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Science Fiction

Book Review: The Alienation of Courtney Hoffman by Brady G. Stefani

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This author did a great job of keeping me guessing about the true nature of this story. Was Courtney truly gifted with abilities to communicate with “aliens” beyond this dimension or was she suffering from Schizophrenia and imagining that the visions and dreams were real occurrences?
Either way it was a fun fantasy or an enlightening look into the mind of a 15 year old dealing with all too real scenarios that would test the sanity of any of us. Visits by aliens, the ability to mind connect with others that share a special bloodline, an imaginary friend that materializes in real life and an instance of possible abuse that could leave any child with PTSD are a few of the themes that run through this story.
Well written and intriguing. I enjoyed the mystery and will let the reader decide if it’s fantasy or “real” as I am sure was the purpose of the author.

Review by Volunteer.

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Book Review: Ink and Bone:  The Great Library by Rachel Caine

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By: Rachel Caine

Hear Ye, Hear Ye, Read All About It!! WOW, loved this book. Set in the year 2025 but reads like it was set in the times of the great philosophers and authors. The power of books (to include knowledge) leads the plot to a scary scenario of hoarding all the original works and personal diaries for the good of mankind. Rrriigghhtt!
To work for the Library was an esteemed and altruistic goal. To supposedly protect every written word so that the public could have access as requested or needed seemed to be a lofty calling. But as most of us know, “hoarding” is not always a good thing and not every law or rule is for everyone’s benefit. So Jess finds out.
In this period, even owning a real book is illegal. The library has become a country into itself and if you pass the examinations and are offered a position in the organization you must give up all your loyalties to your own country.
This “hoarding”, for lack of a better word, creates criminals of many countries’ citizens. There are “runners” who are essentially black market thieves that steal and sell original works of prose. There are “burners” who are dissidents that will destroy literary works just to prove a point to the Library authorities, and there are Ink lickers who are so obsessed with original works and the feel of actual paper and ink they will consume the books or try to hide them for themselves. (OK, little over the top for me but does work in this alternative world!)
This book is quite unique in it’s story and setting. You feel like you are living in ancient times but the plot is easily felt as a futuristic science fiction setting. I loved the main theme of a “government” like organization that wants to control all knowledge and the naive new recruits discovering that all is not as they imagined in their new “calling”. It includes a little something from most of my favorite books. There is danger, violence, friendship, twists and a smattering of romance included along with the intriguing plot. The paranormal aspect comes in the hierarchy of the Library’s Obscurists and their use of alchemy so if you are thinking were’s, witches and vamps this is not that kind of read. But it is fabulously penned and well worth the journey. I am sure some might say it is a little incongruous but look past some of the confusion of the setting and open your mind to something that might (someday!) resemble a little of our own society. (You just have to read between the lines!).
I rarely give 5 stars but …..

 

Review by Volunteer.

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A Must Read! Book Review: The God’s Eye View by Barry Eisler

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“The God’s Eye View”
By: Barry Eisler
We would only hope that this book is in reality a science fiction/thriller novel! But..it is hard not to relate this story with present day actives/situations we hear about every day on many of our own electronic devices and the mainstream media. SHIVER! A frightening, eye opening and realistic account of the capabilities and culpability that all our new technology has afforded us. Paranoid much? After reading this you will find yourself looking for camera’s, worrying about your computers browsing history and questioning all the space missions we think are generic and for research. I know it is not the usual paranormal fantasy thriller we review on this site but I strongly feel this book should be one in your library. I think I would much rather deal with a vamp, witch or shifter than try to fight against this global “know it all”.
“Visions of Snowden dancing in your head” … just imagine if you had come across something in your job as a surveillance technician that went against every marginally ethical bone in your body! Knowing you may hold a key to the government’s power and control, all disguised under the heading of “homeland security”, what would you do? How do you keep yourself out of the line of fire? Can you live with yourself if you do? Can you live period? Will they let you? All the questions the main character Evelyn Gallagher had to ask herself.
I read this story every free minute I had because the characters and storyline flowed easily, was very believable and has you on the edge of your seat from the very beginning. At first I questioned the episodes of erotic scenes included in this read but realized that even their intense moments added to the story about the boundaries people set for themselves.
Blake Crouch”s (author of Wayward Pines) endorsement statement read “…The God’s Eye View is one of the most important books that will be published this year.” I concur.
Please, give this a chance. You never know what you might learn!

Review by Volunteer.

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Book Review: Douglas Adams’s Starship Titanic by Terry Jones

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13495120_10106415759228890_5475401502559785675_nThis is a book based on a video game which is based on a throw-away side-note in a very silly science fiction book called Life, The Universe, and Everything by Douglas Adams. This book, however, is written by Terry Jones, best known for his work with Monty Python. The Starship Titanic suffered a Spontaneous Massive Existence Failure, and the novel tells us how and what happened after, since apparently it is possible to exist after suffering a SMEF. Good to know. In the course of this inaugural voyage of the Starship, she picks up three humans on Earth, is attacked by engineers, is nearly blown up by a bomb that easily loses concentration when counting down, and is home to some very rude service bots. Given the concept is Adams’ and the novel is by Jones, one can expect a certain level of humor and zaniness. True. However, it wasn’t as funny as I had hoped. I laughed here and there, but there were also tedious bits that did nothing for me. Your mileage may vary. The best thing to come out of the book, for me, was the introduction of a new swear word to my vocabulary: Pangalin!
Review by Jessica A.

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