Science Fiction came out of my Mixed Book Bag Today
Sylvia Engdahl wrote and published six young adult novels between 1971 and 1980. I read all six and always felt they could be listed as adult as well as young adult. After 1980 she went off to make a living and nothing was heard from her until Stewards of the Flame her first new book in over 20 years. It is also her first book listed as adult science fiction. The book received very excellent reviews and I purchased it shortly after it was released. It stayed on my too be read pile because after reading the reviews I was afraid that the book was very grim and depressing. The book is set on Undine a planet where medical treatment is carried to the extreme. People's bodies are not allowed to die. The premise sounds grim and depressing but the book is not. The story deserves all of the rave reviews it received.
Sylvia Engdahl self-published the book. In her notes at the back of the book she explained that it just did not fit any of the publishers categories. I think any publisher who turned the book down was the loser. We, the readers, would have lost if the story had never been released. Medical treatment taken to the extreme is a current and future concern. Be sure to read Stewards of the Flame.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Friday, January 30, 2009
On What Grounds by Cleo Coyle
A Mystery came out of my Mixed Book Bag Today
On What Grounds by Cleo Coyle is the first book in the Coffehouse mystery series. Published by Berkley in 2003 the book is part of the Prime Crime Mystery group. Clare Cosi has come back to manage the Village Blend Coffeehouse in Greenwich Village after many years away. Part of the deal to get her back is the use of a rent-free apartment above the coffeeshop. On the day she finishes moving into the apartment she finds one of her employees barely alive at the bottom of the basement stairs. While Clare is the main protagonist in the book she is supported by two male protagonist. One is a police homicide detective and the other is her ex-husband. In addition to the mystery On What Grounds is filled with facts about coffee. I learned about different types of coffee, how to make specialty coffee drinks and where to buy the best coffee for each drink. There are directions and recipes for the coffee drinks published in the back of the book. On What Grounds introduces the main characters and their relationship. It will be interesting to see how everything plays between the main characters out in future books. If you are looking for a enjoyable read try On What Grounds.
Cleo Coyle is the pen name for Alice Alfonsi, who writes with her husband, Marc Cerasini.
On What Grounds by Cleo Coyle is the first book in the Coffehouse mystery series. Published by Berkley in 2003 the book is part of the Prime Crime Mystery group. Clare Cosi has come back to manage the Village Blend Coffeehouse in Greenwich Village after many years away. Part of the deal to get her back is the use of a rent-free apartment above the coffeeshop. On the day she finishes moving into the apartment she finds one of her employees barely alive at the bottom of the basement stairs. While Clare is the main protagonist in the book she is supported by two male protagonist. One is a police homicide detective and the other is her ex-husband. In addition to the mystery On What Grounds is filled with facts about coffee. I learned about different types of coffee, how to make specialty coffee drinks and where to buy the best coffee for each drink. There are directions and recipes for the coffee drinks published in the back of the book. On What Grounds introduces the main characters and their relationship. It will be interesting to see how everything plays between the main characters out in future books. If you are looking for a enjoyable read try On What Grounds.
Cleo Coyle is the pen name for Alice Alfonsi, who writes with her husband, Marc Cerasini.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Back Home
I am back home for a week. My Mother is home but is still weak. I have been there for two weeks will be home for a week and then go back for two weeks. When I go back I will have internet access at her house. My oldest son has a wi-fi card from Cricket and is going to let me use it while I there. I will be posting new reviews again.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Old Man's War by John Scalzi
Military Science Fiction
“I did two things on my seventy-fifth birthday. I visited my wife’s grave. Then I joined the army.” So starts Old Man’s War published by Tor, a different kind of military science fiction. The book tells the story of John Perry and those are his words. The Earth of Perry’s time was the source of colonist for new planets (all from overcrowded third world countries) and soldiers for the Colonial Defense Force (all from the industrialized nations). If you signed up for the Colonial Defense Force all you knew was that you would leave Earth never to return, you would have to fight, and you would be made young again. People on Earth knew very little about what happened outside of their planet. The Colonial Union had become the voice for humans in space and the Colonial Defense Force was the army to enforce and protect the Colonial Unions’ policies and colonies. One of the Colonial Union’s policies was to keep Earth in the dark. This is the theme and the main conflict in this gripping series of stories. When you start with John’s story in Old Man's War you don’t see this as the main theme. By the end of The Last Colony, everything falls in place. Old Man’s War is a great stand-alone story. The book is filled with surprises. Old Man’s War starts as a military story and near the end you find it is also a love story. If you read the entire series it becomes humanity’s story and Earth’s story. The military part of the story becomes less important and the human aspect takes over. There are many surprises before the story arc in the three books ends where it began, at John’s wife’s grave. John Scalzi in Old Man’s War has written a must read for those of us who love Military Science Fiction.
