She Stole My Buddy's Starship by Myles Christensen - Excellent Sequel to My Buddy Gave Me A Starship!

She Stole My Buddy's Starship by Myles Christensen

Since I read the first book in the series, My Buddy Gave Me A Starship, just over a year ago, I have been eagerly awaiting a continuation of the adventures of Mitch aboard the starship Starfire. Well, I'm not disappointed with the second installment of this saga in any way. She Stole My Buddy's Starship continues the fun as Mitch gets way more than he bargained for in both good and bad ways.

Once again, Myles has written another book that is exciting, intense, and just plain fun to read. The characters have a wit a light year long, and the tale is full of twists and turns couched in non-stop action and hilarity. As with the first book, I loved the dialog. 

Science Fiction fans who enjoy the lighter side of the genre should appreciate this series, and once one gets to know the characters in the first book, can expect satisfaction with the reading of the second book in the series.

In the first installment of the story, Mitch, a man down on his luck, loses his job and meets his long-time friend, Gabe, in a diner as Mitch tries to drown his sorrows in a large bowl of ice cream. Gabe invites Mitch to his place for a visit where Gabe has a starship hidden in his barn. It isn't long before another starship lands on Gabe's property and uniform-clad soldiers attempt to take the ship away. They kill Gabe, and Mitch gets away thanks to the help of an artificially intelligent copy of Gabe's deceased wife, Tera.

Tera takes Gabe to a place where a beautiful alien female named Vrynn awaits a delivery. She joins Mitch, Tera, an android copy of Gabe, and a bear-sized animal that behaves like a puppy.

Later, they run into a ruthless alien named Gralik who very much wants the Starfire for himself.

In this book; as the Starfire sits in a hangar on an out of the way world, Vrynn tricks Mitch into giving her access to all ship operations. They seem to have fallen for each other, at least a little. While Mitch is sleeping, Vrynn apparently betrays Mitch's trust and takes the Starfire to continue her quest on her own. Mitch takes a clunky, old shuttle and goes seeking Vrynn.

After that, well, Mitch finds himself in a desperate battle for the freedom of an entire planet!

And at the bottom of the whole thing is Gralik, who still obsesses over the Starfire, and will stop at nothing to possess it.

In this continuation of the story, Mitch proves himself to be quite resourceful and a good commander of the Starfire. A lot of that is because of the personalities he surrounds himself with. Vrynn is thoughtful, but she is also a brave fighter for freedom. Even though Tera and Gabe are computers, they support Mitch and Vrynn well and behave more as humans. What the biologicals are trying to accomplish would not even be possible without their intelligence. As the story moves forward, we meet a number of other characters, all of them endearing in one way or another. That is, except for Gralik. The more we learn about him, the more villainous he is. All are excellently written, and Myles has written brilliant dialog for them to give them depth of character and bring them to life.

I have to be careful with my favorite plot point. Yes, Vrynn steals the Starfire, but sometimes people do the right thing for the wrong reason. My takeaway from this tale is that appearances can be deceiving. I'm being cryptic here to avoid spoilers. To discover what I'm talking about, you're just going to have to read the book.

The theme that stands out most for me is to show how perseverance and intelligence plays a large part in the success or failure of the achievement of a goal. Everyone in the book has their own agenda. Some of those are compatible with others, but teamwork will give one an edge toward success. Another theme shows how obsession can also lead one to stumble and lose what they have gained as their focus shifts.

She Stole My Buddy's Starship is an excellent sequel to My Buddy Gave Me A Starship. The tone of the story is on the lighter side, making it another fun read. The characters are excellent; the dialog is top-notch, and the story flows, making it another page-turner. Once one picks it up, one will not want to put it down. I recommend this story to space opera fans and those who might enjoy watching a budding romance continue to grow. 

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Myles Christensen loves to write exciting adventures because he loves to read exciting adventures. The hopeless romantic in him will usually a teensy bit of romance into his stories. While writing, he listens to music that matches - and sometimes inspires - the story line.

His mild-mannered alter ego is a product development engineer, university professor, and game inventor. He lives in Utah with his wife and children.

Well, there it is...

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Red Storm by Bradley James - A Great Prequel To Accompany This Author's Novel Series

Red Storm by Bradley James

Thanks to the author's newsletter, I discovered that Bradley James had penned a prequel short story in his Aftermath universe. It is set before his first novel, Aftermath: Lunar. I snapped it up.

The story is set on Mars during a very dense dust storm. The principal character, Elliot Adams, has to brave seemingly impossible conditions to re-establish blacked-out communications; a daunting task, to be sure.

Red Storm is easily read in one sitting at 57 pages. There is a lot packed into this story and, as an avid reader of Bradley's work, I relished it.

Astronauts Elliot Adams, Franklin Lewis, and Dr. Elena Vega are conducting a routine mission on the Red Planet. The trio is caught in an unexpected violent dust storm and must get to shelter quickly. Elena is injured by flying debris and needs more medical attention than Elliot and Franklin are trained to perform. So, while Franklin does the best he can for Elena, it is up to Elliot to find a way to restore communications to call for help. He makes a promise to Elena that he will not fail in his task, and he is a man of his word, no matter what it takes.

Of the many things there are to appreciate in this story, my favorite is getting to know more about Elliot's partner, Franklin. In Bradley's first novel, the focus is mostly on Elliot, and while we are aware that Franklin is his partner, we don't get to know much about him.

Elliot is a man of integrity, and his resourcefulness is a key element in Red Storm.

