Home » Posts tagged "science fiction" (Page 23)

Book Review: Steel Rose by Barbara Custer

Steel Rose by Barbara Custer

Eternal Press, 2013

ISBN: 9781615728534

Available: Paperback, Kindle edition

Steel Rose is a stand–alone novel, which may yet produce a series. This book focuses on the staff and patients of a hospital in Philadelphia. Alexis suffers from horrifying body riddling arthritis. While she is undergoing treatment, an alien race known as the Draekh invade Philadelphia through the hospital where she is staying, and take possession of numerous patients and staff. In particular, they find Alexis’ nemesis, Laurel, a tech at the hospital, of great interest, and turn her into the vampiric ground forces commander.  Alexis and her family must stave off these forces, but given her debilitating illness, this is no easy feat.

I found this book engrossing. The details on disease, zombie eating habits, and vampiric tendencies, are well-crafted and nuanced. I rather dug how venomously Laurel hates everybody. This is a deliciously evil book. It comes HIGHLY RECOMMENDED to readers of zombie, vampire, and science fiction.

Contains: Graphic Violence, Profanity, Adult Situations.

Reviewed by Benjamin Franz

 

 

Posted on February 14, 2015 by , Reply

Book Review: The Detainee by Peter Liney

  The Detainee (The Detainee Trilogy, Book 1) by Peter Liney

Jo Fletcher Books, 2013

ISBN13: 9781623651084

Available: Hardcover, Paperback, Ebook

 

I am a sucker for a good dystopia. In fact, I often complain about “end of the world” stories that don’t have enough gloom. However, although there are plenty of good elements here, and the book ranks high on other review sites, I have to admit it didn’t connect with me.

The first person narrative style was the first strike against novel for me; I felt this slowed the pace. 70 pages in, I still had no idea who the main character was. He was just an amorphous “I”.  The book went on at length about the setting, and a few unfortunate events, but I didn’t know the protagonist’s name. I had to look it up in an online review. This really bothered me. I needed to have a strong sense of who the narrator was by now. That is a bad sign.

Clancy, the protagonist, is considered undesirable by the hyper-capitalist society he lives in, and has been exiled to a giant trash heap of an island for “unproductive” people. “Unproductive” includes the elderly, so the island contains many people of an advanced age, like a reverse Logan’s Run world. The setting provided the potential for this to be a fantastic dystopian novel, my favorite kind of science fiction/horror crossover. It’s a great concept; I like the point of view and the message, a warning of what could happen if the right wing’s stance against social programs and welfare were taken to an extreme.

However, this is a novel, not an essay. No matter how interested I am in the socio-political philosophy of inevitable dystopia, a novel has to be a story first. I admit I found myself skipping entire paragraphs, which is not typical for me. It just didn’t hold my interest. To be fair, this book has lots of great reviews. It’s been promoted as a Hunger Games for adults, and certainly many responded to the book’s take on ageism. Because the themes are so timely and well defined, libraries should make it available despite my personal dislike for it. Recommended for ages 12-adult.

 

Reviewed by David Agranoff

Posted on November 3, 2014 by , Reply

Missing Since Gen Con: Robert the Bard

As some of you may know, Gen Con(a major science fiction, fantasy and gaming convention) took place in the area here not that long ago. Whether you’re a librarian or a fan, you’ve probably been to some kind of convention at some time. They are a great way to meet people with common interests, widen your knowledge, geek on favorite authors and/or authorities in your field, and, most of all, have fun. Science fiction, fantasy, and gaming together cover a huge number of topics, genres, events, and people, including writers, readers, and consumers of the horror genre.  If you want a feel for what science fiction, fantasy, and horror lovers are looking for, and you want to get them into your library, look for a local con in your community, and go in with an open mind. It’s worth it to check it out.

A transcript of  the following report was forwarded to us by our reviewer Aaron Fletcher, who attended Gen Con 2013 and acquired this digital recording of an interview conducted by Robert the Bard there that may shed some light on the convention experience.

 

Report From the Floor of Gen Con 2013 Day 2 August 16, 2013.

Transcribed by Aaron Fletcher

Robert the Bard: Hello everyone, Robert the Bard reporting from the Indianapolis Convention Center, where I am attending Gen Con 2013! I am here today talking with the lesser known “heroes” of Gen Con: the monsters. Without them, there would be no Gen Con. Here to start us off is this splendid, absolutely gruesome ogre named Grug. How are you enjoying Gen Con, Grug?

 

Grug: Me not.

 

Robert the Bard: You’re not?!? What seems to be the problem?

 

Grug: Me rest in dungeon when horde of humans rush in and hit Grug. Hit Grug in tummy. Hurt Grug! Take Grug treasure! Why humans do that?

 

Robert the Bard: Well, Grug, I imagine they did that to have an adventure.

 

Grug: Grug want treasure back! Grug MAD!!!

 

Robert the Bard: All right! All right now, Grug! Take it easy. No need to go on a rampage now. I’m sure you can go on an adventure of your own and get treasure from some innocent people in a little while. Why don’t you take in some of the other events at Gen Con while you wait?

 

Grug: Events??!?!? What events mean?

 

 

Robert the Bard: Well I’m talking about the other things going on here at Gen Con. There’s The Film Festival, the Writer’s Symposium, and the Art Show. Maybe pick up something to read or a fantastic work of art for your dungeon.

 

 

Grug: Stories scare Grug. Always of Adventurers kill monsters. Make Grug sad. Dungeon has art. Mrs. Grug jealous artist. She no like other art.

 

 

Robert the Bard: Oh, I see, Grug. Well if you don’t like those things, you can play a game or learn a new one. After all, Gen Con is known for all kinds of role playing games, board games and card games. You can even buy the games right here.

 

 

Grug: What kind games?

 

 

Robert the Bard: Well, just about anything you can imagine. There are fantasy Games, science fiction Games, horror Games, world building games, and just about anything else you can think of.

 

 

Grug: Oh. Grug like fantasy adventure game. Get treasure…

 

 

Robert the Bard: You do! Well what’s it called, Grug? I’ll help you find some treasure.

 

 

Grug: You help Grug?!?!?

 

 

Robert the Bard: Sure I will! What do you say…Uh…What are you doing, Grug? Uh, take it easy now…

 

 

Grug: Hehe! Grug like smash talky talky human! Here Grug come!

 

 

Robert the Bard: Put that club down now before somebody gets hurt! Grug! Grug!

 

 

Grug: Hehe! Grug like puny human run away. It fun!

 

 

Robert the Bard: Uh well folks there you have it. This is your reporter on the floor of Gen Con 2013 saying…..I gotta RUUUUNNN!!!!

 

 

Grug: Hehe! Treasure!!!!!

 

Note: This was intended to be a multiple part series reporting on all aspects of the cultural and social gaming event known as Gen Con 2013. Unfortunately, Robert the Bard has not been heard from since. If anyone knows his whereabouts please let us know. It would be greatly appreciated as we would like to get the rest of the series, so we can share it with you. Oh, and, of course, we are concerned for his safety.

Posted on August 27, 2013 by , Reply
First « 2122232425 » Last