Notice...

The purpose of this blog is to have a little fun. It is NOT to start arguments. I don't profess to be an expert on Sci-fi, nor do I aspire to become an expert. You are welcome to comment on any and all content you find here. If my opinion differs from yours, as far as I am concerned, it's all okay. I will never say that you are wrong because you disagree with me, and I expect the same from those that comment here. Also, my audience on the blog will include some young people. Please govern your language when posting comments.

Posts will hopefully be regular based on the movies I see, the television shows I watch, and the books I read as well as what ever strikes me as noteworthy.


***SPOILER ALERT***
Spoilers will appear here and are welcome.

Autograph Collecting

Tuesday, February 13, 2024

City Of Orange By David Yoon - A Post-Apocalyptic Story Of Self-Discovery

City of Orange by David Yoon

This book sat on my Kindle for quite a while before I finally opened it up and started reading.

This story grabbed my attention immediately from the beginning and wouldn't let me go until I finished it. It is fast paced, brilliantly written, and there are surprises on nearly every page. 

City of Orange is a post-apocalyptic fiction about a man who wakes up and has no memories about anything before the moment of his awakening. In the place he finds himself, it appears everyone has abandoned their homes and moved away. As he moves through his unfamiliar world, he slowly gets his memories back thanks to an old man, a young boy, and a crow.

The principal character awakens in the bright sunshine, afraid to open his eyes. He is injured and alone and has nothing to remind himself of who he is, or what he even looks like. He sees he is near a kind of river, lined with concrete and measuring about a hundred meters wide, - most likely the Los Angeles River - and he slowly tries to piece his life back together. Where he is at the time seems safe, but he knows he needs more to survive. As he explores, he happens upon a makeshift shelter under an overpass, and from there, he expands his range and recovers his memories. Some of those are very good memories, others are horrifying.

Imagine what it would be like!

The object of the story is not an adventurous sort. As a matter of fact, he is rather timid as he moves about his immediate environment. As he gets his memories back, he also regains some of his self-confidence. But what he learns is not always pleasant and gives him no comfort.

We meet a few other characters along the way, some helpful and some not so.

My favorite plot point of City of Orange is how the story of the man's life is revealed slowly through the entire novel. Each and every memory the man recovers is painstakingly gained. 

Another favorite point is what the cause of the setting is never really revealed. It isn't really important to the man's story, but there are hints of what might have happened.

I'm going to leave it at that because nearly anything further I can say might be considered spoilery.

My takeaway from City of Orange is one must be careful who one trusts when one finds themselves in unfamiliar surroundings and situations. There are those who may seem like they want to help, but then turn out to be someone who only wants to take advantage of a situation. Then there are those who will help, but only if you are willing to open yourself up to them. Finally, though, one needs to trust themselves and their instincts to make their way through an uncertain world.

City of Orange is a story full of twists and turns through days of confusion and self-discovery. It opens with no preamble and offers no obvious moral when it ends. The reader will need to decide what this story has to offer them. From the first paragraph, the action is nonstop, but it isn't overwhelming. I wouldn't label this a Science Fiction book. The principal character is more on a journey to rediscover who he is and how he can move through his world with caution.

The quality of the writing and the story are great, and I recommend it to anyone who would enjoy a story of discovery.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

David Yoon is the New York Times bestselling author of Frankly in Love, Super Fake Love Song, and for adult readers, Version Zero and City of Orange. He's a William C. Morris Award finalist and an Asian/Pacific American Award for Young Adult Literature Honor book recipient. He's co-publisher of Joy Revolution, a Random House young adult imprint dedicated to love stories starring people of color. He's also co-founder of Yooniverse Media, which currently has a first look deal with Anonymous Content for film/TV development. David grew up in Orange County, California, and now lives in Los Angeles with his wife, novelist Nicola Yoon, and their daughter.

Well, there it is...

Qapla!

Saturday, January 27, 2024

The Forever War By Joe Haldeman - A Soldiers' Story That Stands The Test Of Time

The Forever War by Joe Haldeman

Prior to reading Forever War, I had only read one other of Joe Haldeman’s novels. I'm afraid I didn't care for that one, and to avoid further discussion, I will decline to reveal the title. However, when I talked about that book with a friend, he told me I shouldn't give up on the author because he is an amazing writer and teller of stories. My friend recommended Forever War as an example of great Sci-Fi writing. So, as I was between books, I thought it would be a good time to take care of an obligation to myself and to my friend.