Once again, as in all the Aftermath novels, Bradley displays a gift for writing characters a reader can care about. Another plot point I enjoy in the writing is the light and often humorous dialog between characters. In this piece, the banter between Franklin and Elena is absolutely priceless!

The most prominent theme in Red Storm for me was perseverance and the human spirit. Stranded and alone, Elliot and Franklin put their skills to work to resolve the overwhelming set of problems they face. They refuse to quit as they run into one obstacle after another to try to get the job done.

My takeaway: never underestimate a person who decides to follow through. One may not have adequate resources, but ingenuity can make up for shortfalls.

If one has not read Bradley's Aftermath series, this is a good short story to get an idea of what to expect in the novels, of which there are three, with a fourth one coming in the not-too-distant future. But Red Storm only scratches the surface of a much deeper tale of survival in the most hostile conditions. This heavily character-driven story is a great one. It fascinates me how Bradley can put so much story and character development into such a small space.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Bradley James published his debut novel, The Aftermath: Lunar, in early 2024, realizing a long-held dream. Since then, he has been irreversibly bitten by the writing bug, immediately embarking on his next literary adventure without looking back. When not immersed in crafting narratives, Bradley can be found indulging in long runs, losing himself in books, consuming copious amounts of coffee, or passionately cheering on his favorite football team. Though born in London, he now resides in Southwest England, where the lush landscapes often serve as a backdrop for his creativity.

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The Scientist: A Monster's Resentment By Scott F. Jarvie - Fast-Paced Story Loaded With Ultra-Violence

The Scientist: A Monster's Resentment by Scott F. Jarvie

I learned about this book when the author mentioned it in a social media post. I was curious and looked it up to see what it was about. The next thing that attracted my attention was the opening of the book's description, "Duncan is your typical high school science teacher." So, with that, I knew I had to read this one, but I wasn't expecting the story I got.

The term "rollercoaster ride" is one I seen and used to describe books before, and it applies to this tale. It starts out slowly, like the cars of a coaster climbing to the top of the first big drop in the ride and transitions into a never-ending series of twists, turns, and surprises barely giving the reader time to breathe with scene after scene of breathtaking discovery.

The characters are named mostly by their roles in the crew and how they behave, with the Scientist (aka Phillip Duncan) leading the group. The adventures in this story are quite violent for the most part. Some are absolutely heinous. I would advise the reader to pay attention to the warnings included below.

One thing missing, at least for me, was the reason for the character's abhorrent behaviors. The book ends with a cliffhanger that leads to the second book in the series, which I intend to read at some point in the future. Scientist gives the who, what, where, and how, but I guess that the why will become clear in the next installment. Or, at least I hope so.

I am finding this book difficult to discuss without spoiling too much. So, I will leave the blurb for this one here...

"Duncan is your typical high school science teacher. His classes are large. His school is underfunded. His students are unacademic. And his war crimes are horrific."

"When his hiding place on Earth is discovered, Duncan reemerges as ‘the Scientist’ and teams up with the galaxy’s most wanted to right his past mistakes."

"Pushing through his panic attacks, he leads an interstellar expedition to prove that he isn’t the worst tyrant in the galaxy … even if he is."

Added to that, the author includes a few trigger warnings...

"Contains: Child Death, Death, Graphic Violence, PTSD, Misogyny, Murder, Torture, War."

Philip Duncan is an individual hiding from justice and posing as a high school science teacher. The story opens with him teaching a class about sublimation using dry ice. His class is filled with disrespectful, out-of-control students. My thought right off the bat is that Philip must have skipped the classroom management parts of his teacher training.

When a student gets ahold of some of the dry ice and makes a bomb with it and a plastic bottle, Duncan steps in and prevents the student from becoming injured, as any teacher would do. However, he is accused of abusing the student and summarily fired by his neurotic principal.

He goes home and there are a series of bizarre incidents leading to his leaving Earth and resuming his role as the Scientist. A mass murdering gang leader who commits, or causes others to commit, one deplorable act after another.

But Duncan and most of his henchpersons don't seem to be as intrinsically as evil as they appear. They have feelings, even some regret at times.

They are a very confusing lot.

One strength in Scientist is the character development the author presents. I understand the characters, but only up to a point.

My favorite point of the plot, outside the opening scenes depicting Duncan as a ne're-do-well teacher, is the dialog between him and his collection of criminals. The banter between characters helps to lighten the otherwise dark mood this book could have been presented in. Without the humor, I don't think I could have gotten through the story, at least not as quickly as I did.

As far as humor is concerned, I really enjoyed the observations of the character called Philosopher. 'nuff said.

I would recommend this book to readers who will heed the warnings from the author about the content and are prepared to read the second book in the series.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Scott is an award-winning filmmaker and writer specializing in Science Fiction and Fantasy stories that focus on neurodiversity and humanity.

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Guilty But Aberrant: Hard-Boiled Sci-Fi by Michael Listen - A Must Read Novel Of Horror, Noir Crime Drama, and Humor!

Guilty but Aberrant: Hard-Boiled Sci-Fi by Michael Listen

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

Guilty but Aberrant is the third full-length novel by Oklahoma based author, Michael Listen. This story covers a wide range of subgenres under Science Fiction, including Noir, Horror, Crime Drama, and Humor. All of these combine to make what I found to be an amazing work of fiction that jumped off the pages and seized my attention from the first paragraph. In his two previous novels, and one novella, I have come to look forward to Michael's work as I eagerly await his next effort. Guilty but Aberrant is an excellently crafted story about a pair of detectives who go in search of suspects with seemingly supernatural abilities that are both horrific and deadly to those who come into contact with them. This story will always have the reader guessing what will happen next. Then there's the plot twist near the end! It blew my mind and left me wanting more! This book is a masterpiece, and it's only this author's third novel!

