Since the author’s pen name means “writing” in Latin, we can be sure that’s what the book is all about. And therein lies a problem. There is a tiny subgenre of the Fantasy book world that is peopled by scholars and nerds who just love this sort of thing. Unfortunately, most of that same little […]
Hell, Yeah! We’re the Baddies!” by Victor Tango Kilo
Novelists always have an objective in mind: an idea to teach us, called their theme. But nobody listens to a philosophical rant, so writers attract our attention with a striking cover and entertain us with interesting characters, conflict and suspense, all the while demonstrating the theme they want us to learn. Sort of like watching […]
“The Pulse Between Us” by B. K. Brown
This is a Sci-Fi Romance story. As the title leads us to expect, the science part of it revolves around mental interconnection, and this leads to a few passionate scenes. However, they concentrate on the emotions in a tasteful way, a pleasant departure from the anatomically correct orgasm recitals many Romance writers deem essential. The […]
“The Umbra Signal” by David Williams
This novel is about the conspiracy theory to end all conspiracy theories. What if there really was a secret cabal controlling the world, but they lost control of the system, and it started controlling its creators? The only chance humans have to hold onto their past is wild-card unpredictable creativity. And the computer is rewriting […]
“Alien Fugitive Requires Mechanic” by Vance Huxley
One of the fun parts about Science Fiction is watching the author create a technology and society that is beyond ours, manipulating the situation and including details that help us believe that it really might work. This requires the author to do a great deal of planning to make sure it all fits. Then the […]
“Clara and the Orbus Girl” by M. Pagot
This book is Multiple Universe Sci-Fi for the Young Adult market, which is handled quite well, with one exception I will discuss later. Clara, the main character, is quite typical of the genre: an orphan (in this case well off,) and a bit of a geek who just doesn’t fit in with her world. So, […]
“A Marine’s Path” by Kirk Richardson
This is an interesting novel to review, because it is an almost-perfect example of the Military Action genre. Except for the technical level of the weaponry, this story could have been written about the Marine Corps in any conflict since WWII. The enemy soldiers even carry ceremonial (and deadly) swords. And how many books or […]
“After the Before” by Ernie Gammage
This is a straightforward Post-Apocalyptic novel, billed for 18+ readership, but I think the simplicity of the plotline and the light scientific content could also appeal to a younger crowd. The science involves an earth about a hundred years after a World War. The setting is a bare plain pockmarked with craters. The heroes are […]
“My Twelve-Year-Old Wife” by Dan Uselton
Every Fantasy book is based on a nonreal world. That’s the name of the game. It requires suspension of disbelief on the part of readers. “If this was true, then all the rest of the story would be logical.” This goes double for Time Travel stories. Most authors try desperately to make it all work […]
“Nightmare on Scuttler Island” by Chris von Halle
This is a YA Dystopian Fantasy that starts with children dumped into an abandoned setting, but soon takes a dark turn into “Lord of the Flies.” The basic premise is a bit of a stretch, but this is YA Fantasy, after all. The science element is downplayed, a wise choice in this case. The practicalities […]