From the moment I opened this book and all the way through to the end, I was mesmerized by the story, the characters, and the sheer excellence of this amazing work of Science Fiction.

If you are a Sci-Fi fan and haven't read this, you are doing yourself a disservice. This novel, nearly fifty years old, is a classic work. It follows the military life of a physics student turned soldier, William Mandella, through his training and combat experience as a member of the UNEF Army. It is a compelling tale of a man who wants to go home but may not be able to continue to live his life the way he expects. While he serves a total of four years of his life, the travel from assignment moves at relativistic speeds and as we know, when someone travels at those speeds, time passes very quickly for those who are not along for the ride.

Physics student William Mandella is conscripted as a member of a task force for the United Nations Exploratory Force to fight in a war against an alien race known as Taurans after presumed attacks by them on human colonist ships. Mandella undergoes intense training and is deployed to numerous places in the galaxy. While the ships that transport soldiers from one battle to another are very fast, traveling at relativistic speeds means that a lot of time passes off the ship than onboard.

The first deployment for Mandella's group lasts two years from his point of view, but for the return to Earth, 27 years pass. In those times, there are drastic developments in technology, but there are also societal changes that are shocking.

Mandella is part of the war for only four years of his life while centuries pass at home.

The principal character, William Mandella, is an intelligent man who is made into a warrior. He isn't obsessed with killing but is merely doing a job he’s been trained for. He is quite resilient in that he understands his situation concerning time dilation, and what it might do to him. However, the time he spans outside his relativistic travel changes so drastically, he sometimes has a hard time keeping up with all the changes. He takes everything in stride as he moves forward, but still maintains his own identity. He wants all the things a professional soldier wants, but most of all, to come home alive to a world and to the woman he loves. We see most of the story through Mandella's eyes and the thoughts he has and so we get a combat veteran's view of life in and out of the military and observations of the social and political situations as they evolve over the period of a thousand years.

My favorite point of plot in Forever War is how it illustrates the changes society goes through over a period of time. At one point, Mandella goes home and has a difficult time recognizing nearly everything he encounters. The changes are so extreme and bizarre that he finds he no longer can exist. He finally returns to the military because it is what he has become familiar with.

It is no spoiler to say this tale is a metaphor for the Vietnam War. The author himself is a veteran of the Vietnam era, so the story is sad and tragic, but there are also moments of hope.

Personally, the theme that stood out the most was how soldiers were regarded when they returned home. In the book, they are not treated well as they return to an Earth that has become a social and political ruin. Many are just trying to survive in an economy that is in shambles. When he feels as if he has been alienated from his home planet, Mandella, along with Marygay, re-enlists. As is typical of the military, after being promised to be assigned as instructors on Luna base, they are switched back to a combat unit and sent off to fight once again.

Another thing that stood out to me was how Forever War and Starship Troopers (the book by Robert A. Heinlein, not the film) have some things in common. Both are a soldiers’ story that can give one a better understanding of what it means to fight in a war and then try to survive, not only in combat, but when returning home and having to adapt to all the changes one faces.

My takeaway from The Forever War is to show how one can never return home. Nothing stays the same and life is full of change.

Forever War is a classic work of sci-fi that holds up well and will speak to readers today. If there is a must-read list, this book should appear at the top. It has everything a fan of military sci-fi would enjoy, and I think many of those who have served would also appreciate what is in these pages.

Mandella's tale is great on every level.

It is brilliantly written because it is easy to understand and relate to. It is a fairly fast read at 236 pages, but at the same time, there is a lot of amazing story packed into that small space.

I found Forever War to be entertaining, engaging, and emotionally charged.'

Highest Recommendations!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Joe Haldeman began his writing career while he was still in the army. Drafted in 1967, he fought in the Central Highlands of Vietnam as a combat engineer with the Fourth Division. He was awarded several medals, including a Purple Heart. Haldeman sold his first story in 1969 and has written over two dozen novels and five collections of short stories and poetry. He has won the Nebula and Hugo Awards for his novels, novellas, poems, and short stories, as well as the John W. Campbell Memorial Award, the Locus Award, the Rhysling Award, the World Fantasy Award, and the James Tiptree, Jr. Award. His works include The Forever War, Forever Peace, Camouflage, 1968, the Worlds saga, and the Marsbound series. Haldeman recently retired after many years as an associate professor in the Department of Writing and Humanistic Studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He and his wife, Gay, live in Florida, where he also paints, plays the guitar, rides his bicycle, and studies the sky with his telescope.