Detectives Costal Crux and his young, energetic partner, Leanna Daylee of the Aberrant Crime Unit, are charged with tracking down and apprehending Displacers - rare young people who have a dangerous ability to manipulate any material or substance they touch. They can touch an object and mutate it into other shapes, or they can touch flesh and cause bizarre changes in people, usually resulting in debilitating injuries or death. They are outcasts who are subjected to life in a "rehabilitation" facility that usually becomes a life sentence. 

Together, Costal and Leanna work in and around Crescent City where they discover crimes that will make the reader shiver as they pursue a string of murders committed by perps who can perform seemingly impossible feats. One has to wonder if they haven't bitten off more than they can chew.

The characters in Guilty but Aberrant are among some of the best developed I have ever read! Their backgrounds are woven into the story and revealed over time, giving the reader a sense of getting to know and care about them over time. Even the antagonists have backstory to help the reader not only loathe their activity, but to also understand what made them how they are. Character development is one of the major strengths Michael displays as he spins this tale.

Costal and Leanna are complete opposites in their approaches to solving the mysteries presented in this story. Costal is an old-fashioned kind of gumshoe detective in the noir style. He likes to plod along, gathering information as he gets it to track his progress, bringing him closer to a conclusion. His methods are proven to be tried and true, and they work well for him. On the other hand, Leanna relies heavily on technology and her idealism to get results. While they are both excellent at their jobs separately, their skills mesh well, even when their personalities don't.

One thing they do have in common is things that happened in their pasts haunting them. Neither one wants to revisit the events that cause them pain, but the nature of their job often takes them back to recall painful memories, but those memories also spur them to continue on.

One plot point that stands out to me is the humor in the story. It often gives some comic relief to the otherwise gruesome aspects of the narrative. Costal and Leanna are partners, and as such, they get to know each other than most people in a typical workplace. Their situation also makes room for them to get on each other's nerves occasionally. In the story, they exchange a lot of friendly as well as not so friendly barbs back and forth. There were numerous times in the story I found myself laughing out loud at their clever remarks, but I also felt a lot of tension between them, mostly on a philosophical level. It was fun to read their exchanges, which added to their depth as people.

There are numerous pop-culture references in the narrative that caused me amusement as well.

Another aspect standing out for me were the descriptions of the crime activity. It was detailed and quite macabre at times, and some readers who don't care for graphic scenes depicting violence might take warning. At no time were any of those violent scenes or descriptions of crime scenes gratuitous, nor did I think they didn't add a feeling of horror to the narrative.

The theme of friendship was the most palpable to me in this tale. The two principal characters are friends who agree, disagree, and show a lot of tolerance for one another, but they also genuinely care about one another. 

There is also a thematic aspect of what causes someone to behave in ways they do. While that cannot be an excuse for someone to do harm to others, it can help with understanding, and perhaps intervention. All the principal characters in this story appear to suffer from some level of PTSD, and there are different ways each deals with their trauma.

My takeaway from Guilty but Aberrant is to remember that what we see in a person at the superficial level isn't that person's entire story. Everyone carries some level of baggage from their past. Some a lot more than others.

I give Guilty but Aberrant my highest recommendation for a stupendous Sci-Fi novel that will keep the reader on the edge of their seat with the action. The characters are marvelously developed and jump off the page feeling like one is reading about real people. It is a complex story so masterfully written that it flows into the mind like a movie. The scene descriptions are vivid and clear and provide an excellent backdrop for the characters to play in.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I should also point out, there is a novella written in this universe one should read. It introduces the characters and gives one an insight into what to expect going forward. It is entitled Displacer: A Novella From The World Of Guilty But Aberrant. You can find more information on the novella from Michael's website, or on Amazon and Goodreads.

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.

You can connect with Michael at https://authormichaelliste.wixsite.com/authormlisten, or on Facebook, Goodreads, and Amazon.

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Stellar Heir: (Stellar Heir Book 1) By Scott Killian - Exceptional Coming-Of-Age Space Opera!

Stellar Heir: (Stellar Heir Book 1) by Scott Killian

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

This story was a blast to read. It had everything I wanted in a story and more. I loved the characters, the world-building, the colorful action, and the way the plot unfolded and kept me turning pages.

When I started reading Stellar Heir, the beginning felt kind of made me think I had picked up a quaint young adult book. But, as time went on, the tension ramped up and I found myself involved in a mesmerizing tale.

Stellar Heir is a serious space opera and a coming-of-age story that fascinated me and often had me on the edge of my seat.

Aboard the Zigzagunda, Jael Ked'Korva and his sentient humanoid simian, Goni, survey a space battlefield as the battle wanes and ends. When they determine it is safe to approach, they board a derelict ship that shows some promise of finding treasure. Jael and Goni are scavengers just making their way as best they can.

While aboard the vessel, Jael finds something looking like it might be worth something. It is a bracelet. Out of curiosity, he tries it on, and it locks on to his wrist and he cannot get it off. The next thing Jael knows, he is having some strange and nightmarish visions. Sometimes, the visions are of a menacing figure from his past, while others are of a ghostly figure he has never seen before who gives him puzzling and cryptic messages and instructions.

Meanwhile, there are a few factions that are seeking the artifact Jael has been connected to and will stop at nothing to get their hands on it. The artifact apparently will allow the holder to wield great power to control the galaxy.

The strongest part of Stellar Heir is its characters. There are the good guys, and the bad guys, and there is one I am not too sure about at this point.

