A Rant About Fandom

I recently posted the following on my Facebook timeline...

After I posted, there were several people who jumped on the comment thread and began posting positive remarks. One posted a response I immediately removed from my thread. It went something like this...

"We have the right to complain. It's how we get the studio to change things."

I wish I had kept the original comment, but you get the essence of what was said. So, let me take one point at a time. Look at my original post again, now look at the comment. See any problems? I suggested if the television show, an entertainment, is not to your liking, if it is causing you that much angst, turn it off. Simple.

Streaming services like Paramount+ and Disney+ are putting out a plethora of content in the Star Wars and Star Trek universe I find to be very entertaining and fun. There are things in those shows that may not always jibe with what is considered canon. There are inconsistencies, mistakes, and so on that are not according to canon. So what? I find shows such as Strange New Worlds, and The Book of Boba Fett fun to watch. They are entertaining.

On the rare occasions I do watch television, I'm looking to be entertained, and if I am not, I choose not to watch. I have plenty to do to occupy my time. For me, television is a brain-break. I can take thirty-minutes, or an hour and not think.

Now, let's take the commenter's statements and look at them a little closer.

"We have the right to complain."

Yes, you do. I don't dispute that in the least. We all have the right to complain about anything and everything. Complain all you want. My original post didn't say one single thing about anyone's rights. 

Every day, there is something to complain about. I complain about the dozen times a day my phone rings with spam calls; I complain about the neighborhood dogs that bark constantly day and night every time something moves. I complain about not having enough time in the day to get the things done I want to get done - even when it’s usually my own fault. I just don't do it on social media. Why? Because nobody cares, and even if anyone did care, there's nothing they can do about it. But I have the right to complain, and so do you.

The question is, if you hate it so much, if it is causing you enough pain you feel you must take to the internet and shout it to the entire world, why? If it is a television show bothering you and making you so angry, why not stop watching?

Here's an analogy that may illustrate my point of view.

Let's say I go to the grocery store shopping for cookies. I see there are some I like and some I don't. Next to each other on the shelf are Oreos and Nutter Butter cookies. I like Oreos. When A package of Oreos come in the house, I can guarantee they will not last long. I do not like Nutter Butter cookies. So, I buy the Oreos and leave the Nutter Butters on the shelf. Logical? No one is making me buy Nutter Butters.

If there was a cookie fandom, I would have to stand there at the shelf and tell all my fellow shoppers how much I hate Nutter Butters.

"Excuse me, ma'am, but I hate Nutter Butters!"

"Hey sir, did you know I hate Nutter Butters?"

Or I can stand and holler at the top of my lungs, "I HATE NUTTER BUTTERS!" so everyone in the place hears me.

Maybe I can complain to the manager, and he will just say, "so don't buy them," and walk away shaking his head because I have shown myself to be the nutter.

I don't like them, so I don't buy them. It is my right not to consume products I don't like.

Are there Star Trek and Star Wars shows I don't watch? Yes, there are. 

Which ones? That's my business and you really don't care. Why don't I like them? That's my business and you really don't care. Do I watch them anyway? No.

Now, to the question of complaints effecting change. It ain't gonna happen.

Complain all you want on social media. I honestly don't think the executives at the studios are paying attention. Obviously, they aren’t because they keep making content triggering negative responses from fandom. Why are they doing this?

It's all about money in their pockets. People are subscribing to their service, people are watching the shows, they are making money. Seems like a simple enough equation.

Do you honestly believe that on the morning after an episode is released, the suits all sit around the table and think about what some guy in the middle of Nebraska says about their show on Facebook? I got news for you; they don't. They are looking at the numbers of subscribers who are viewing and pitching that to their advertisers to get them to continue sponsoring the show, in most cases.

Why are you tuning in? Is it to be entertained or is it so you can rant with your friends at the coffee shop, or around the drinking fountain at work, or so you can pick it apart and complain on Facebook?

Let's return to the cookie analogy. 

Assume I post a statement on Facebook saying: "I hate Nutter Butter Cookies. Why do they even make them? They are horrible and I cannot Stand them." Then I follow with all the reasons I find them disgusting. I will get responses from several people who agree with me, and some who don't, and those who think I'm stupid because they love them. Okay, so I've trashed a product I don't like. Some agree with me, but I don't think the execs at Nabisco are going to stop production because of it. As a matter of fact, I know they won't.

The execs at Nabisco are going to meet and look at the market numbers. They will see how many thousands of packages of cookies they are selling, and if they are selling, they will continue producing.

Now, let's assume, the execs look at their market analysis and see that no Nutter Butters have been sold for a long time. You will no longer see them on the shelves because no one is buying them.