Well, there it is...

Qapla!

Saturday, January 13, 2024

Ares by Jayson Adams - The First Expidition To Mars Is Plagued With Strife

 

Ares by Jayson Adams

I learned about Ares from a Facebook ad that kept popping up on my timeline. I was further spurred on to read by the book's description. It promised a fast-paced tale of murder and intrigue on the first mission to Mars. No less, it promised a story set in the Cydonia region of the Red Planet, a place of much controversy and speculation.

I read this book in just a few days, finding it to be an amazing story that moved so fast, I just did not want to stop reading. It is a great tale with well-developed characters. There are moments of great tension and several fun and scary plot twists. Anyone who loves Sci-Fi space opera or a really good mystery story would enjoy this story. It is full of political corruption, starting at the top levels of two space agencies driven by greed. Nothing is certain in the plot and there are surprises on nearly every page.

The first mission to Mars is led by Commander Kate Holman, that is until she is unexpectedly relieved of command and replaced by the mission's security officer as ordered by a NASA deputy director. This happens almost as their vessel is descending for a landing on Mars. Kate learns that their mission has gone from one of exploration and discovery to one with a military objective.

Kate and most of her crew are a little perplexed by the security officer, who makes a trek to the "face on Mars" to retrieve something. What he finds could be anything, evidence of life, alien artifacts, or maybe a rare new element previously unknown. Kate can only speculate about what the officer has found.

Astronauts are killed and their habitat begins to experience malfunctions. One crew member says the mishaps result from a Martian curse that will continue to plague the mission until whatever the security officer has found is returned to its original resting place. Kate continues to seek more plausible explanations for the problems that keep cropping up.

When she finally learns the nature of what has been retrieved, she understands why some would kill to protect the secret. It is decided her, and what is left of her crew must return home to expose the corruption she has uncovered. Unfortunately, the odds are against her as she is forced to fight against some very powerful forces, determined to keep the secrets in the darkness.

Kate is a great, strong female character who has studied, worked, and sacrificed much to earn her position, commanding the first Martian mission only to have it ripped away from her. But she doesn't just step aside quietly and relinquish. She knows she is in the right and is determined to get her command back and lead a successful mission. This is very important to her.

She does have a few skeletons in her closet, and she has a hard time stopping the old bones from rattling. Much of what causes her pain is some misconceived ideas she has of an incident that occurred on previous mission.

Her determination and her ability to survive the obstacles in her path are all she has, and she takes full advantage of her resources to thwart the plans set against her.

The author has created a great character in Commander Kate Holman, and I would enjoy reading more about her exploits in future books.

My favorite plot point in Ares was how Commander Kate was able to find ways to deal with her problems so well. She had a lot stacked against her. She had personal problems, family problems, problems with the mission, problems with the crew, and, of course, there was the nearly insane way the antagonist just wouldn't give up. I couldn't imagine balancing everything she faced, but the author did a fine job getting his principal character through it all.

My takeaway from Ares is how it demonstrates perseverance can take one a long way to deal with seemingly impossible situations.

Ares is a great story. I was fascinated and entertained all the way through. The action is pretty well non-stop through the entire book and there are several twists and turns in the plot to hold the reader's attention. The science, for the most part, is plausible, and the spaceflight depicted is also to be admired. There is intrigue involving both space agencies that exist now. I recommend Ares for anyone who enjoys a good, fast-paced sci-fi tale.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐


At age sixteen, Jayson dreamed of starting a software company and retiring by twenty-five. He achieved his dream just before thirty, working for the likes of Steve Jobs and selling one of his start-ups along the way. Five years later, he returned to computers with another start-up. He currently works at Google.

Computers were always Jayson's creative outlet, the screen a "blank slate." He now channels his creative energies into writing compelling science-fiction.

Well, there it is...

Qapla!

Wednesday, January 10, 2024

The Kuyper Rogue by C.P. Schaefer - Sci-Fi Adventure Worth Reading!

The Kuyper Rogue by C.P. Schaefer

I received a copy of this book for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.

