Some Animals: Companion Chronicles Volume 1 By Joshua Todd James - This Urban Sci-Fi Is Not To Be Missed!

Some Animals: Companion Chronicles Volume 1 by Joshua Todd James

I came to know about this work because of a weekly ZOOM session I attend. The author also takes part in these sessions regularly. When Joshua announced his work was available, I knew I would have to give it a read because of the book's description and the glowing endorsements appearing on the opening pages.

I've just finished the opening segment of this multi-part saga and want more!

Some Animals is an urban science fiction tale that moves so fast, if you blink, you're going to miss something. I could have easily read it all in one sitting because of its length, but even more so because of the story. This volume may be short, only 157 pages, but it is packed full with an excellent story. It is loaded with action, emotionally charged, and compelling. 

If this first part is any sign of the quality of work to follow, it is not to be missed and I hope it will become something to help readers look inside themselves and examine their own implicit biases.

The story opens as principal characters, Jacob Kind, chronicling the events before, and leading up to the murder of his "Primary," or the person who has purchased him. While incarcerated, Abagail, a detective on the city's police force, is called in to investigate the murder along with her partner, Daniel. Because of circumstantial evidence, the detectives determine Jacob is the murderer. When Jacob tries to explain the actual events of the crime, including a sketch of the actual perpetrator, Abigail is having nothing to do with it. As far as she is concerned, Jacob is lying and will be prosecuted.

During an incident in the police station, Jacob takes advantage of an opportunity to escape and run for his life, but even more, to find justice for his murdered Primary.

This story is told from two points of view, those of Jacob and Abigale.

Jacob is a Companion to an artist named Sylvia. His job is to protect and make her happy. Companions are synthetic beings who are very much human like, but they lack emotion and ambition beyond what they are programed for. They are also almost childlike in their innocence, and even when they experience acts of inhumanity toward them, they simply move on from them. Those who have the means may purchase Companions and are free to treat them any way they choose. Fortunately for Jacob, Sylvia treats Jacob well, encouraging him to explore his own humanity. Being artificially intelligent, Jacob can learn and understand what Sylvia tries to teach him, but he cannot grasp the essence of what he has learned. To him, it is just an exercise in making her happy. Jacob is a magnificent character who is also a little frustrating in his inaction to defend himself when the need arises.

Unfortunately, Sylvia isn't in the picture very long. What we learn about her is that she is an exceptional human being in the world created by the author. She treats Jacob more like a child to be nurtured than someone to do things for her. She encourages him to explore the world through literature, theatre, and music to enrich his experience. She knows he is incapable of understanding feeling through his explorations but is not deterred because of that. I think she is also enriching herself through her mentorship. The relationship between Sylvia and Jacob is a truly wonderful thing to behold, and Jacob's descriptions are deeply compelling.

Ever the hard-nosed detective, Abigale seems to be hardened and as emotionless as Jacob. She is passionate about solving the case and steadfast as far as Jacob's guilt is concerned. She comes across as closed-minded and is not willing to listen to anything that disagrees with her judgement. Abigale will not give up the chase, and I think it is only a matter of time before she catches up with Jacob. But there were also sneak peeks at a character who will develop during her own journey of discovery; we've only seen the surface of this strong female persona.

My favorite point of plot is how Jacob and Sylvia stand out as beacons in a world that seems to have lost what it means to be human. It is ironic to me how Jacob, who is clearly not human, stands out as a bright spot in a dark world full of prejudice and bigotry.

My takeaway from reading Some Animals is how sad things can become when people lose their humanity. Those of us who have paid attention to events since the onset of the COVID pandemic can allow people to behave in inhumane ways. People hoarding necessities, throwing tantrums over being asked to wear masks, and the "too hell with you" attitudes have become a part of our daily lives. But in all of that, there are those who see there is a need to continue to be humane and care about their neighbors. In that way, for me, James has ripped a page out of very recent history and projected it into the not-too-distant future. The principal theme of this story is illustrated in how humanity is abandoned in the treatment of those different from others. But there are undertones of the "meek inheriting the earth" too. Jacob and Sylvia provide hope in a seemingly hopeless situation and I, for one, am hoping their example will inspire readers to do some introspection and rediscover what has been lost in being human.

Thanks to Joshua Todd James' excellent writing, outstanding story, and amazing characters, Some Animals is one of the best starts to a series I have read this year. It isn't a long book and can easily be read in one sitting. There are illustrations included in the book reflecting the action of the tale. Those have a definite noir feeling to them and complement the story nicely.

Some Animals is available anywhere you normally find books online. The sequels are also now available for preorder on Amazon. Minority of One (Book 2) will be live on October 14, 2021, and Freedom Run (Book 3) will be released on November 14, 2021. I, of course, have preordered both.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Joshua Todd James is a novelist, screenwriter, and playwright based in New York City. He written the feature film Pound of Flesh, starring Jean-Claude Van Damme, among others. He is a member of WGAE, repped by Snopek Management and Gersh.