If you want to effect change in the television shows you watch, stop watching. Unsubscribe from the service. Maybe even send an email or letter to the company telling them why you aren't watching. If enough people do that, there might be change, but it's going to take a lot of people doing those things to make a difference. That's just the way it is, and the way it will continue to be. Big companies pay a lot of money for market analysis, and have been doing so for a long, long time, and they trust their numbers. Not the opinions of a few malcontent fans.

Fandom has become toxic and worthless. It is a negative term meaning the opposite of what it should be. It has become something where the words "I Hate..." has become the mantra. There are complainers, nay-sayers, illogical arguments, and negativity everywhere. And it's all over nothing more than an entertainment. There are even death threats to people who are just doing their jobs! Death Threats? Come on!

Have you noticed that even celebrities are getting into the act? William Shatner has supposedly said that "Roddenberry is turning over in his grave" over the recent Star Trek iterations, and people from the cast of one show answered with a statement of their own. 

Aren't there more important things going on that would deserve that sort of attention? I can think of a few dozen things more worthy of attention than bashing an entertainment.

As far as fandom is concerned, I choose not to take part.

If I start reading a book I don't like, I probably won't finish reading it. I won't review it. Someone somewhere probably loves it and who am I to trash someone's work?

If I watch a television show and I don't like it, I turn it off and don't watch anymore.

If I don't like a movie, I leave the theater or turn it off.

Life is hard enough without adding more angst on purpose.

As I was growing up, I heard over and over, "If you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything." It seems now it is different, more like, "If you don't have something nice to say, say it anyway." Is it fun to hurt people? Is it fun to get into arguments where people become mortal enemies? Do you feel better when you make someone else feel bad?

I was asked why I deleted the statement from the person I mentioned at the beginning of this. It's very simple. It had nothing to do with my original question, which was, "If you hate it so much, why don't you just turn it off?"

Social media can be a wonderful thing. It allows people to instantly be in touch with friends and family far away. It allows one to talk about their successes and get recognition from others for their accomplishments. It can help lonely people stay in touch with others and be less lonely.

But it can also be a toxic place.

David Gerrold once posted the rules for how he runs his social media outlets. He called his Facebook page his "electronic living room." All are welcome, but you are expected to behave, or you will be invited to leave - forcefully, if necessary. I like that.

If I post something on Facebook, your comment should be to the point and logical. If it is irrelevant, it will be removed. If you disagree with something I posted, just keep scrolling. The other option is to comment on your own timeline. I promise, if I see it, I won't give it another thought as I scroll to the next thread. I have plenty of weapons to deal with those who irritate me. I have the delete button, the block, the unfollow, and the unfriend. You have the same option I do.

So, in conclusion, I still don't have an answer to the original question. I probably never will, and the toxicity will continue, despite what I wrote here.

Oh, and by the way, I don't actually hate Nutter Butters. I've never even tried one. Maybe I'll go out and buy a package. Will I like them or not? Trust me when I tell you, you'll never know.

Well, there it is...

Qapla!

 

Crackle and Fire: An Angela Hardwicke Mystery By Russ Colchamiro - Hard Boiled Sci-Fi Mystery With A Noir Twist

Crackle and Fire: An Angela Hardwicke Mystery (Angela Hardwicke Mysteries Book 1) By Russ Colchamiro

I learned about this book from a Facebook post from the author promoting the third book in the series soon to be released. When I went to Amazon to pre-order that one, I saw there are two more in the series, so I thought it only natural I start with at the beginning. I contacted the author and asked if the book needed to be read in order and he assured me each story is a stand-alone and can be read out of order. The only element one could consider an arc is character growth.

Crackle and Fire is a sci-fi mystery story, but what really appealed to me was the pulpish-looking cover art suggesting a traditional detective story written in the noir style. That is exactly what this story is! The principal character, Angela Hardwicke, is a hard-nosed private investigator for hire. But a great character is not all there is to it, there is also a great backdrop of world-building for Angela to play in. When you also throw in good old-fashioned private eye sarcasm and cynicism, you get an eminently entertaining tale of intrigue.

There is so much to like about Crackle and Fire, I hardly know where to begin. I'll just start out with calling it a fun and entertaining rollercoaster ride.

In the blurb, it is said the story is a combination of Dr. Who, Blade Runner, and Philip Marlowe all rolled into one. All those elements are part of the tale.

Angela is a P.I. who knows her business and has a reputation for getting the job done. When she is approached by a man who wants her to track down some stolen corporate files, it sounds like an easy open and shut case. It turns out it is anything but easy as she must fight her way through a web of lies, being chased by elements of organized crime, a mysterious murder, and an insane malevolent traveler who us willing to travel long distances to get what he wants. Add to that her struggle with her own personal problems and nothing is easy for our hero as she works diligently to untie knot after knot, plodding through hopefully to a successful conclusion. 