What attracted me to read The Kuiper Rogue was the book's description. The author set the story on Saturn’s moon, Titan. I don't recall ever reading a story set on that particular world. The concept of a large research station, in this case, Gaia 3, got my attention and spurred me to download and read this book. I enjoyed the story for the most part. It is a combination of several concepts, including Hard Sci-Fi, Post Apocalyptic, Space Opera, Thriller, and Adventure. The action starts in the very beginning and as the story unfolds, the tension ramps up to a fever pitch.

I enjoyed this story and recommend it for those who are looking for an entertaining story. The characters, for the most part, are believable and well written.

Astronomer Will Vandolah, is part of a crew who live and work in a living ecosphere known as Gaia 3. It is a delicately balanced environmental microcosm that requires constant attention to details to sustain life. When that balance starts to break down, numerous problems arise, and the crew works feverishly to analyze and solve the problems. As they work, Will discovers a very large comet moving toward Saturn. As the comet approaches, it has properties that cause mayhem with Saturn's rings, and causing the release of deadly radiation causing even more problems in Gaia 3.

Will finds that the object, a very long-period comet, will pass close to Earth. In the meantime, Gaia 3's crew begin to show signs of delirium that grows into all-out insanity as the effects of the strange radiation manifest. The comet not only affects the people in the biosphere, but it also causes problems with communication with Earth.

The Gaia 3 commander and what is left of the crew decide that they must leave Titan and travel to Earth to warn them of the effects it will have on the population.

I enjoyed the characters Schaefer created for this story. They are developed well enough to feel like I was reading about real people.

Will is an astronomer who is searching for celestial objects, but not having a lot of luck. Then he stumbles on to the find of enormous size, moving through the solar system. He determines the object has come unusual properties and, in his research, determines it is a long-period comet that has passed through the solar system before.

Soon, he finds himself facing situations he has no previous experience with and has to use his wit and creativity to survive and save as many of his crew as he possibly can.

Fortunately, he has the help of his mother, Gaia 3's commander, to help. 

Margaret Vandolah seemed to be the principal character in this story, even more so than Will. She is tough, smart, and knows her business. While the problems mount in the station, she not only has to make sure the crew take care of their specialties, but she also has to do a lot of improvisation and keep those who are still functioning alive and doing their jobs. The breakdown of the biosphere and the radiation make her tasks almost impossible, and she has to come up with creative ways to solve the problems.

My favorite point of plot in Kuyper Rogue is the world building the author used as the backdrop for the characters. Gaia 3 is an amazing place, but it also depends on everyone doing their part to keep the delicate balance needed to sustain life. If one person doesn't take care of their system, other systems begin to breakdown and fall like dominoes.

Therefore, my takeaway from this story is how everyone needs to do their part to protect the environment they live in. In the case of this tale, it is a small, delicately balanced place that requires constant attention. But I think that perhaps, the author was also addressing not only the microcosm of Gaia 3, but he also wants the reader to think about the environment in the macrocosm of the planet we live on.

The Kuyper Rogue is a solid and entertaining story. I think any Sci-Fi Fan would enjoy. Part of the blurb from the back of the book describes it as a "high-octane techno-sci-fi adventure rooted on sound, hard science. It is a stellar showcase of the terrible power and the sublime complexity of the human experience."

I look forward to C.P. Shaefer's future novel, Western Lights.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

C.P. Schaefer is an American writer and Engineer. He has been a Structural Engineer in private practice for over forty years and written two science fiction novels called The Kuyper Rogue and Western Lights.

Well, there it is...

Qapla!

Sunday, December 3, 2023

Echo: A Space Opera Duology (Book 1) By Michael Listen - This Story Has It All - Great Space Opera

Echo: A Space Opera Duology (Book 1) By Michael Listen

Every now and then, I discover a story that is so compelling, I cannot stop reading for hours at a time. Such a story unfolds in my mind like a movie and is filled with characters who jump off the page and become like real people I care about and invest in. I've been told there should be a surprise in every chapter, on every page, in every paragraph, and in every sentence. This work by Michael Listen is just such a novel.

This story is supercharged with a full range of emotion, from gut-busting laughter at the humor to an evil character so appalling. I cannot wait to see him getting his due.

In this time when anyone can publish their work in the blink of an eye, this is an example of a story that will rise to the top and scream, "Read Me Now!" I cannot imagine any fan of sci-fi space opera that wouldn’t enjoy this story.