Books include The Companion Chronicles, which detail the adventures of synthetic person Jacob Kind in the books Some Animals, Minority of One, Freedom Run, Man in a Box, Renegade, and Domo-Arigato, Mr. Robato.

You may join Jacob's chase for justice here: Joshua Todd James.

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The Galactic Culinary Society - Cryovacked by D.R. Schoel - This One Includes A Bonus Story - Both Are Great Fun!

The Galactic Culinary Society - Cryovacked by D.R. Schoel

Recently released, the third in a series of just-for-fun short stories featuring Jean Oberon of the Galactic Culinary Society is an adventure with a dark flavor (see what I did there?), and an interesting twist. This volume also contains a bonus story titled Rising Terror.

The story opens with the abduction of one Benjamin Thompson (1753-1814), an American-born physicist and inventor credited with the discovery of the sous vide method of preparing food. Sous vide allows one to cook food at lower temperatures for longer times to achieve a more evenly cooked item with the outside not being over cooked.

Thompson, also known as the Count Rumford, is living in Paris, France and conducting experiments on methods of heat transfer when he hears strange noises which he assumes are small animals scurrying about on his property. He soon learns it isn't animals entering his home, but Greelon abductors who wrap him up and take him on a long journey.

Jeane and her Greelon sidekick, Xstersi, are on a quest to find the last of a delicacy called Quibble Eggs. Along with that, Xstersi believes the eggs would be even more succulent if cooked using the sous vide method. Unfortunately, there are several obstacles along the way causing much frustration for the Greelon, and a lot of work on Jeane's part. A mysterious presence on board almost cooks our heroes by turning the entire ship into a sous vide machine. With only moments to spare, it is uncertain whether Jeane and Xstersi will survive.

In the second story, Rising Terror is about a sourdough starter that threatens to end the entire universe. If you pay attention, you might find an interesting thread connecting to one of Schoel's fellow authors.

As with the first two stories in the Galactic Culinary Society, Secrets of Umami and Song of the Golden Brew, I enjoyed the clever banter between characters and laughed several times throughout the story. Schoel has a knack for interesting language, but more than that, he has a knack for hiding little hints referring to real-world people and things in his writing. While his stories are meant to be fun, he takes the science content seriously and goes to great lengths to be as accurate as he can. I find his style of weaving fact with fiction and humor refreshing. 

Schoel assures me future stories are in the works.

One thing I should caution potential readers of these Galactic Culinary Society stories. Be sure you read these when there are no distractions. I made the mistake of trying to read this while the house was full of distractions and didn't get the stories the first time. On the second reading, I was home alone and able to fully concentrate and received the full flavor of these clever writings.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

About D.R. Schoel:

I'm a writer and filmmaker with a Master's degree in film production. But they say it's the experience that counts: I've worked for nearly twenty years with the Inuit of the Arctic on many, many television  programs. I've also worked with Chad McQueen (son of movie icon Steve McQueen) on an un-produced project for Netflix, and wrote a feature film about a Jewish-Arab love story, Adam's Wall, released globally. I've presented a short film at Cannes (an autobiographical piece, The Fantastic Bus), won a Canadian screen award (the equivalent of the Canadian Oscars; is that worth mentioning?) and had aTop-10 documentary  at the Toronto Film Festival, Sol, about an Inuit circus performer who died in RCMP custody.

I like to travel, having been all across China - excluding Xinjiang, where Uyghurs were put into detention camps, and I had to go through police checkpoints, sometimes twice a day - to Cuba, Mexico, Venezuela, The Dominican Republic, pretty much everywhere in Europe, and the Arctic. Lastly, I'm a lifelong fan of Sci-Fi and since I can't (yet) go into space... I like to daydream about it.

You can follow me on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/DRSCHOEL), and on Twitter (https://twitter.com/@drschoel2013).

The Secrets of Umami is the first in my new series, The Galactic Culinary Society. I have lots of surprising ideas to explore. To keep up-to-date on all things related to the GCS and Intergalactic Chef Hunter, Jeane Oberon, you can sign up for my newsletter at GCS NEWS.

Ground Control by K.A. Hough - A Study Of What One Might Feel About Moving To Mars Perminantly And A Solid Sci-Fi Story

Ground Control by K.A. Hough

I received an advance copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.

Ground Control is a sci-fi speculative fiction story about Sarah Harper. Along with her husband and children, she is moving to Mars. Yes, Mars, where there is a colony awaiting a large shuttle carrying many passengers to expand a colony already there.

I wasn't sure what to expect from this book. In the blurb, it was mentioned that this was a story more of a women's fiction novel as opposed to a science fiction story. I almost didn't pick it up for that reason. But as I read, I liked Sarah and her kids.

Despite the blurb, there is a good, light sci-fi story without a lot of technical jargon to weigh it down. It is truly about Sarah and the important people in her life.

I enjoyed this book and appreciated the attention to detail, the character development, and how Sara's story intertwined with the sci-fi theme. It was easy to read, and the science felt plausible and accurate.