The three books in the series are:
The Old Man’s War, 2007
The Ghost Brigade, 2007
The Last Colony, 2008
“I did two things on my seventy-fifth birthday. I visited my wife’s grave. Then I joined the army.” So starts Old Man’s War published by Tor, a different kind of military science fiction. The book tells the story of John Perry and those are his words. The Earth of Perry’s time was the source of colonist for new planets (all from overcrowded third world countries) and soldiers for the Colonial Defense Force (all from the industrialized nations). If you signed up for the Colonial Defense Force all you knew was that you would leave Earth never to return, you would have to fight, and you would be made young again. People on Earth knew very little about what happened outside of their planet. The Colonial Union had become the voice for humans in space and the Colonial Defense Force was the army to enforce and protect the Colonial Unions’ policies and colonies. One of the Colonial Union’s policies was to keep Earth in the dark. This is the theme and the main conflict in this gripping series of stories. When you start with John’s story in Old Man's War you don’t see this as the main theme. By the end of The Last Colony, everything falls in place. Old Man’s War is a great stand-alone story. The book is filled with surprises. Old Man’s War starts as a military story and near the end you find it is also a love story. If you read the entire series it becomes humanity’s story and Earth’s story. The military part of the story becomes less important and the human aspect takes over. There are many surprises before the story arc in the three books ends where it began, at John’s wife’s grave. John Scalzi in Old Man’s War has written a must read for those of us who love Military Science Fiction.
The three books in the series are:
The Old Man’s War, 2007
The Ghost Brigade, 2007
The Last Colony, 2008
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Dark Light by Jayne Castle
Paranormal Romance
Dark Light published by Jove is the latest in Jayne Castle’s Ghost Hunter Series. Jayne Castle is a pen name for Jayne Ann Krentz. So far there have been 6 books in the series. Dark Light continues the story of a group of Earth colonist who settled Harmony when the Curtain (a vast energy field) appeared. The Curtain allowed interstellar travel. Thousands left Earth to settle new planets bringing with them all the comforts of home. Trade between Earth and the new planets allowed the settlers to continue a very comfortable lifestyle. Then just as the Curtain appeared it vanished, leaving the settlers of Harmony on their own. They had to adjust to a new way of life. Old technology did not work and the new technology was based on the fact that Harmony had been settled before. The former settlers vanished leaving behind only ruins and amber. Amber caused new skills to appear among the settlers. Some people could resonate with amber and that became the basis of the new technology. But the former residents of Harmony also left behind ghosts and traps. Ghost hunters appeared and thus the basis for this series of stories. Each story is filled with adventure, conflict and of course love. But love never comes easy, nor is it recognized at first. Dark Light is the story of Reporter Sierra McIntyre and Ghost Hunter Guild boss John Fontana. They come from two very different backgrounds. Working together they generate some resonance of their own. And what Harmony story would be complete without a dust bunny. Elvis, Sierra’s dust bunny, has his own role to play. If you are a fan of this series, enjoy. If you have never read any of Jayne Castle’s Harmony books, start here. You will be searching for the other five. Dark Light is a great addition to the Ghost Hunter Series.
The books in the Ghost Hunter Series are:
After Dark, 2000
Harmony 2002
After Glow 2004
Ghost Hunter 2006
Silver Master 2007
Dark Light 2008
Dark Light published by Jove is the latest in Jayne Castle’s Ghost Hunter Series. Jayne Castle is a pen name for Jayne Ann Krentz. So far there have been 6 books in the series. Dark Light continues the story of a group of Earth colonist who settled Harmony when the Curtain (a vast energy field) appeared. The Curtain allowed interstellar travel. Thousands left Earth to settle new planets bringing with them all the comforts of home. Trade between Earth and the new planets allowed the settlers to continue a very comfortable lifestyle. Then just as the Curtain appeared it vanished, leaving the settlers of Harmony on their own. They had to adjust to a new way of life. Old technology did not work and the new technology was based on the fact that Harmony had been settled before. The former settlers vanished leaving behind only ruins and amber. Amber caused new skills to appear among the settlers. Some people could resonate with amber and that became the basis of the new technology. But the former residents of Harmony also left behind ghosts and traps. Ghost hunters appeared and thus the basis for this series of stories. Each story is filled with adventure, conflict and of course love. But love never comes easy, nor is it recognized at first. Dark Light is the story of Reporter Sierra McIntyre and Ghost Hunter Guild boss John Fontana. They come from two very different backgrounds. Working together they generate some resonance of their own. And what Harmony story would be complete without a dust bunny. Elvis, Sierra’s dust bunny, has his own role to play. If you are a fan of this series, enjoy. If you have never read any of Jayne Castle’s Harmony books, start here. You will be searching for the other five. Dark Light is a great addition to the Ghost Hunter Series.