It finally happened. All the fossil fuels on Earth were all used up, and humanity had to move away and live among the stars. In the galaxy's vastness, factions arose, and wars broke out and there were those who did their best to make a living. Such was the lot of Kai Randal, the master of a small shuttle. He, along with his apprentice, Parri Hasana, travel around moving small cargos from one place to another, and they also seek opportunities to earn a living and keep their small ship running.

Shreya Nova is a scientist and soldier in the Ursae Dynasty who, along with her husband, are working under a deadline to develop a propulsion system that will allow ships to travel vast distances quickly. She is used to living very well, but when a test fails to provide the desired results, Shreya's husband is lost when the test vehicle is destroyed on the return trip. The failure results in Shreya being ruined and doomed to indentured servitude to a despotic commander who bankrolled the project.

Kai and Parri are on hand for the events as they try to steal the files from the tests. Kai becomes the unlikely hero, saving Shreya from death in the vacuum in space and so begins a precarious relationship where survival is uncertain.

The characters in Echo are amazingly well developed, interesting, and are what drives this story. They all have personalities and flaws as one would expect in reality.

Kai is a forty-something veteran of the Unified Corporate Colonies (UCC) Navy. Retired from the military, he makes a marginal living providing services as he moves between systems. He has a sense of justice and is strongly opposed to slavery, his big motive for working so hard to keep Shreya safe. It also has a moral center that seems quite sound. As he travels with Parri, a young woman who is half his age, he knows his boundaries and sticks to them even though Parri often makes it difficult.

Parri wants to be a pilot. She is in her early to mid-twenties and can be brattish and one gets the impression she is used to getting her way most of the time. But she is also smart and tough. Parri is a very dynamic character, and one cannot help but like this kid. She has a quick wit and is constantly on Kai's case about one thing or another.

These two characters are a source of humor in the story and are brilliantly written. Their relationship is full of tension, but through it all, Kai loves her as a mentor, but Parri wants more from their relationship, maybe more than Kai is willing to give. Parri seems to be in too much of a hurry to grow up.

Shreya Aurelia is on a quest to learn the fate of her lost husband. She refuses to believe he is dead and will not give up until she knows his fate for certain. Shreya has a strong personality and bounces back even in the worse of situations. She has an aristocratic tendency to take charge of things because that is the way of her culture, which often clashes with Kai's culture.

The evil antagonist in the novel is Prefect Marcus Ovius of the Ursaen Legion. He is a despotic commander in charge of getting a new faster-than-light drive built and running, and he has used his own funds to complete the project. This character has no redeeming qualities, and it isn't long before the reader will find him downright despicable.

At one point in the story, Kai, Parri, and Shreya pay a visit to Parri's home planet. Without going into too much detail, Parri displays a desire to take her and Kai's relationship to a new level. This point of the plot allows for a major relief in the tension the author has built in the story and is a source for numerous surprises and a lot of hilarity. While it is a break in the action, it also serves to build tension between our heroes. It gives the reader a chance to catch their breath before the tension builds to the end of the book, which ends in a cliffhanger.

Another plot point I enjoyed is the extensive world building. Listen does an amazing job of setting the scene all the way through this tale and the reader can easily visualize the backdrops behind the story. The details are astounding but not overstated. It is obvious the author has put in a lot of thought to build a universe in which the action can unfold naturally.

My takeaway from Echo is how it demonstrates that all glory is fleeting. No matter how powerful or wealthy one becomes, it can all be lost in the blink of an eye. There is a very thin line between wealth and poverty, freedom and slavery, and benevolence and despotism. While Shreya learns this as a member of a system that allows for it, Kai and Parri see it from the outside. Kai is appalled by what he deems unjust and is willing to fight it, even though it may cost him his life. 

Echo Book 1 is an excellent first novel from author Michael Listen. I hope for more in the future. He has a real handle on writing sci-fi including great world building and characters one can enjoy reading about. 

I loved this first book and will be reporting back with a review of the second book soon.

This is one that space opera fans should not pass by. It is fun, entertaining, hilarious, and appalling (in the right ways). There are characters to love and some to hate. The science isn't too farfetched for those who can take a little time and suspend their disbelief. I give Echo #1 my highest recommendations for some great Sci-Fi!