The character called Garlial is an enigma to me. He seems to be an antagonist, but at the same time, he also seems to undergo a transformation, or is, at least, in the middle of one. Should that transformation prove to be the case, it is a testament to the skill of the author. 

Goni is quite endearing. He always thinks about food and eating and can never seem to get enough. He also has an irritating tendency to not follow orders. His main role is to help Jael be grounded. Goni does this through friendly barbs and quips that makes Jael think. But Goni is also a brave warrior, and he loves to test new weapons whenever he has the opportunity.

Jael is a young man who has gotten himself caught up in something that might have him just a little over his head under normal circumstances. He is resourceful, smart, inventive, and pretty good in a fight, but some people he is fighting are pretty ruthless and have really poor attitudes. One person who also helps him is a character that comes along just a little later in the book. Her name is Merzi

Merzi is a wise young woman who has abilities to help focus Jael and approach situations logically. She is a strong, intelligent, and a tough character who adds a great deal to the story in the way of wisdom and wonder.

The baddies in this book are scary, single-minded, and relentless. One, in particular, is evil beyond imagination.

My favorite plot point comes in the development of Jael's character. It isn't all spilled out at the beginning of the book but starts out slowly and when we get the entire picture later in the tale, the reader gets to understand his motivation on a deep, personal level.

My takeaway from Stellar Heir is to remember that you cannot run from your past. I guess one could call it Karma. Those things that happen to us tend to come back and demand to be resolved. At the same time, once those issues are solved, it is time to move forward to new challenges, and not make the same mistakes again.

Stellar Heir is such a good book on so many levels. It is eminently entertaining. The story contains a full spectrum of emotional content. While all the characters are well written and well developed, they are also feel like real people - they have some flaws - some more than others. The descriptions of the landscapes are colorful and provide a great backdrop for the people to perform in. There will be a second book in this series coming early in 2025. I have already pre-ordered Syndicate Moon: Stellar Heir Book 2.

I'm giving Stellar Heir high recommendations for a fun sci-fi story worth the time to read.

Rating:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Scott Killian grew up in California, where he consumed every bit of sci-fi and horror media he could find. Delving deep into the works of Thomas Harris, Stephen King, and H.P. Lovecraft, to name a few, those dark portals in his mind were opened and his obsession with the macabre began. Storytelling, in any form, is his only passion.

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My Buddy Gave Me A Starship By Myles Christensen - Lots Of Laughs Excellent Entertainment

My Buddy Gave Me A Starship by Myles Christensen

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

With a title like this one, there is no way I could resist reading.

My Buddy Gave Me A Starship is a space opera from the lighter side. But it isn’t all fun and games when characters play in the backdrop of deep space meeting alien species both friendly and malicious. The tale is packed full of action and adventure to keep a reader on the edge of their seat. The characters are believable, and it isn’t difficult to relate to their plight. I was pulled in right from the opening page and the pace of the story ramps up quickly. The world-building is also excellent, and the reader will see numerous vistas, both beautiful and menacing.

I found this book quite refreshing after reading a lot of serious sci-fi. It runs the full gamut of emotion, and one cannot help but love most of the characters while deploring a few others.

The story opens with a man named Mitch, who goes to work one morning and is greeted by his supervisor, who apologetically dismisses him. He seems to have made a costly mistake involving a project he worked on.

So, Mitch does what any down on his luck guy would do. He heads to his favorite diner and orders a large bowl of ice cream to drown his sorrows. Mitch’s lifelong friend, Gabe, sits down with him and says he has something he is sure will cheer him up. After a short drive, Gabe opens his barn to reveal a starship parked inside! Gabe explains how he found the ship and how he has been making repairs and upgrades.

To say it cheered Mitch up would be a gross understatement. Mitch is astounded and wants to take a flight. Gabe promises they will do a flight test the next day.

Like a kid who is headed to his first professional baseball game, Mitch arrives at Gabe’s place to find a small group of people in commando gear preparing to take the ship for themselves. Then he discovers Gabe has been severely injured in his encounter with the commandos. So, Mitch does what anyone would do in such a situation. He gets onto the ship, belts himself into the pilot’s seat, and orders the onboard AI to take the ship rapidly “anywhere but here.”

The AI complies by transporting the ship a distance of six-hundred light years in the blink of an eye. And that’s only the beginning!

The tale is heavily character driven. Too much information would spoil the story.

Mitch is a human who finds himself unemployed until he finds his best friend has been wounded by commandos who want the ship Gabe has found. His aim is to find justice for Gabe.

Tera is Mitch’s artificially intelligent companion, modeled on a fifteen-year-old snarky female. She helps Mitch learn to run the ship, but is sometimes hesitant to share important information until the last minute. Her personality often causes Mitch just a bit of frustration and drives the humor in the story.

Vrynn is an alien female who wants the ship to fight in a conflict with an oppressive organization. She becomes a valuable aid to Mitch as well as depending on him for help.

My favorite point of plot in My Buddy Gave Me A Starship is the interaction between the characters. They all have goals and help each other try to realize them. The humorous banter between them is priceless! I think this is where the author really shines in his writing. It is through the principal character’s interactions that the story unfolds as we also get to know them. It is hard not to care about them and their plight.

My takeaway from this tale is to remember no matter how bad things seem, stay optimistic. The closing of one door may lead to the opening of another, which might lead to the adventure of a lifetime.

While the trope in My Buddy Gave Me A Starship is an old, well-worn one, and Myles Christensen has given it a fresh treatment, and it is eminently entertaining, engaging, and a whole lot of fun. The characters have depth inspiring the reader to care for and root for their success. The backdrops are well fleshed out and full of interesting variety. The writing is clear, and the tech is easy to understand. This is a great opening to a series of stories, and I look forward to future installments. The story is complete in itself and I loved the great plot twist at the end!