Our principal character, Angela, is a P.I. from a place called Eternity where the universe is regulated. So, she's not just any gumshoe, and she has the smarts and instincts to rise above the pack. My favorite thing about her is how she handles herself when confronted by difficult situations. She never breaks character and stays just as hard-boiled as any other time. But there is more to her. She has a personal demon she is constantly fighting, and sometimes it gets the best of her. Her demon exists as a psychoactive drug that is powerful and holds one like a pair of vice grips. Angela is desperately trying not to give in to her addictions because if she does, she will forever lose what she cares most about.

No, I will not tell you, you're going to have to do your own investigation - read the book.

The entire tale is told through Angela's eyes. We get everything from her narrative, and it is all great.

My favorite point of plot is all the swerves the reader will encounter as the story unfolds. It starts out pretty simple and there is a constant crescendo in the action and just when one thinks it is ending, there's a new twist, or another wrinkle. It is just layers upon layers of brilliant storytelling in Crackle and Fire.

My takeaway from this tale is to remember that one should never take anything for granted. Something may look easy, but one can never know everything, even if one is highly intelligent, it is impossible to predict every contingency, especially when there are other people involved.

I loved Crackle and Fire. I love the protagonist, the style it's written in, and the colorful world building. I recommend this for anyone who enjoys mysteries in the noir style of storytelling combined with science fiction. I am looking forward to the next books in this series.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Russ Colchamiro is the author of the rollicking space opera Crossline, the zany SF/F backpacking comedy series Finders Keepers, Genius de Milo, and Astropalooza, Editor of the SF anthology Love, Murder, & Mayhem, and co-author of the noir anthology, Murder in the Montague Falls, all with Crazy 8 Press.

Russ has contributed to several other anthologies, including Tales of the Crimson Keep, Pangea, Altered States of the Union, They Keep Killing Glenn, Thrilling Adventure Yarns, Badass Moms, Brave New Girls, Camelot 13, and TV Gods 2.

For more on Russ and his books visit www.russcolchamiro.com, follow hom on Twitter and Instagram @AuthorDudeRuss, and 'like' his Facebook author page.

Russ lives in New Jersey with his wife, two ninjas, and crazy dog, Simon, who may in fact be an alien himself.

Well, there it is...

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One Of Our Spaceships Is Missing by Chris Gerrib - Piracy In The Darkness Of Space

One Of Our Spaceships Is Missing by Chris Gerrib

I received an advance copy of this book and am leaving this review voluntarily.

The first thing that attracted me to this was the title. It immediately grabbed my curiosity. I didn't even bother reading the back-cover blurb before I downloaded it.

One of Our Spaceship's is Missing is a tale of piracy in the darkness of space. It is a military space-opera sci-fi tale with non-binary LGBTQ+ characters. Set in a future where space travel is common to the point, there are cruise ships that plough through Earth's inner solar system, carrying passengers to planets that are, or have been, made to be inhabitable. Each inhabited world has its own sovereign government with its own laws and navies. In this story moves from setting to setting by following the principal character's points of view for each chapter. We get to see what they see colored with their own perceptions and thoughts.

Overall, I got into this story from the very opening pages and finished it in a couple of days. It's an excellently crafted story with interesting characters set in places and settings that are well described and plausible.

Be advised, even though one of the characters is a girl in her late teens, this is not a young adult novel. Owing to the thoughts revealed by the characters as they interact, it is, in my opinion, an adult story.

Aboard the space cruiser Cardinal, passengers enjoy an inner-system cruise scheduled to arrive at Earth from Mars. In the main lounge, a woman sits at a piano, playing and singing popular songs from the past and present to help everyone relax and enjoy themselves. During her performance, she casually flirts with another female passenger while passengers move about. What everyone doesn't know is the piano player is eagerly awaiting to opportunity to hatch a plot she and others have been planning for two years.

The plan is to hijack the Cardinal and hold it and its passengers for a lucrative ransom.

Also on board is a young woman from Mars who finds herself thrown into a dangerous situation. She has a small amount of military training. That, along with her ability to adapt and think on her feet, helps her to avoid becoming a casualty as she works against the hijackers.

On earth, a gumshoe detective who has a hard-boiled reputation for resorting to the use of his weapon, investigates why and who an interplanetary cruise ship has suddenly gone dark without a trace.

The artist in the first-class piano bar named Victoria, the young girl is Kelley, and the detective is Ray. These three, along with other characters, come to life in this page turner that starts moving full speed ahead from the opening page and never slows down until the end.

My favorite character in this story was Special Agent Ray Volk of the FBI. It was fun reading about a character who presented a noir-ish feeling in the story. Ray is a straightforward experienced investigator, and once on the case, he is relentless until he has all the facts. He goes to great lengths to gather the information to break a case. He goes without sleep, food, and will jump on a plane at a moment's notice to follow leads. As with many investigators, he is often a pain-in-the-butt for his boss, who tells him he needs to leave his weapon in its holster, even when he comes under fire. Ray's character adds a portion of dry humor to an otherwise dark tale.