If you are interested in further information on this book, go to https://authormichaelliste.wixsite.com/authormlisten for more material, histories, maps, and behind the scenes information related directly to this book.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Michael Listen lives in Oklahoma with his wife and two children. After his time in the Navy, he moved into the Information Technology profession. However, Michael has always had a passion for art and creativity. He enjoys crafting stories for role-playing sessions with friends or writing short stories for his wife. His first full-length published book was a two-part science fiction space opera titled Echo.

Well, there it is...

Qapla!

Saturday, December 2, 2023

The Defector (The Apollo Murders Series Book 2) By Chris Hadfield - A Russian Pilot Delivers A Gift Too Good To Be True

The Defector (Book 2 of the Apollo Murders Series) by Chris Hadfield

It has been nearly two years since I read Hadfield's first novel, The Apollo Murders, a book I thoroughly enjoyed. While scrolling through the Kindle store, The Defector showed up on the list of books I might also like. Outside of the book being written by Hadfield, I was attracted by the cover art.

I got into this story and found it to be a lightening paced tale of intrigue in a fascinating setting. It grabbed me from the opening and didn't let me down at all. Hadfield's writing style is like authors I enjoyed who wrote books during the 1970s and 1980s when I was deep into reading military Science Fiction. Set during the Cold War, a time when tensions were high between the world's superpowers, it feels plausible. It is written to be a believable idea with solid characters who the reader can care about. The backdrops used to paint pictures in the mind's eye provide completeness to the story, and I think this is a must read for those who enjoy stories of espionage and intrigue.

As Israel prepares for the Yom Kippur war of October 1973, a Russian pilot stationed in Syria climbs aboard his MiG 25 Foxbat on an apparent routine flight. Celebrated Soviet pilot, Alexander Vasilyevich Abramovich, known as Grief, flies his MiG to the Lod Airport (now known as the Ben Gurion International Airport) and lands creating quite a stir. To top that off, he pops the canopy and announces his desire to defect to the United States.

Former fighter pilot and astronaut candidate, Kazimieras (Kaz) Zimeckis of the US Navy is brought in to aid in discovering if Grief's claim to defect is legitimate When it is determined Grief is telling the truth, he and his aircraft are taken to Groom Lake, Nevada, which is also known as Area 51, as well as many other names.

There the plane is deconstructed and Grief shares secrets about his craft with the scientists and engineers. Grief also learns about other aircraft and happenings at the top-secret airbase and becomes friends with several personnel there.

It isn't long before things start to go a little sideways and problems arise. Discoveries are made, and not all of them are good.

There are two principal characters in this story.

First there is Kazimieras Zemeckis commonly known as Kaz. In Hadfield's first novel, The Apollo Murders, we met Kaz, a test pilot and astronaut candidate. In that story, Kaz lost sight in one eye when he struck a bird that came through his canopy. He continues working as a commander in the US Navy without flight status. He is a levelheaded man who likes to get to the bottom of problems. When he is assigned to keep an eye on the Soviet defector, he takes on the job with vigor. After all, there are numerous secrets to be learned from both the defector and his aircraft. One of Kaz's best qualities is to stay cool under fire and work problems until he finds solutions. This character reminds me a lot of Dirk Pitt, one of Clive Cussler's favorite characters, but Kaz is far more believable as a real human being.

The defector, Alexander Vasilyevich Abramovich is identified in the book going by his call sign, Grief. He is a Soviet top pilot, well respected by his peers in the service. It would seem unlikely he would be one to defect, but according to his story, he just wants to go to the United States and fly the best planes in the world. That's his story, but he has a much deeper story he isn't telling. 

The funny thing about Grief is, he is a likable guy, and he gets along well with the engineers at Groom Lake. But we also learn he has a stone-cold, ruthless side to him, and when that is revealed in the book, it's weird, but one might almost find themselves rooting for his success, but only to a point.

My favorite point of plot in this story is how the author uses the Yom Kippur War of 1973. It was a conflict in which a coalition of Arab states led by Syria and Egypt made it their goal to take back Israeli held lands on the border between Egypt and Israel on the Sinai Pennsula and the Golan Heights. In this story, the Israelis are monitoring troop buildups along their held territories and are planning their response. Things are thrown into chaos when Grief lands his MiG in a major airport on Israeli soil. I this story, we get a close look at the Prime Minister Golda Meir and her Minister of Defense, Moshe Dayan. I remember hearing those names in 1973 when I was much younger, still in my teens. There isn't a great deal about the war in the rest of the story, but for those who remember those days and the tensions in the world, it did well in setting the attitudes of the characters in the book.

