This is the second book of a serial, which picks up with a new chapter in the main character’s life and ends with a cliff-hanger and few conflicts resolved. It is one of those unfortunate stories where the author has done an incredible amount of creative world-building in setting, mythology, and society, but then feels […]
“Six Moons, Seven Gods” by Robert A. Walker
I really enjoyed this book, but one comment occurred to me early in my reading, so it takes precedence in my review as well. Someone ought to make a rule and engrave it on the pedestal of Calliope, the muse of poets and writers. “Don’t make readers spend too much time with unpleasant people.” This […]
“The Waking Nightmares” by M. D. Boncher
This story is an interesting combination of genres. It is far-in-the-future Sci-Fi with incredibly powerful science — perhaps too powerful, but more on that later. The hero, Winston, is a standard poor-but-independent Space Opera pilot, but his employer, Professor/Baron Quentin, is an aristocrat/adventurer straight out of Steampunk. The secondary characters are purposefully developed stereotypes from […]
“A Tree Becomes a Room” by J. P. White
It is a pleasure to read an artist who realizes that poetry is as much about what you don’t say as about what you choose to put on the page. One key connection between the poet and the reader is the mutual understanding of the understated. Poets are playing a game with us. How much […]
“Changemaker: Over 40 tried and tested ways to change the world,” by Ayesha S. Ratnayake
This book is meant for those interested in creating a better world, giving us the motivation and the tools to get down to work. I have reviewed Ms. Ratnayake before, and I find her suggestions useful: full of practical ideas supported by examples. This author is up to date on modern tech and social media, […]
“ARC” by M. E. Lange
This is a book created by an expert writer of Nonfiction who has little idea how a novel should be structured. The result is a tip of the hat to Apocalyptic Sci-fi, but the reality is a fascinating textbook on up-to-date advances in the ecological sciences. It is also a great character study of a […]
“Cartel Incorporated: The Ballad of James Layne” by Jeff Laschuck
I have given this novel a high rating, not because it is deathless literature, but because it delivers exactly what it promises. It is aimed at young male readers interested in violent and antisocial digital games like “Grand Theft Auto.” However, it doesn’t fall into the trap of trying to mimic a game. This is […]
“The work of Restless Nights” by M. Weald
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 […]