Containment by Christian Cantrell. 47 North. 297 pages. In Rough Writers, the student-led creative writing club at our University that meets every week, there’s an ongoing friction between the fantasy writers and those who are into science fiction. Often the discussion is about magic versus science, but really I think a lot of the conflict … More Review: “Containment” by Christian Cantrell
Neighbors: The Destruction of the Jewish Community in Jedwabne, Poland, by Jan T. Gross. Princeton University Press. 261 pages. Whenever I teach my Persuasion class at Southwestern Adventist University, I start it off by showing a very old film that was an after-school TV special in the 80s called “The Wave.” It’s based on what … More Review: “Neighbors” by Jan T. Gross
Deepsix by Jack McDevitt. Eos Books, 426 pages. It’s great when you can find an author who can write a really good book. It’s wonderful when you buy a second book from that same author and find it better than the first one. I’m hooked on Jack McDevitt. Jack McDevitt writes hard science fiction. But … More Review: “Deepsix” by Jack McDevitt
Life & Death by Celeste Perrino-Walker. Farenorth Press. 252 pages. I decided early on when I started this blog that I was going to be completely honest with anyone who was willing to take the time to read my scribblings. So at the very beginning I have to say that I have a vest interest … More Review: “Life and Death” by Celeste Perrino-Walker
Recon (The Fringe) (Volume 1) by Tarah Benner. 296 pages. CreateSpace. I had such high hopes for this dystopian story. The reviews have been stellar, the author has quite a few credits to her name, and the concept was pretty good too. But I was sorely disappointed. In a nutshell, the story is Wool meets … More Review: “Recon” by Tarah Benner
The Engines of God by Jack McDevitt. Ace Science Fiction. 419 pages. I loves me a good hard science fiction book. Jack McDevitt delivers here. The story is set in the year 2203. Earth is struggling with overpopulation, its natural resources are pretty well depleted, the effects of global warming have set in, and scientists … More Review: “The Engines of God” by Jack McDevitt
Quantico by Greg Bear. Vanguard Press. 327 pages. I know Greg Bear from his excellent science fiction books such as The Forge of God and Darwin’s Radio. And when I read on the dust jacket words such as “a near-future thriller,” it led me to believe that what I was getting was a semi-futuristic FBI … More Review: “Quantico” by Greg Bear
Flashback by Dan Simmons. Back Bay Books. 550 pages. This book is almost perfect. Almost. I love the way Simmons paints a not-too-distant America that’s been destroyed in the shadow of Flashback, a new and powerful drug that grants its user perfect recall of any memory you desire. As you can imagine, such a drug … More Review: “Flashback” by Dan Simmons
Tesla: Master of Lightning by Margaret Cheney and Robert Uth. 184 pages. Metro Books. I’m stuck in the preparatory part of writing a book when you’re still gathering intel, still absorbing ideas and piecing together bits of inspiration that you hope will one day turn into something worthwhile. And while my story is, in the … More Review: “Tesla: Master of Lightning” by Cheney and Uth
Mercs: Crimson Worlds Successors (Volume 1) by Jay Allan. 286 pages. System 7 Publishing. I’ve been a good boy lately and been reading books that most people would consider socially edifying. But once in a while I have to eat a little ice cream along with my vegetables, in this case, military science fiction. Jay … More Review: “Mercs: Crimson Worlds Successors I” by Jay Allan
