fictionist) The plot is interesting in that it got me wondering how things were going to get resolved, but I found it relatively easy to put down at bedtime. I have no doubt I'll someday pick up the next book in the series, but I'm not heading to the library just yet....more
This one's a collection of science fiction stories from the late 1930s and early 1940s. The stories range range from a wacky tale of a drunk inventor This one's a collection of science fiction stories from the late 1930s and early 1940s. The stories range range from a wacky tale of a drunk inventor and a narcissistic robot to the classic "Nightfall" by Isaac Asimov. Since I already have "Nightfall" in other collections, I'd have to rate this one as great waiting room material....more
My wife has been reading through some of the classics in our library, and recently she offered her opinions about some of H.G. Wells' works. I realizeMy wife has been reading through some of the classics in our library, and recently she offered her opinions about some of H.G. Wells' works. I realized that it's been decades since I've read this book and figured that needed to be remedied.
The Time Machine is one of the first time travel stories to use a mechanism to travel through time. The story starts with the protagonist, known only as "The Time Traveller", telling about his experiments to a group of friends. They all think he's hoaxing them, of course. At least until the next week when the friends come around for another dinner and find the Time Traveller bruised and disheveled. He shares with them a tale of a journey to the far future.
Like I said, it's been years since I read the story. The fact that I've forgotten a lot of it and that I've matured since then made it seem like I was reading a brand new book. It was far from the most exciting time travel story I've read, but I figured that it was probably a bit more "realistic" than most of the tales I've read. The story moves rather quickly for all that. Mr. Wells' characters are somewhat weak, but I had no problems visualizing his settings. Even if this tale wasn't a classic, I'd recommend y'all to check it out....more
This one's a sequel to Just One Damned Thing After Another. The first sequel, actually, because there's a whole series of these things. In this very aThis one's a sequel to Just One Damned Thing After Another. The first sequel, actually, because there's a whole series of these things. In this very amusing account, the gang at St. Mary's deal with Jack the Ripper, a kidnapped team member, a suspicious psychiatrist, trespassing in a royal garden, and a criminal who hasn't committed his crime yet. I enjoyed it immensely, though I was a bit troubled to realize I had forgotten a lot of details of the previous book after a mere seven months. Oh, well, I still remember enough about this tome to advise you to check it out....more
I think I'll have to get a copy of this one for my shelf. I own numerous* time travel novels--either tales of time agents who make trip after trip to I think I'll have to get a copy of this one for my shelf. I own numerous* time travel novels--either tales of time agents who make trip after trip to the past to fix the timeline or stories of capers through time where an individual or group work to change history for the better. (Better being a matter of opinion, of course.) Ms. Taylor's story, however, fits neither category. Just One Damned Thing After Another introduces the St. Mary's Institute of Historical Research a group that simply travels to the past to gather data first hand. Well, at least that's the plan. This story follows St. Mary's newest recruit, historian Madeline Maxwell. "Max" seems to be a magnet for trouble and, while she fits in well with the other misfits of St. Mary's, she does seem to be in the center of events that shake things up for the Institute. Hijinks ensue, peppered with humor, adventure, and romance. It's a fun read. ___ *75, according to my LibraryThing tags. But that also includes short story collections and graphic novels....more
Space zombies! Well, okay, maybe not what you're thinking. This book doesn't tell about a cosmic invasion of flesh eating, ambulatory corpses. It's acSpace zombies! Well, okay, maybe not what you're thinking. This book doesn't tell about a cosmic invasion of flesh eating, ambulatory corpses. It's actually a bit more pedestrian--a bit closer to the original concept of a zombie.
In the far future, humanity has reached the stars and has done what humanity does best: conquered it. The galactic empire is known as the Radch. The Radch conquers planets, in part, by using undead soldiers called ancillaries. These are conquered people who are killed, and then reanimated by the massive artificial intelligences that run Radch ships and space stations. Each ancillary is an extension of the central A.I., tending to the duties assigned by the human crew. A particular ancillary may serve as an invading soldiers, occupying troops, administrative assistants, or janitorial staff. But each ancillary is constantly connected to and perceives itself as the central A.I. Well, at least until the network breaks down and each ancillary has to fend for itself.
That's what happened to ancillary One Esk 19 of the ship Justice of Toren. As the story opens, she is on a personal mission on a backward planet on the border of Radch territory. How an ancillary came to have a personal mission and what that mission is is slowly revealed as the story jumps back and forth between the present and events that occurred 20 years before. Ms. Leckie did a very good job of using that method to draw me into the tale while building the world (galaxy?) in which it occurs....more
This one's a sequel to After the Golden Age. Years have passed since that adventure. Celia West is now married, the president of West Corp, and the moThis one's a sequel to After the Golden Age. Years have passed since that adventure. Celia West is now married, the president of West Corp, and the mother of two teenage daughters. Her eldest, Anna, is acting moody and secretive. Is it just plain adolescence? Or has Anna developed super powers and a compulsion to don a costume and fight crime? After all, it does run in her family...
Overall, the book was pleasant to read. But, like most sequels, it doesn't quite live up to the original....more
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both... -Robert Frost
A lot of people wonder about "the road not taken"--speculating wTwo roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both... -Robert Frost
A lot of people wonder about "the road not taken"--speculating what their life would be like if they had only made different choices. Well, you can't go backwards in life. But what if you could go sideways? If you couldn't turn around on the road of life, what if you could turn onto a side street and get over to that "road not taken"?