All the characters were well written and relatable. There was also a wide diversity both in cultural ties and sexual orientation.

Aside from following the adventures of Ray, my favorite point of plot was the military aspect of the story. One can certainly tell the author is a veteran of the US Navy. I got a strong sense of authenticity during the military scenes. The author's experience added just the right nuance to the action and made those parts come alive.

My takeaway from this tale is if one gambles, one shouldn't count their winnings before the game is over. Even the best planned operation will not turn out as the planner expects because there are just too many unpredictable outside factors that cannot be considered.

One of Our Spaceships is Missing is a great story, carefully written, with interesting characters. It hits the ground running and doesn't stop until the end. Even with the fast pace of the story, everything is written clearly and with enough detail to give the mind's eye a good feel for the backdrop the characters are playing in. It is an adult oriented story, and I wouldn't recommend it for younger readers. Some may find the sexual encounters and thoughts between the characters a little unsettling, but not gratuitous. 

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Chris Gerrib has been an avid fan of science fiction and space exploration since he was a child riding his bicycle to his small town's library, where he memorized every book they had on the subject. Since then, he spent a tour in the US Navy, got an MBA, and now has a day job with a multi-national software company as a Project Manager. He lives in the Chicago suburbs and is active in his local Rotary Club. One Of Our Spaceships Is Missing is his fourth science fiction novel.

You can visit Chris' website at www.privatemarsrocket.net or read his blog at chris-gerrib.dreamwidth.org.

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Teslanauts by Matthew Donald - Great Young Adult Sci-Fi In A Steampunk Setting

Teslanauts by Matthew Donald

I received an advance review copy of this book and am leaving this review voluntarily.

Please note: This book is due for release on August 16, 2022 - ISBN: 9798986024806 - Preorders Available Soon.

Teslanauts is a story worthy of the word genius. Set in 1922 after WWI, it is a historical, young adult sci-fi story where the bulk of the action occurs in western Europe. It is written so well with amazing characters who perform amazing feats. We get to meet Nikola Tesla and George Westinghouse as they direct a small army of mostly kids called the Teslanauts.

I enjoyed this story immensely and was amazed at the author's imagination and the research he must have done to bring it to life. I was hooked from the first sentence and it did not let me go until the last word of the text. Teslanauts spans an entire spectrum of palpable emotions and will keep readers on the edge of their seats. It is a young adult story, but adult readers shouldn't let that get in the way of enjoying this electrifying tale of a boy's adventure as he goes on a journey of discovery.

Much of what is in this saga is fiction, but when one thinks about the visionary, Nikola Tesla, maybe what is in this story isn't so farfetched.

Young Raymond Calvert, aged seventeen, lives in New York with his mother, who is doing the best she can to raise him. He is not a typical kid of his age. When he was younger, his dad went missing and Raymond spends his spare time searching for clues among his father's papers. When he thinks he has found something, he is whisked away by two agents of the Electrocracy and is introduced to a group of agents known as the Teslanauts, under the direct command of Nikola Tesla himself. Raymond learns how much his father meant to Tesla and the organization as a whole. Raymond makes it his mission to use the vast technology, including things that allow him to move over long distances in the blink of an eye, to find and, if necessary, rescue his father.

But there are other forces at work in the world, and they are not satisfied with the outcome of the War to End All Wars and are hellbent on restarting and winning the next conflict that will be fought with futuristic technology. If they are allowed to bring their plan to fruition, the fate of the planet and history as we know it will be changed, and not for the better.

Raymond is a good kid but is a troubled kid. He knows his father is out there somewhere and he wants desperately to find and bring him home. It is his main focus, and he uses the Teslanauts to try to achieve his goal. But along the way, he meets others who are willing to sacrifice everything to stop the re-sparking of WWI. Raymond isn't the brightest student, barely making it into the organization, but what he lacks in knowledge, he certainly makes up for it with his tenacity. He is a likable character, and it is hard for the reader not to want him to win his personal battle as a son, but also to contribute to his team to stop the evil that would have their way should the Electrocracy fail.

Teslanauts is a hero's journey and a tale of a young man learning to rise above himself and come of age in a complicated time in world history.

There are numerous diverse characters in this story and all of them are appealing. Everyone has a part to play, and they contribute according to their talents. Their leaders spur them on, but victory is not guaranteed. It takes everyone doing their part for them to even have a chance.

My favorite point of plot is the way the technology seems so plausible. Tesla was a visionary and a dreamer and wanted to make use of electricity is a much different way than we do today. Nearly all the gadgets in the story are things Tesla intended to make real. Had he been allowed to follow his work to its logical conclusion, who knows what modern technology might look like?