The story opens with Sarah asking her husband for a divorce. Grant, a hard-charging, self motivated scientist, is chosen to move his family to Mars. Permanently. Without discussing it in advance, Grant accepted the honor and abruptly broke the news to her. After a great deal of soul searching, Sarah finally chooses to go along with Grant.

The family goes through extensive preparations and board the shuttle for Mars. The ship is enormous and the accommodations are marvelous. Sarah begins to think of it as home. The kids can go to school, Grant can immerse himself in his work, and Sarah is free to do whatever she wants. 

After a tragedy aboard the ship, Sarah has to step up and help solve a problem that threatens the lives of everyone on board, and at the same time, go on a journey of self-discovery.

The principal character, Sarah Harper, is a highly intelligent, well organized human being who faces a situation causing her a lot of anxiety. As she prepared for the long trip to her new home on Mars, she thinks about everything she will give up when she leaves the Earth. From the beginning of their relationship, she has felt more like Grant's "sidekick" instead of a companion. The big problem with Grant is, he never seems to be home long enough to be a proper husband and father. Before the children came along, Sarah would travel with him, but in order to provide them with a stable family life, she has to stay behind. Grant continues to travel on lecture tours and conferences. Sarah is a strong female character, but she doesn't realize it herself. Everyone seems to know what per potential is, but it takes a couple of tremendous challenges for her to understand what she can actually do. Sarah is a completely believable character; she has a few human flaws but knows how to land on her feet when the occasion arises.

I've probably made Grant out to be a jerk, but he really isn't. He is a good man who provides well for his family. What he doesn't seem to understand is how to be part of a family. He is never home as he pursues his career. He seems to believe as long as everything seems okay when he stops by; it is okay. During his career, he achieves an almost celebrity status and is constantly called on to present at conferences and guest lecture all over the world. In a way of showing Sarah he understands her loneliness, he buys her a kitten, placing it in her lap as he goes off to another appointment. He sees moving to Mars as an opportunity to spend more time with Sarah and the kids, which is to his credit. Such is the life of an overachieving professional climber such as Grant.

My favorite point of plot in this book would also be a huge spoiler. I'll just say I didn't see the event coming. It was a complete surprise and a life-changing plot twist.

What I am taking away from Ground Control is the story of a person who has potential (Sarah was told how much potential she had for most of her entire life, but she saw it as more a failure than a positive thing), searching to achieve her own identity. Unlike Grant, she wasn't seeking notoriety in a career, but as an accomplished human. When it seemed she had finally found her niche, her entire life was changed through no action of her own. She constantly second guesses herself until she faces a problem. It is a good feeling when she finally discovers what she is supposed to do and is successful in her search for self meaning.

Ground Control is a look into the life of a fascinating character told from her point of view. While there are a few lighter moments in the story, it is a serious look at someone who needs to find her purpose in life. I think anyone can find themselves in the way Sarah uses introspection to make decisions, both good and bad. It is an excellent story, well written and edited. I was moved by this book and am thankful I discovered it.

I would warn potential readers to have a box of tissues nearby while reading this. Some may relate to it more through their own personal experience.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

K.A. Hough is a Canadian writer who balances her passion for exercise and science with her love of cookies and nonsense. She currently lives in London with her husband, their three energetic kids, and a codependent dog. In her spare time, she writes personal essays, teaches boot camps in the parks, and drinks tea.

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Planet Scumm: Issue #11: Snake Eyes - I Read It Cover-To-Cover And Loved Everything About It

Planet Scumm: Issue #11: Snake Eyes

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

A few days ago, I received an email from Tyler Berd, Managing Editor of Planet Scumm, asking if I would be interested in posting a review. I've since read the issue cover-to-cover and am more than happy to oblige Tyler and his crew.

Overall, Planet Scumm is a Sci-Fi anthology magazine that releases three times a year. It is published by Spark and Fizz Books. On the website, it is explained what the publication's purpose is...

"Born out of reverence for the bizarre science fiction magazines of the pulp era, our short story anthologies showcase collections of original fiction by international authors. We cherish the genre as an open forum for philosophy, anxieties, and thought experiments. We are proud to emphasize the central role of artwork in sci-fi and are committed to working with and supporting independent illustrators."

Issue #11: Snake Eyes is a collection of eight stories with LGBQT+ themes to "highlight voices that have been traditionally underrepresented in science fiction and speculative fiction."

I found all eight stories amazing. There is a good variety of writings, all are entertaining and accessible. When I review an anthology, I usually focus on one story, but in this case, I have no favorites because they are all so different from one another. It is truly an excellent collection of writings.

The artwork included with the entries is also a collection of illustrtions representative of the stories.

All together, Planet Scumm's stories and illustrations remind me of the old Omni Magazine with a feel of pulp fiction anthologies. One bonus of Planet Scumm is how clean it looks. It is truly about the authors, illustrators, and the guest editor. One will not be inundated with a lot of fillers and advertisements.

Planet Scumm is worth a look. Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Visit their website: https://www.planetscumm.space/ for information on the magazine, subscriptions, future issues, and how to contribute. 

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