That's the premise of Dark Matter. Jason Dessen gets to see what his life would have been like if only he had given a higher priority to his research. Well, gets is probably not the right word. You see, Jason is kidnapped, taken to, and dumped onto "the road not taken." The story, then, is what he discovers about his alternate life and his attempts to get back onto the right "road".
Y'know, years back I had a very similar story idea. Of course, my version of this concept was nowhere near as developed or interesting as Mr. Crouch's tale. His story is much more entertaining, filled with well rounded, relatable characters. He puts them through a journey that's poignant and thrilling....more
On one level, this book is a tale of a multi-generational starship that is essentially a slave plantation in space. On another, it's a tale of people On one level, this book is a tale of a multi-generational starship that is essentially a slave plantation in space. On another, it's a tale of people who don't conform to society's norms, showing how they make their way through a confining culture, enduring the pressures to fit into the roles defined for them. It took me a little while to get into the story, but once I did I found it compelling. The main character is Astra, a healer from the lower decks. When she's not laboring in the field decks or stuck in her quarters under curfew, she's usually doing research in her botanarium. But the mysteries that really occupy her thoughts are the mystery of her mother's madness and eventual death years ago, and the mystery of her relationships with the people in her life. Check it out....more
Book three in the Time Wars series, intertwined with the events of The Scarlet Pimpernel. The story is enjoyable, but this entry in the series sees thBook three in the Time Wars series, intertwined with the events of The Scarlet Pimpernel. The story is enjoyable, but this entry in the series sees things fall into more of a formula. There's no real surprise in the team of time commandos and while the tale starts off as a "simple" historical adjustment (fixing a historical change caused by another time traveler), there is once again an adversary with the same high tech as the good guys. A bit of a let down from the previous two volumes, but it's still enjoyable and has a few surprises. Check it out. ...more
In the debate between Star Wars and Star Trek, I'm definitely a Trekker. While I enjoyed the original trilogy, I never really got into Star Wars fandoIn the debate between Star Wars and Star Trek, I'm definitely a Trekker. While I enjoyed the original trilogy, I never really got into Star Wars fandom or it's expanded universe. In fact, in the 43 years since the original came out, I've only read one other Star Wars novel. Bloodline is set about six years before the film The Force Awakens It's a tale of political conflict in the New Republic as experienced by Senator Leia Organa. The Empire was defeated years ago, but the next generation seems to have forgotten the lessons of history. But there's also some adventure. Princess Leia, of course, is not going to grow old and boring. The book kind of serves as a prequel to The Force Awakens, but I enjoyed it more as a stand alone book and didn't think too much about continuity....more
Book 17 of the Sluggy Freelance collection. The bulk of this collection deals with Torg and Aylee's jaunt in another dimension where the earth has beeBook 17 of the Sluggy Freelance collection. The bulk of this collection deals with Torg and Aylee's jaunt in another dimension where the earth has been taken over by hordes of ghouls. There's also strips dealing with zombies on this earth, as well as developments in the evil HeretiCorp. This collection's not as laugh-out-loud-funny as some of the previous books, but it's still good stuff....more
This one surprised me. That Hideous Strength is part of a science fiction trilogy with a Christian worldview, the third volume after Out of the SilentThis one surprised me. That Hideous Strength is part of a science fiction trilogy with a Christian worldview, the third volume after Out of the Silent Planet and Perelandra. I thought it would be like the other two: part planetary travelogue, part philosophical adventure. (A philosophical adventure is one where the plot of the story is a backdrop for the characters to spout a bit of philosophy. It sells better than just having the characters sit in a bar, coffee shop, college dorm, or what have you and engage in the same discussion.) Instead, the story takes place on Earth. The science fiction aspects are relatively minor for most of the book, and instead we're treated to diabolical intrigue and low level suspense. I was also slightly surprised at how the story unwound. The first two novels hinted that they were headed toward the ultimate conflict between good and evil on Earth. If anyone has read the book of Revelation in the Bible, you know that that will involve a great deal of conflict and destruction. Ultimately, That Hideous Strength is simply another battle in the war and the planet is left pretty much untouched, save for the characters in the book. But even if my assumed expectations weren't met, the book is extremely satisfying. Lewis is a great writer and can bring a much needed touch of the divine to those of us raised in materialistic 20th Century Western culture. (Our culture has moved away from that, so in that respect, the book is starting to show it's age.) I especially loved how he illustrates God's power made perfect in weakness. Despite the Arthurian overtones, our heroes are not strong, valiant warriors. They win the day by the grace of God. Isn't that true for any of us? Anyway, this one's on my shelf....more
Aurora is the story of the starship Aurora, launched from Earth to colonize the solar system of Tau Ceti. The colonists are descendants of the originaAurora is the story of the starship Aurora, launched from Earth to colonize the solar system of Tau Ceti. The colonists are descendants of the original ship's complement, the fifth or so generation born on the journey. The ship itself contains a number of artificial biomes, which replicate various regions of Earth, to carry a representation of other flora and fauna. There have been challenges along the way, but now the end of the journey is in sight.
Typically, a story like this would tell the straightforward tale of either the challenging journey, or the tale of the colonization of the planet. Mr. Robinson doesn't stick to so simple of a narrative. He recounts at least four "adventures" of the crew on the Aurora, along with personal stories of individual characters. His settings and characters are rich. While the book isn't a fast paced thriller, I still found myself eager to discover what would happen next....more
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