Another aspect I enjoyed was the way the characters interacted with each other. It felt so natural and authentic that the players in the story came alive. Each one had their story to tell, and we got enough background on all of them. The back-stories were presented as part of the tale itself and revealed over time as the people got to know their fellow Teslanauts. If there is one point that took me a smidgen out of the story, it was how the kids would speak in today's vernacular, but this only happened occasionally, and I chalked it up to being a young adult story and an attempt to relate to the target audience.

My final favorite plot point was how well the settings fit the story. I saw this story in my head in black and white with the period costumes. The descriptions of the places and things added to the feeling and transported be back in time. Along with the setings was the way the author included historical facts and how certain characters felt about their predicaments. This was some good stuff.

My takeaway from Teslanauts is how the author illustrates a dilemma faced by the principal character. He has his agenda, but yet is honor bound to fulfill his duty. This is something all young adults must face when their lives are no longer about going to school. There are many complicated decisions young people face, and some of those decisions speak directly to their character. Raymond makes a decision that may have spelled disaster for the entire world, but he was fortunate enough to still come through for his team. Some are not so fortunate, and decisions do sometimes lead to disaster.

Teslanauts is a well written, well thought out story told from the point of view of a seventeen-year-old. It was amazing how the author could put himself into that position and communicate it so well. It is an adventure story that hits the ground running and doesn't stop until the very end. When you read it, don't blink; you might miss something. The story is emotionally charged and has believable characters in a well-researched world. My highest recommendations for Teslanauts!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Matthew Donald has been an obnoxious snarker and dinosaur fanatic for all his life. After first winning a writing contest at age six, he made it his lifelong goal to write a bunch of books and release them upon the world.

He graduated from the University of Northern Colorado in 2014 with a B.A. in English and Creative Writing and is currently working on three sequels to Megazoic among some other projects. He lives in Highlands Ranch, Colorado with his cockatiel, Lyra.

Well, there it is…

Qapla!

Sands of Dune by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson - Four Excellent Tales From The Dune Universe

Sands of Dune by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson

This is a collection of four novellas from the Dune universe intended to add some perspective to the series’ mythos. The four stories are about events that took place outside of the tale told in the full novels by Frank Herbert and the team of Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson.

In this volume, the four stories are:

The Edge of a Crysknife: What was the Shadout Mapes like before she became the head housekeeper for the Atreides? Well, she was a fierce Fremmen warrior. This is a great tale, and many say it is their favorite in the book.

Blood of the Sardukar: Even though the Padishah Emperor Shaddam IV is complicit in the Baron Harkonnen killing Duke Leto Atreides, he has ordered that the Duke not be tortured and made to suffer before he dies. A Sardukar warrior has taken it upon himself to see that Shaddam's wishes are carried out. Mostly seen as merciless killers, this particular Sardukar's background has allowed him to keep a certain amount of compassion.

The Waters of Kanly: In this tale, Gurney Halleck is at the center. He knows the Duke has been captured and killed and thinks the same has happened to the young Paul and his mother, the Lady Jessica. He has taken up with a band of smugglers and is using them to further his vow to avenge himself upon the Harkonnen for the Duke and Paul, as well as what they did to him before he came into the employ of the Atreides.

Imperial Court: A tale set ten-thousand years before the events in Frank Herbert's Dune, It chronicles more of what took place between the Atreides and Harkonnens to make them blood enemies.

I enjoyed all the four stories, but my favorite was The Waters of Kanly. 

As one would expect, these are all well-written stories with a lot of action involving characters Dune fans would know, and some new ones we only see in this volume. It is well worth the time to pick this up if you are a fan of the extended Dune universe.

What I enjoyed the most was how well these stories dovetail right into the universe with the same feeling I get when reading any of the books in the saga. Whenever I pick up new material, I always feel like I am getting a visit from friends I haven’t seen for a while. The stories contained in this volume are all entertaining and after I finished reading, I wanted more.

Just a little side note here. I was recently in a local Starbucks for a coffee break. I happened to have on a t-shirt that depicted a sandworm and a group of Fremmen around it. On the back is printed the litany against fear. The young woman who was getting my order together asked me if my shirt was about Dune. Of course, I answered that it was, and we had a brief conversation about how both us enjoyed the new film. It would appear there is a Dune revival currently taking place, and no one is happier about that than I am.

My Highest Recommendations for Sands of Dune!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Brian Herbert, the son of Frank Herbert, wrote the definitive biography of him, Dreamer of Dune, which was a Hugo Award finalist. Herbert is also president of the company directing the legacy of Frank Herbert and is an executive producer of the new motion picture Dune, as well as of the forthcoming TV series Dune: The Sisterhood. He is the author or coauthor of more than forty-five books, including multiple New York Times bestsellers, has been nominated for the Nebula Award, and is always working on several projects at once. He and his wife, Jan, have traveled to all seven continents, where they experienced a diversity of cultures that often find their way into his writing. In 2019, they took a fascinating trip to Budapest to observe the filming of Dune.