The books in the Ghost Hunter Series are:
After Dark, 2000
Harmony 2002
After Glow 2004
Ghost Hunter 2006
Silver Master 2007
Dark Light 2008
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
The Prize by Debra Doggett
Science Fiction Romance
How many times have you heard “It is not the destination, it is the journey”. You know the destination when you start The Prize. It is the journey that grabs your attention. Debra Doggett has written a beautifully paced book with the right amount of tension between Cardis and Stellan . Stellan is a native of a backward planet where the spaceship Cardis is traveling on crashes. Using a tradition from Cardis's planet Stellan has three days to convince her take him as her lifetime mate. If he fails he is killed or sold into slavery. The premise is not new but the author gives it fresh new life. Both characters have issues that keep their journey interesting. I saw one place where I wondered when the characters changed locations and one where the time line did not seem correct. These were minor flaws that did not change how I felt about the book. I hated for the book to end and I hope this is just the first book Debra Dogget publishes. The book is published by Wild Rose Press and is available in hard cover and as an e-book. You can purchase this at Fictionwise, Amazon, and Wild Rose Press.
How many times have you heard “It is not the destination, it is the journey”. You know the destination when you start The Prize. It is the journey that grabs your attention. Debra Doggett has written a beautifully paced book with the right amount of tension between Cardis and Stellan . Stellan is a native of a backward planet where the spaceship Cardis is traveling on crashes. Using a tradition from Cardis's planet Stellan has three days to convince her take him as her lifetime mate. If he fails he is killed or sold into slavery. The premise is not new but the author gives it fresh new life. Both characters have issues that keep their journey interesting. I saw one place where I wondered when the characters changed locations and one where the time line did not seem correct. These were minor flaws that did not change how I felt about the book. I hated for the book to end and I hope this is just the first book Debra Dogget publishes. The book is published by Wild Rose Press and is available in hard cover and as an e-book. You can purchase this at Fictionwise, Amazon, and Wild Rose Press.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Moonstruck by Susan Grant
Science Fiction Romance
Moonstruck published in 2008 by HQN is the first book in Susan Grants Borderlands series. The war between the Drakken Horde and the Coalition is over but the peace is far from friendly. Brit “Stone Heart” Bandar is chosen to command a starship with a blended crew. Finn Rorkken a Horde Warleader is chosen as her second in command. Brit does not want peace and she really does not want any of the Drakken on her ship. Others don’t want peace either and work to use the Brit’s ship and crew to restart the war. As if that is not enough Brit in spite of her hatred of the Drakken is attracted to Finn. The attraction is mutual. Moonstruck is full of conflict, action and wonderful characters. I loved Finn from the beginning and was pulling for he and Brit to get together. Read the book and see if you don’t feel the same way.
The next book in the Borderlands series is The Warlords Daughter and is due out February 2009. It is on my list to order as soon as it comes out.
Moonstruck published in 2008 by HQN is the first book in Susan Grants Borderlands series. The war between the Drakken Horde and the Coalition is over but the peace is far from friendly. Brit “Stone Heart” Bandar is chosen to command a starship with a blended crew. Finn Rorkken a Horde Warleader is chosen as her second in command. Brit does not want peace and she really does not want any of the Drakken on her ship. Others don’t want peace either and work to use the Brit’s ship and crew to restart the war. As if that is not enough Brit in spite of her hatred of the Drakken is attracted to Finn. The attraction is mutual. Moonstruck is full of conflict, action and wonderful characters. I loved Finn from the beginning and was pulling for he and Brit to get together. Read the book and see if you don’t feel the same way.
The next book in the Borderlands series is The Warlords Daughter and is due out February 2009. It is on my list to order as soon as it comes out.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
How to Lose an Extraterrestrial in 10 Days by Susan Grant.
Published in 2007 by HQN Books How to Lose an Extraterrestrial in 10 Days is the third book in a three book series by Susan Grant. If you are keeping up with my post you know Susan is a former Air Force pilot who now flies international routes for United Airlines. In her spare time she writes Science Fiction Romance.
I liked all of the books in this series, but How to Lose an Extraterrestrial in 10 Days is my favorite. It takes an unlikely hero, Reef, and a suburban housewife, Evie, on a series of desperate adventures. Reef stands for Robotically Engineered Enemy Fighter. Reef is the villain in the first book in this series. He is a cyberpowered assassin who has been programmed and sent to Earth to kill Earth’s connections to one of the extraterrestrial powers. He was not successful and found himself with his internal computers turned off and his programming no longer working. Enter, Evie, a divorced suburban housewife with family connections to the same representatives Reef was sent to kill. Evie has her own set of problems. Someone thinks her chocolate business is laundering money for the mob, and her ex-husband want to take their two children. What Evie needs is a bodyguard and Reef ends up with the job. Evie gives Reef 10 day to prove he can do the job and thus the title How to Lose an Extraterrestrial in 10 Days. Evie and Reef both have issues and the solution for both make this an exciting read. How to Lose an Extraterrestrial in 10 Days won a Prism Award.
The other books in the Otherworldly Series are:
Your Planet or Mine
My Favorite Earthling
How to Lose an Extraterrestrial in 10 Days
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