Highest Recommendations!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Myles Christensen loves to write exciting adventures because he loves to read exciting adventures. The hopeless romantic in him will usually sprinkle a teensy bit of romance into his stories. While writing, he listens to music that matches—and sometimes inspires—the storyline.

His mild-mannered alter ego is a product development engineer, university professor, and game inventor. He lives in Utah with his wife and children.

Well, there it is...

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Deus Ex Effing Machina By Rick Jurmain - The Wild Ride Continues In This Second Book Of The Gravtech Series!

Deus Ex Effing Machina: The Gravtech Series - Book 2

After reading the first book in the Gravtech series, Apocalypse Du Jour, there was no way I would miss the sequel, Deus Ex Effing Machina! I was mesmerized by the first book, and again, I became absorbed in this volume. It is an edge of your seat ride through the aftermath of the events in the first story. Deus Ex is another fast-paced, entertaining, and thought-provoking, tongue-in-cheek look at life after the accidental discovery of antigravity technology that brought about the eventual collapse of the global economy to make life better for everyone.

Deus Ex is a humorous work of speculative fiction that will also give the reader much to think about. There are some serious considerations that will crop up in this tale, but are presented in such a way that makes considering some of the grimmest situations fun to contemplate.

The characters in this story are all believable, so even the absurd will seem plausible.

Following the invention of antigravity, the four scientists who accidentally created the technology have all become billionaires and continue to work for the new company that is still developing and learning the consequences of their invention. In the meantime, there are those who would exploit this new tech for their own advancement and nefarious reasons. The global economy has become one where there is plenty for everyone, and that is difficult for some to accept, while others take to it without problems. A group of oligarchs see opportunities to use the tech to further their agenda. But the company is trying to investigate the problem of a hacker who has an agenda that is difficult to understand. Further, this hacker has a skewed sense of humor that is baffling everyone. No one can seem to get what this person wants, if it is even a person. Then, there are several nuclear devices traveling to major cities in the U.S. set to create mayhem and destruction on a massive scale, and they seem impossible to stop. And it is not clear who is behind that little plot, and there are numerous possibilities for the responsible party.

So, numerous problems and no easy solutions makes for a ride faster than a speeding bullet, and just as dangerous!

The characters in Deus Ex are all extraordinary individuals but are written in such a way they could be very real people. In this story, all the people introduced in Apocalypse are back, but some are expanded.

My favorite in this one is Ted "Boingy" Binghamton. He is the CEO of GravWorks. A former game programmer, he possesses a monster-sized sense of humor. Boingy will find the humor in all situations, no matter how grim. He’s the kind of boss I would want to work for. He seems very laid back, but he demands top performance from his people, but he does it without being overly demanding. He likes donuts and dunking them in his coffee (my kind of guy). 

Another favorite character was an octopus living in a Boston aquarium. I'll just leave that right there.

My favorite point of plot in Deus Ex is the mixture of various subjects to make the story thought provoking and informative. There is a mixture of science (both real and made-up) along with history, philosophy, politics, human relations, war and peace, and economics. While all the elements are fictitious, they all are relatable to situations we can read about every day in the news. While the reader will want to get on to the next element of the story, it wasn't uncommon for me to stop reading and contemplate what I had just read.

Another favorite part of Deus Ex was a chapter that had a subheading offering the reader to skip a chapter. I urge you not to do this! It's one of the best parts of the book!

My takeaway from Deus Ex is to remember something I will quote. I see it as more of a warning for vigilance than anything...

"Humans evolved from chimps into chumps. And everyone with something to sell knows it." (Page 273)

Deus Ex Effing Machina is 762 pages of sheer fun and an opportunity to think and learn. I am eager to see where the author takes the story from here. Rick has a great sense of humor and knows how to use it. The writing in this book reminds me a little of Douglas Adams because it combines dire situations with a natural sort of hilarity that one might find in reality. A friend once told me when the chips were down, "never lose your sense of humor."

The length of the novel might seem intimidating, but the book reads quickly and is absolutely worth the time.

I gave my highest recommendations for Deus Ex Effing Machina along with the previous book in the series, Apocalypse Du Jour. The author warns the reader that before reading Deus Ex, it would be wise to read Apocalypse, and I completely agree!

Oh, and while I'm at it, I'll warn you to beware of the interrupting bovine creature (you're going to have to read the book to get that).

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rick Jurmain is a retired rocket scientist and entrepreneur. In the ‘90s, he and his late wife Mary (killed by cancer in 2016) built a successful corporation from the ground up. For Realityworks, Inc., the invented, built, and marketed a microprocessor-based product that gained national support, achieved international media attention, and was named by Fortune magazine as Product of the Year in 1994. In 2000, the Eau Claire (Wisconsin) Chamber of Commerce selected Rick and Mary as the local Entrepreneurs of the Year, and Ernst & Young selected them as Finalists for the Wisconsin Entrepreneur of the Year award. Mary ran the company, while Rick was Vice President In Charge Of Things That Go Beep (engineering, computers, phones, faxes, cars, dishwashers, and oddly enough, toilets, though they rarely go beep).