Kevin J Anderson has written dozens of national bestsellers and has been nominated for the Hugo Award, the Nebula Award, the Bram Stoker Award, and the SFX Readers' Choice Award. His critically acclaimed original novels include the ambitious space opera series The Saga of Seven Suns, the epic fantasy trilogy Wake the Dragon, the steampunk adventures Clockwork Angels and Clockwork Lives (with legendary Rush drummer Neil Peart), as well as the thrillers Stake and Kill Zone (with Doug Beason). He is the publisher of WorldFire Press and the director of the graduate publishing program for Western Colorado University. He also set the Guinness-certified world record for the largest single-author book signing.

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Crudrat: The Tinkered Stars by Gail Carriger - A Colorfully Written Tale Of A Young Woman Searching For Her Place In The Universe

 Crudrat: The Tinkered Stars by Gail Carriger

Crudrat is a young adult sci-fi adventure story about a young woman looking for a purpose in life written by Gail Carriger. I had read nothing by this author before and wasn't sure what to expect when I opened the book. What I got was a fun story with clever writing and colorful descriptions and a plethora of interesting and diverse characters. The settings are colorful and provide a great backdrop for the characters to play in.

When I first started read, I had a bit of a hard time getting into the book. The author has a cadence to her writing that was complex - I was not used to reading in the rhythm set down. However, as I read on, I got into the rhythm and had no problem understanding what was on the page. Gail is brilliant in her writing, but it takes some getting used to. The way she uses words drives the humor in the story.

The humor is subtle, it is everywhere in the tale, but it doesn't impede what the writer is trying to communicate. 

Overall, I was entertained and got into Crudrat to the point I didn't want to stop reading, it just kept moving forward and pushing me on to the next page.

In a word, Crudrat is refreshing, innovative, and fun.

Maura is aboard a huge space port the size of a city. Her job is to help clean up the residue made when the station generates power from dark energy. To do this, she must have the skills to move like a cat in a room full of rocking chairs. All around her, sharp metal blades whirl around, and she must avoid them, or forfeit her life in an accident. No longer a small child, she has gotten too big for the job and her future is not good.

When a crudrat is no longer useful aboard the station, there is no new job for them; they are just left to survive on their own, or not to survive at all. So, if she wants to live, she must find a way off the station to seek her fortune elsewhere.

By rescuing an incarcerated alien being, she has a ticket to a better life, and a future she can determine for herself. Her skills as a crudrat will be needed on her new home aboard a station made of ice.

The principal character, Maura, is a crudrat. That is both a disparagement and a job title, as well as a death sentence once she reaches puberty and grows too big to continue avoiding the blades that move the dark matter through the energy making process. The process creates a kind of crud buildup needing to be cleaned off the equipment. Maura has a companion to do her job, a kind of animal that eats the crud. She must find a new living situation away from the spaceport's society that just disposes of the unneeded things and people.

When Maura arrives at her new living situation, she finds herself immersed in a culturally diverse society with all kinds of new rules and ideas where a wrong move can get one in trouble.

My favorite part of Crudrat is Gail's use of language. It is colorful and fun to read once one gets into the rhythm of the writing. The story takes us places where we meet people with different philosophies and ideas that are intriguing, and fun to explore from Maura's point of view.

My takeaway from Crudrat is how a person must be open to strange new situations. The principal character is adaptable, open-minded, and works to fit in her new world. But, there are also those willing to adapt to her as well. So, for me, this story so far is about finding balance when in new situations.

Crudrat is not a casual read. The prose will keep a reader on their toes, and one must become immersed in the story to get the full flavor. This is an uncommon sci-fi story that comes from the imagination of a great teller of tales. There are both light and dark moments in this book that will, if the reader lets it happen, take one on a journey of discovery and adventure.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

New York Times bestselling author Gail Carriger (AKA G.L. Carriger) writes to cope with being raised in obscurity by an expatriate Brit and an incurable curmudgeon. She escaped small-town life and inadvertently acquired several degrees in higher learning, a fondness for cephalopods, and a chronic tea habit. She then traveled the historic cities of Europe, subsisting entirely on biscuits secreted in her handbag. She resides in the colonies, surrounded by fantastic shoes, where she insists on tea imported from London.

Note: I met and visited with Ms. Carriger at a small convention in Omaha several years ago. I remember her being a fun person to be around with an enormous sense of humor, and a great smile. Her wardrobe is amazing. If you ever have the opportunity to meet this lady, do it! She is awesome and you'll have a better day for the effort.

Gail at OSFest 6 - Omaha, 2013

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Riebeckite: Bruised Moon Sequence Book One by O.R. Lea - Great Sci-Fi Thrller Well Worth The Time

Riebeckite: Bruised Moon Sequence Book One by O.R. Lea

It's always a good day when I receive an email from an author who has discovered this blog and offers me the opportunity to read and comment on his/her new book. Such is the case with this tale by O.R. Lea. After reading the blub, I knew I had to read this because of its unique setting of near future events in the Persian Gulf.

