This novel is a beautifully complex peek at what our robot-laden future might hold. Unfortunately, it is flawed in presentation, which reduces the enjoyment of the read. My first problem is imperfect grammar and punctuation. Readers interested in this advanced style of writing are also aware when “lie, lay and laid” are mixed up. They […]
“Dancer on the Ceiling: More Darkly Humorous Tales” by Mark Nutter
This is a book of creative comedy, mainly based on opposites. Think of an idea that our society holds dear, and Mark will come up with a completely illogical reason to believe the opposite. The story on Reverse Psychology is perhaps the quintessential tale of opposites, except Mark always has to go one step further […]
”Radical Encounter” by William Kaufmann
There are no fixed rules about writing books, but some guidelines work because…well, they work. And one of the normally accepted guidelines is that main characters have to be instigators. They act. They do not allow themselves to be acted upon. And it is only when an author breaks this rule that we understand why […]
“Up, Up and Away” by Vance Huxley
I have reviewed several of Vance Huxley’s books, and I am always impressed by the breadth of his creativity. However, I have also had occasion to call attention to certain slips in the area of writing form. So, while I enjoyed this book immensely, it is my duty to inform other readers to be prepared […]
“Eye of Ksera” by Sedigitus Swift
This Fantasy novel is a good story with the unfortunate addition of a certain amount of extraneous material that adds something to the overall atmosphere of the setting but pulls the reader’s attention away from the action. I sometimes find this situation in academic writers who don’t realize how much footnoting and interesting sidebars get […]
“The Doorway: Blue Mind Book 1” by Jesse L. Watson
The depth of our belief in the fantasy world of any story is guided by the belief of the main character. The traditional Fantasy character approaches the new world with wide-eyed wonder, and we respond with the same, but with a superior “Isn’t this fun?” attitude. In “Missing Persons” we see Fantasy from the point […]
“Sidus, the First of His Kind” by Dan Sugralinov
This book is Action-Adventure Sci-Fi influenced by digital battle games. As such, it contains careful attention to details of mechanics, science, and weaponry, and less attention to individuality of character. In fact, there is even a little too much time spent on people in the prologue, a flashback where none of the characters neatly revealed […]
“The Kimoni Legacy Book 1: Initiation” by Omari Richards
This is the most epic Fantasy I have read in a long time. Cecil B. DeMille would have a field day making it a film. It is a story of magical and political manipulation occurring in a complex, barbarous world based on ancient times in Sub-Saharan Africa. The physical and social settings benefit from rich […]
“Nine Stray Shots” by Jesus Miguel Soto
Let me start by stating that I am not a big fan of modern short literature. Often the creativity of the writer comes first; communication and connection to the readers come a poor second. This book of short stories blows that all out of the water. The standout quality of this volume is a deeply […]
“The Precipice” by Shawn Inmon
One of the criteria when judging a post-apocalypse novel is how much thought the author has put into the veracity of the fall of civilization, and the logic of what happens next. Mr. Inmon excels at this aspect of the genre, perhaps to a fault. But more on that later. The opening mob scene plays […]