In the ‘80’s, Rick let, or was a member of, 13 NASA Space Shuttle mission control Flight Activities teams. Unlike cruise ships, Shuttle flight activities did not include shuffleboard or bingo. The Flight Activities teams planned missions starting years prior to launch, and re-planned missions during flights when things went wrong. And things always went wrong. Rick also led the Operations Analysis teams for General Dynamics’ Single Stage to Orbit (SSTO) and McDonnell Douglas’ National AeroSpace Plane (NASP). He spent 15 years in the aerospace industry doing tactical analysis and war games, including top level WWIII combined arms games, and he helped invent hypersonic war games.

In 2002, Rick was a consultant to Coleman Aerospace on DARPA’s RASCAL study, which designed modifications for a rocket-powered F-14 fighter. For that contract, Rick headed up designing the Operations, Support, Avionics, Electrical, Instrumentation, Cockpit, Payload Interfaces, and Integrated Vehicle Health Management Systems. All the fun stuff.

In the late ‘90’s, Rick was founder of Vela Technology Development, Inc. Vela and its partners started much of what is becoming the space tourism industry. Vela’s briefings to Burt Rutan and Richard Branson started them on the path to space tourism. Vela worked with the FAA to write regulations for space tourism. And Vela helped design a space-tourism themed resort for Las Vegas. While Vela has since folded, Rick owns its process patent on key low-acceleration trajectories for space tourism. And if Rutan doesn’t get his butt in gear, the patent will be worthless because it expires soon.

Rick was a Captain in the Army Combat Engineers, National Guard and Reserves (no significant active duty).

Rick is 65 years old, currently retired, though working intermittently as a board member, inventor, and writer. He has two kids: Jake, age 30, and Ariel, Age 26. And he’s obnoxiously proud of both of them.

Rick is widely acknowledged to have been Mary’s trophy husband. Though no one has ever thought of him as just another pretty face. At least, no one who’s seen his face. And, come to think of it, no one has ever considered that he was a first-place trophy either. Rick was just in the right place at the right time to trip up a gorgeous, massively intelligent woman with an aging biological clock and desperately low standards. Someday, someone will make a fortune building a dating site for such women.

Well, there it is...

Qapla!

Apocalypse du Jour (Book 1 in the Gravtech Series) by Rick Jurmain - Strap In For A Hell Of A Ride - Not To Be Missed!

Apocalypse du Jour (Book 1 in the Gravtech Series) by Rick Jurmain

What would happen if four scientists came together by chance and invented the impossible? What could possibly go wrong? Well, the story contained in the 383 pages of Rick Jurmain’s uproarious tale in Apocalypse du Jour is one possibility. And what a tale it is. Rarely have I read a story that uses humor in such a way to present what could be a very grim picture. But Rick does it with great style. This is a lightning-paced story that will keep the reader turning page after page until the end. Once one picks this up and starts reading, stopping is going to be more of a challenge than the amazing characters face in the text.

I have a casual, online relationship with the author through a mutual friend who holds weekly zoom meetings. It is how I learned about this book, and I am glad I was paying attention. Of all the books I read, I found this one of the most entertaining and thought-provoking stories I have ever picked up.

There is so much contained in those pages. In a word, all I can say to sum it up is...

WOW!

Usually, I would write my own synopsis of a story, but in this case, there is no possible way I could improve on the blurb from the back of the book, so I am quoting it here...

“Apocalypse du Jour is a hilarious techno-thriller. It presents the adventures of four researchers, all social outcasts: an autistic programmer, a barely functional paranoid mathematician, a blind vet physicist with severe PTSD, and a basement gamer prototyper.

“They briefly collaborate on research via the internet without ever meeting one another. They publish an innocuous paper in an obscure journal, then disband. Three months later, every major country and corporation in the world races to kidnap or kill them. They run for their lives, each according to their disability, while trying to figure out why. But that is just the beginning of an adventure involving many other interesting characters, political power struggles, and global economic collapse and rebirth, all from the point of view of relatively normal people. More than half of the main characters in the book are realistic, strong women.

“The book is packed full of action, motorcycle chases, helicopter chases, white-knuckle danger, psychological manipulation, soldiers, guns, Godzillas, betrayal, revenge, assassins, blueberry blintzes, two (count ‘em) battlegrannies, Presidential vendettas, computer hacking, riots, rescues, edge-of-the-seat tension, and one near-catastrophic hot flash.

“Then, in chapter two... Actually, that stuff is spread out throughout the book. Though it’s all there, plus a lot more.”

 The synopsis introduces the focus characters who take turns appearing as they face situations that are often challenging, but at the same time terrifying at the core. How this quartet of geniuses deal with these situations is different in each case, but funny and scary all at the same time.

The most impressive thing about this collection of people, and I mean every character in the book, is how unique they are. There are no copies and it is obvious that the author took great care in creating them. None of the people in this story can be considered “stock” characters. They come through as individuals with their own attitudes and beliefs. The principal characters are quite well developed and are people whom the reader can invest themselves in.

My favorite plot point in Apocalypse du Jour is that there is a surprise on every page. There are more twists and turns in this story than San Francisco’s Lombard Street! Every time I thought I had everything figured out, there was something new and fascinating happening. For instance, one of the principal characters is attending a comic con when he is suddenly being chased through the con while in costume. He winds up being saved by an unlikely set of circumstances culminating in a wild motorcycle ride through a busy city! It is truly a laugh a minute as this scene unfolds, and it is so unpredictable. It creates great tension, but the description of this scene is full of madcap hilarity, one cannot help but laugh out loud leaving anyone in the vicinity to ask what’s so funny.

 My takeaway from Apocalypse du Jour is to remember that no matter how grim a situation might be, there is always a solution to any problem. Sometimes the most absurd solutions may present themselves, and the tendency is to dismiss them out of hand. But one should give serious consideration to the absurd, it may just be the best, or only way to resolve a seemingly unsolvable puzzle.