I downloaded a copy of Riebeckite from Kindle Unlimited and am leaving this review voluntarily.

Overall, I found Rebeckite to be a well told great story. It features well-defined characters set in a world where there are those who would exploit a disaster for greed and power. I enjoyed the location setting of the story; I've never read a sci-fi story set in the Middle East as far as I can remember. I found it refreshing the people depicted were mostly just regular people trying to go about their lives as best they can. It was fun getting a brief view of culture I feel is often misunderstood by many in western culture.

Rebeckite is a sci-fi thriller with political and scientific intrigue. It is well paced with characters who are well developed and that a reader can care about. The principal human antagonists are developed through the story and their true motivations are revealed slowly. The non-human antagonist is terrifying, leading to some rather graphic descriptions of death and dismemberment, but I would not label the gory scenes as gratuitous. There are some small bits of humor added to the tale that made me laugh; most of those were between the two principal characters.

In 2027, the Earth's moon is struck by an asteroid named Riebecki. The impact kicked up enough material to form a ghostly blue ring around the satellite. While it is a breath-taking site for those on the planet, Earth's gravity is also pulling a steady stream of material into the atmosphere. The material sprinkling into the air is harmful to life on the land, so a series of giant scrubbers are built to remove the material, dubbed riebeckite, from the atmosphere and deposited into the sea. As a result, fisheries are suffering. The company in charge of the scrubbers employ Dr. Tahira Piriyeva to study the effects of the blue dust on the ocean around the island of Qeshm. When one of her colleagues is injured, she begins a journey of discovery that leads to a deadly realization.

Further investigation shows that the danger from the material streaming from the moon is being exploited by greedy, power-hungry individuals whose self-interest could put millions of lives in jeopardy. 

When Tahira is reunited with a childhood friend, Zareen Isfahani, it is a race for survival and to expose those who would put the world's population in harm's way to protect the secret of the Riebeckites and gain fortune.

This tale has a lot of great characters at both ends of the spectrum. My favorite characters in this story are the dynamic duo of Tahira and Zareen. Together, they are an unstoppable force with Tahira as the brains, and Zareen as the muscle. The pair are from different sides of the tracks, with Tahira on the island because of the annexation by Azerbaijan. Zareen is a native of Iran and is part of the resistance to the annexation of Qeshm. They are friends when they are young but wound up getting separated during an uprising. When they are reunited, they have changed, but it doesn't take them long to remember their friendship and how much they care for each other.

Both are strong female characters, and it isn't hard to find them as people one can care about. The author did a great job creating characters with such complementary strengths, and their ability to fill in the gaps in each other’s weaknesses.

My favorite point of plot is the development of the principal characters, but at the same time, I enjoyed the development of the tale's main antagonist; the beings that arise because of the material streaming to the Earth from the moon. Without getting specific, I will say that the development of the monsters is slow and enhances development of the plot. For a lot of the story, I was wondering what would eventually come from this part. I was not disappointed. I will also say that what came of the material is terrifying, and difficult to defeat.

My takeaway from Riebeckites is how people from diametrically different cultures can find a bridge of friendship, overcome their differences, and work together for a common goal. I also appreciated a look into cultures I normally read little about.

I found Riebeckites a refreshing thrill-a-minute rollercoaster ride full if twists and turns. This tale should appeal to any sci-fi fan who enjoys an action-packed story with some terrifying moments, suspense, and great character development. The highest recommendations for this brilliantly written tale.

There are two more books coming in this tale. Book two is titled Torpor's End due out in November, 2022, and Camp Chelovek to be released in March, 2023.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Raised and educated in North Wales, Oliver spent his early 20s working for a theatre-in-education music troupe for as long as it took to feel like his GCSE in Welsh language had provided its money's worth. Since then, he's lived in Portsmouth and currently works as a laboratory analyst. His biggest failure as a writer has been in his attempts to settle on a genre, having written about Middle Eastern vampires, African mercenaries, and supernatural Welsh murderers. His first 'properly' published novel, "Riebeckite", is a near-future speculative fiction story set in the Persian Gulf.

He is @orleaauthor on Twitter and Instagram, and his website is orlea.co.uk.

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Leaping to the Stars: The Far Side of the Sky Book 3 by David Gerrold - An Amazing Conclusion To A Magnificent Series!

Leaping to the Stars: The Far Side of the Sky Book 3 by David Gerrold

Leaping to the Stars is the third and final book in the Far Side of the Sky series by David Gerrold. The series chronicles the exploits of Charles "Chigger" Dingillian, a young teenager who comes of age as he and his family leave a ruined Earth to find a better situation. Written in the traditional style of science fiction, the author take us beyond the solar system for an exciting adventure brimming with twists and turns as it unfolds. But that's not all. There is a smorgasbord of questions presented to give one food for thought. 