My takeaway from The Defector is to remember that a gift can sometimes be a Trojan Horse. A Soviet pilot gives his advanced fighter to the enemy and wants nothing more than to fly the US's most advanced aircraft in return. Well, as the story unfolds, Grief wants much more than the freedom to fly, he has been sent on a mission of espionage, and he has some support, but mostly has to rely on his own wits, which he seems to have in ample supply.

This was a great spy story written much like those I read in the 1970s by Cussler and others in the genre. The characters are realistic and there are relevant historical references to help shape them and their attitudes. The action in this book starts with the first page and continues through the entire book to the end. I read this in just a few days because I couldn't put it down. This story is intense on various levels, with many humorous moments, and there is also plenty of violent action. While I wouldn't call this a purely Science Fiction novel, there are numerous elements of science and advanced engineering. From the author, as a former astronaut, test pilot, and fighter pilot, we get a lot of factual perspective, but it is presented in a way that the technical aspects don't get in the way of the story.

This is the second book of The Apollo Murders Series, but it reads very well as a stand alone novel.

All in all, this story was a satisfying and fun read. I recommend The Defector to those who enjoy Military Sci-Fi as well as stories of espionage.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Chris Hadfield is one of the most seasoned and accomplished astronauts in the world. He was the top test pilot in both the US Air Force and the US Navy, and a Cold War fighter pilot intercepting armed Soviet bombers in Canadian air space. A veteran of three space flights, he served as capsule communicator - CAPCOM - for 25 shuttle missions, as NASA's director of operations in Russia, and as commander of the International Space Station. Hadfield's books, An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth, You Are Here, and The Darkest Dark have all been international bestsellers, and topped the charts for months in Canada. His debut novel, The Apollo Murders, became an instant #1 bestseller in his homeland.

Tuesday, November 7, 2023

The Little Blue Log Book by Roman Lando - A Teaser Novelette For An Upcoming Novel

The Little Blue Log Book by Roman Lando

I received a copy of this book for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.

I was alerted to this novelette through an email because I follow the author on Amazon.

Nearly a year ago, I was introduced to Roman Lando when he offered me the opportunity to enjoy his first novel, Progress Report. It is the story of a guy who gets caught up in a mission to prevent a devastating nuclear war.

The Little Blue Log Book is a teaser for what is a planned second novel and stand-alone sequel to Progress Report. If this novelette is any indication of what is coming in the next book, it promises to be another great story worth waiting for.

Crack Air Force pilot Vince Ortega faces the end of his brilliant career. He is being replaced by Artificial Intelligence. His choice is either to leave the service or become a pilot in a top-secret government program. Since he will be allowed to continue flying, he takes the second choice and works to get himself ready for a flight in a special craft that will take him to investigate a strange situation.

He finds himself in a competition with fellow pilot, Val, who can fly as well as he can. Vince edges Val out because of his combat experience. Soon, he finds himself in control of an amazing flying headed to a place one only reads about in Sci-Fi novels.

As I mentioned, this is only a small teaser from a much larger story, and you can bet the rent, I'll be first in line to grab this one when it becomes available. It is going to be a great story full of twists and turns.

You can download The Little Blue Log Book for the Kindle at https://www.amazon.com/Little-Blue-Log-Book-ebook/dp/B0CK55SR14?ref_=ast_author_dp

You cannot beat the price for this one.

Roman, the author of the Little Blue Log Book and a sci-fi thriller novel, Progress Report, is a composer, musician, and web and new media designer, and positively has too many passions, interests, and hobbies in his life.

When he's not writing books or music, he can be found sailing, playing keys in a prog rock band, flying his drones, building crazy flight simulation rigs, and LARPing. His lifelong love and passion for hard sci-fi take a special place in his heart. Reading was never enough. The only way to satisfy this obsession was to write his debut novel. He hopes to share his love for true science fiction, along with his interest in history, science, philosophy, and technology with his readers.

After living in three countries on three continents and speaking three languages, Roman has finally settled in Toronto where he lives with his wife and two daughters. No dogs or cats are involved - his drones are his pets. He is now working on his second novel.

You can get in touch with Roman and subscribe to his mailing list at the Progress Report website: https://progressreport.romandesign.ca

Well, there it is...

Qapla!