 I give my highest recommendations for reading Apocalypse du Jour. It is an utterly entertaining story with a full range of emotions. It had me laughing and made me tear up a few times. But it is never boring. There is plenty of action for readers who are seeking thrills, there is some interesting science. There are characters who are compelling and much like people the reader may know in their own life, but the circumstances they find themselves in are anything but ordinary. I think this would be a great tale for anyone to read because there is truly something for everyone. So, grab a copy of Apocalypse du Jour and strap yourself into your favorite reading chair, it’s a hell of a ride!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rick Jurmain is a retired rocket scientist and entrepreneur. In the ‘90s, he and his late wife Mary (killed by cancer in 2016) built a successful corporation from the ground up. For Realityworks, Inc., the invented, built, and marketed a microprocessor-based product that gained national support, achieved international media attention, and was named by Fortune magazine as Product of the Year in 1994. In 2000, the Eau Claire (Wisconsin) Chamber of Commerce selected Rick and Mary as the local Entrepreneurs of the Year, and Ernst & Young selected them as Finalists for the Wisconsin Entrepreneur of the Year award. Mary ran the company, while Rick was Vice President In Charge Of Things That Go Beep (engineering, computers, phones, faxes, cars, dishwashers, and oddly enough, toilets, though they rarely go beep).

In the ‘80’s, Rick let, or was a member of, 13 NASA Space Shuttle mission control Flight Activities teams. Unlike cruise ships, Shuttle flight activities did not include shuffleboard or bingo. The Flight Activities teams planned missions starting years prior to launch, and re-planned missions during flights when things went wrong. And things always went wrong. Rick also led the Operations Analysis teams for General Dynamics’ Single Stage to Orbit (SSTO) and McDonnell Douglas’ National AeroSpace Plane (NASP). He spent 15 years in the aerospace industry doing tactical analysis and war games, including top level WWIII combined arms games, and he helped invent hypersonic war games.

In 2002, Rick was a consultant to Coleman Aerospace on DARPA’s RASCAL study, which designed modifications for a rocket-powered F-14 fighter. For that contract, Rick headed up designing the Operations, Support, Avionics, Electrical, Instrumentation, Cockpit, Payload Interfaces, and Integrated Vehicle Health Management Systems. All the fun stuff.

In the late ‘90’s, Rick was founder of Vela Technology Development, Inc. Vela and its partners started much of what is becoming the space tourism industry. Vela’s briefings to Burt Rutan and Richard Branson started them on the path to space tourism. Vela worked with the FAA to write regulations for space tourism. And Vela helped design a space-tourism themed resort for Las Vegas. While Vela has since folded, Rick owns its process patent on key low-acceleration trajectories for space tourism. And if Rutan doesn’t get his butt in gear, the patent will be worthless because it expires soon.

Rick was a Captain in the Army Combat Engineers, National Guard and Reserves (no significant active duty).

Rick is 65 years old, currently retired, though working intermittently as a board member, inventor, and writer. He has two kids: Jake, age 30, and Ariel, Age 26. And he’s obnoxiously proud of both of them.

Rick is widely acknowledged to have been Mary’s trophy husband. Though no one has ever thought of him as just another pretty face. At least, no one who’s seen his face. And, come to think of it, no one has ever considered that he was a first-place trophy either. Rick was just in the right place at the right time to trip up a gorgeous, massively intelligent woman with an aging biological clock and desperately low standards. Someday, someone will make a fortune building a dating site for such women.

Well, there it is...

Qapla!

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

Well, there it is...

Qapla!

Daros by Dave Dobson - A Serious But Funny Sci-Fi Adventure Story Worth The Time

Daros by Dave Dobson

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

Daros is a Sci-Fi Adventure/Space Opera novel focusing on the exploits of two characters on and above an imaginary planet the book is named for. I enjoyed this story immensely, but it took me a few chapters to get into it. The story has a lot of detail, so the reader really must be invested in reading this story. After the exposition, the story flows well and is rich in aspects of the motivation of the characters, the setting, and especially the humor. I would add the category of humorous sci-fi to the description. The humor is really what kept me reading on. I loved the subtle dry wit the author added to the story through an artificially intelligent character that aids one of the principal characters through most of the book.

Captain Nellen Vereen of the small freighter, Envy's Price, intends to unload cargo on the planet Daros. Accompanying him is his daughter, Brecca, and two more crew members. Along with regular items to be delivered, there is an item promising to deliver wealth to all aboard.

When the ship arrives at Daros, they find themselves in the middle of a war. The Envy's Price is hit and plummets toward the planet below. Captain Vereen orders all hands to evacuate the ship. Brecca grabs the valuable item and leaves the ship in an escape pod while the captain attempts to land the damaged ship.

Meanwhile, aboard one of the attacking Zeelin warships, Navigator Frim unfolds a plan to stop the war. That is, if she can avoid being culled by the cruel commander of her ship.

Brecca finds herself alone and unsure of what to do until she is taken aboard a cloaked Vonar ship being operated by an artificially intelligent entity named Lyra. The two strike up an uneasy relationship as they learn to understand one another, that transforms into an unusual friendship as time goes on.

I enjoyed the principal human character, Bacca Vereen, and her artificially intelligent companion, Lyra. Although, I may have that backward. Sometimes it appeared Bacca was more of the sidekick than the ship. In any case, these two and their interactions were priceless and a major source of entertainment.