I would recommend that anyone interested in reading this saga to be sure to read the series starting with the first book in the series to see the growth in the principal character. The first book is Jumping off the Planet, followed by Bouncing off the Moon. All three are excellent books that have a great deal of value in great storytelling, characters to care about, and thought-provoking philosophies presented without taking the reader out of the story.

It's no secret David Gerrold is a superior author, and this series is one outstanding example of his brilliance.

This tale picks up shortly following the events of Bouncing off the Moon. Charles has been reunited with his mother and father. He and his two brothers, Douglas, Bobby, along with Mickey - Douglas' love interest - all board a starship in preparation to move to the Outbeyond colony, some thirty-five light years from the earth. Life will not be easy on Outbeyond. Conditions there are going to depend heavily on everyone in the colony, contributing their talents and knowledge to survive.

One thing that may help is the artificial super-intelligent program called HARLIE, contained in a toy monkey bonded to Charles. HARLIE is an acronym for Human Analog Replicant Lethetic Intelligence Engine. The thing is, everyone wants HARLIE for its sheer power to think and come up with abstract ideas to problems. HARLIE's main purpose is to ensure the wellbeing of Charles, and by extension, everything he cares about. What we learn in this story, as far as HARLIE is concerned, is what lengths the program will go to make sure Charles is safe.

Being chased by everyone, Charles and his family get aboard the starship Cascade to begin their journey. Right up to the last minute before their final launch, a law enforcement official is knocking at the hatch of the ship, trying to stop them from leaving. The ship finally blasts away from the moon to begin the journey. And that should be the easy part, but it's not to be.

Onboard the Cascade, there is endless training for the future colonists. There are matters of educating the young and finding out how adult passengers can contribute to the colony. There are matters of conservation and usage of limited supplies, and how the colony will be set up upon arrival.

If it sounds daunting, it is.

The tale is told from Charles's point of view entirely. We get a look at his thought processes and the conclusions he draws. He is often disappointed in what he finds coming from his experiences. For instance, even before he is aboard the starship, it is made clear to him he, and his family, are only welcome because he controls HARLIE.

The best thing about Charles is witnessing him coming into his own as the story progresses. Being forced to grow up makes him appealing to me. The unfortunate thing about him is no matter where he turns, there is always someone trying to take something from him. He is somewhat a tragic character, but he learns about his world despite the setbacks, which there are many.

Charles finds his solace in music. He is an accomplished musician, following in his dad's footsteps. His music has been a sustaining force all his life and in this part of the saga, it also becomes a sustaining force for others.

My favorite point of plot in Leaping to the Stars is in a chapter called "Defining Government" (pp. 192-196 - Kindle Edition). It describes a discussion between students and a wise teacher using the Socratic method to lead students in discovering their own conclusions, namely how they would shape the government for their colony. The students discuss everything from free-living to coming up with a set of rules that must apply to all. These four pages of the book are worth the price of the book.

Another discussion that takes place between two people is on the nature of being good, or maybe behaving well would also fit. The question is, is behaving well desirable because it comes with rewards, or is it a reward in itself?

Finally, my favorite quote from the book is at the core of another concept.

"... knowledge isn't about what you believe, it's about what you can demonstrate." (Page 199 - Kindle Edition)

There is what one knows, and there is what one believes. I think I'll just leave that one right where it is.

I will add, much of what I read in parts of the book dealing with philosophy and world building reminded me of Plato's Republic, but David Gerrold's writing is far more entertaining.

My takeaway from this book shows how difficult it is to maintain a society, and none of us really knows everything that makes a communal living situation work. As the people on the ship move closer to the colony, there are a lot of bits and pieces that need to fall into place. Or maybe more like hammering into place. Everyone will have to contribute to the commonwealth to make it a viable place to live. Just subsisting is not an option.

One of my favorite things about David Gerrold's stories is there is something to be learned from all of them I have read. There is always something to think about after the book is closed, and this book will haunt me as I work through and sort out what I have been given to think about.

But please, don't misunderstand, Leaping to the Stars is not just a treatise on societal living. The story is amazing. It has everything one would want from a good sci-fi book. It has great backdrops for well-developed characters to play in. It has a full gamut of emotional context for the reader. There is even a love story, as well as a budding love story, when Charles is reacquainted with someone he met in the first installment of the series. There is technology at work and even an element of uncertainty with HARLIE. All of this is tied together to round out a trilogy full of unexpected surprises in the tradition of authors such as Robert Heinlein. In a word, it’s fun. Highest Recommendations!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

David Gerrold lives in California with his son, daughter-in-law, and his toddler grandson. He is the winner of numerous awards for his writing. You can follow him on Facebook or through his Patreon page. He is a self-described curmudgeon, and you are highly advised not to tread on his lawn.

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