Sixteen-year-old Bacca is wise beyond her years. Thanks to what she has learned while working onboard her father's ship, and also, because of a good education, she solves problems that would confound some of the smartest adults. Her main quest is to find her father who went down with his ship. While she hopes for the best, she also fears the worst which drives most of her part of the story. She also has a great sense of humor, which is helpful in her dealings with Lyra.

Lyra is the power behind the Vonar ship who adopts Bacca as the Interlocutor. The Interlocutor's job is to provide Lyra with arguments, or rather, statements, to analyze to determine how to best proceed in particular situations. The interactions between Bacca and Lyra is where much of the humor appears. Lyra comes across as your basic smart-ass without meaning to. Nearly every statement made to Lyra is analyzed out loud, which often seems condescending. 

As far as I am concerned, the interactions between these two are worth the price of the book. Daros is a stand-alone story, but I would enjoy a sequel featuring these two characters again.

Along with the character interaction, I also enjoyed the many plot twists, but there in one in which a character is encased in a substance and requires rescue. It is one of the best scenes in the book and I laughed all the way through it.

The biggest takeaway for me in Daros is Bacca's hero’s journey as she is forced to think on her feet, but also relies on help from Lyra. As a teenager, Bacca is a force to be reckoned with. I can only imagine what she will be like as an adult. It wouldn't surprise me if she became a major player in the affairs of the galaxy.

If you are looking for an entertaining, witty, and interesting story, this is it. This review really only scratches the surface of what is in the book. I recommend this for the quality of the writing, the humor, and the character interactions in Daros.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

A native of Ames, Iowa, Dave loves writing, reading, board games, computer games, improv comedy, pinball, pizza, barbarian movies, and the cheaper end of the Taco Bell menu. Also, his wife and kids. Dave is the author of Snood, Snoodoku, Snood Towers, and other computer games. He first published Snood in 1996, and it became one of the most popular shareware games of the early Internet. His most recent computer game is Doctor Esker’s Triad. He also designs and publishes board games though his company, Plankton Games. You can see his games at the PlanktonGames.com website. More information on his writing and novels are available at DaveDobsonBooks.com. Dave spent 24 years teaching geology, environmental studies, and computer programming at Guilford College, and he does improv comedy every week at the Idiot Box in Greensboro, North Carolina. He’s also played the world’s largest tuba in concert. Not that that is relevant, but it’s still kind of cool. Daros is Dave’s fourth book of fiction after Flames Over Frosthelm, Traitors Unseen, and The Outcast Crown.

Well, there it is...

Qapla!

The Galactic Culinary Society: Song Of The Golden Brew By D.R. Schoel - Another Short and Funny Diversion Just For Fun

The Galactic Culinary Society: Song of the Golden Brew by D.R. Schoel

Song of the Golden Brew is the second story in D.R. Schoel's 'just for fun' series of comedic Sci-Fi short stories. This story sees returning characters set on a planet where the major product is a type of beer. Outside of the planet Kazaak, no one has tasted the "ethanolic" beverage which promises “mood improvement, feelings of euphoria, and one can drink as much as one likes without any negative side effects.” Kvass is touted to get one good and smashed and not suffer a hangover. It is a funny story with a few plot twists adding to the humor. It is a pleasant distraction from the heavy Sci-Fi I usually read.

Chef Hunter, Jeane Oberon of the Galactic Culinary Society begins her journey on the planet Cor Caroli. It is an ice-covered world with an ocean beneath the surface. She discovers the ingredients for a pickled sea cucumber, while at the same time, she learns about a type of beer produced on another planet. She learns about the beverage from her 'sidekick,' the greedy Greelon profiteer Xstersisiisterpeeze (whose name was thankfully shortened to 'Xstersi' for most of this story). After a close call with a fearsome creature, Jeane agrees to accompany Xstersi to Kazaak where she will attempt to discover the secret of a brew known as Kvass. Xstersi plans to strike a deal with the inhabitants to sell the beer to other sentient beings across the galaxy for huge profits. Jeane makes it clear she is only going to add to the knowledge base of the Society.

Upon arrival at Kazaak, Jeane and Xstersi find a society that is rife with conflict. But she is not there to problem solve, only discover the secrets of the Kvass. While Xstersi works to secure a bargain, Jeane learns there is only way she will learn about the brew is by winning a drinking contest. No doubt, good times are had by all, or not depending on your point of view.

What I most enjoyed about this story is the way Schoel writes about the relationship between Jeane and Xstersi. At first, one gets the impression that Xstersi is only a thorn in Jeane's side. Actually, these two have an amusing synergistic relationship where they get on each other's nerves, but one also seems to care about the other in a repugnant sort of way. In other words, they really do like each other, but neither one would ever admit to it openly. They have a chemistry I enjoy and want more of in future stories.

If you are looking for a short, fun distraction from the rigors of everyday life in the fast lane, I recommend Secrets of the Golden Brew. One does not need to be a Sci-Fi fan to enjoy this. It can be read in under an hour, but don't read it too fast so you can savor the flavor of the language the author uses. Along with this, I also recommend the previous (first) story in the series, The Secrets of Umami (reviewed on this blog). Both are great diversions for a break.

Schoel writes, "I am 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 a Top-10 documentary at the Toronto International Film Festival, "Sol," about an Inuit circus performer who died in RCMP custody. I like to travel, having been all across China - including Xinhiang, 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. Of course, I'm a lifelong fan of Sci-Fi and since I can't (yet) go into space... I like to dream about it.

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

"To keep up-to-date on all things related to The Galactic Culinary Society and intergalactic Chef Hunter, Jeane Oberon, you can sign up for my newsletter here: GCS NEWS."

Well, there it is...

Qapla!