The Photo Jumper (Photo Jumper Series Book 1) by Tony Bible - Low-Tech Sci-fi With A Huge 'Wow' Factor!

The Photo Jumper (Photo Jumper Series Book 1) by Tony Bible

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

At the outset, I have only one word to describe this book - WOW!

The Photo Jumper is an amazing tale of a man with a special ability allowing him to visit the past by jumping into photographs. This is a character-driven tale of Allister, who has an ability even he doesn't completely understand. It is extremely well written with characters that a reader can care about, descriptions of the settings that come alive, and it is emotionally charged, running a full gamut of the emotional spectrum. I was absorbed in this story from the moment I started reading all the way to the end. This is one of the best books I have read this year so far. Not to be missed.

Allister McClamroch is, more or less, an ordinary guy with an extraordinary ability; he can jump into and out of photographs at will. He can interact with others in those images, and he can even take inanimate objects into and out of photos. While he cannot bring people with him, he can relive old moments and enjoy new experiences that enrich him. There are rules he cannot break. He cannot go into a photo and stay there forever.

But not all is fun and games for him. There are consequences for actions, both good and bad. 

In the real world, he has his share of problems. He is a lonely person, and at times seems like a tragic character. He has a sense of responsibility and works hard to take care of those obligations, sometimes falling short. One thing he is dealing with is an obsession over the death of a high school friend. Allister is determined to see his friend and his friend's family receive the justice that is their due.

But there is also so much more to this tale.

Grayson is a cop. He is also Allister's friend and confidant. The two work to solve cold cases while Allister works to become a private investigator. Then there's Mila. A woman Allister meets completely by chance who becomes someone special in Allister's life.

All the characters in this book are believable as people one might meet anywhere, and they come alive as the reader gets deeper into this tale.

My favorite plot point in Photo Jumper involves character transformation. Every photo Allister jumps into becomes a real place for him, but when he jumps out, everything is reset to what it was before he jumped in. Not only is this a great plot device, but it affords the principal character an opportunity to reflect on his decisions and even make things right for himself. It is difficult to explain without spoiling important aspects of the story, so I'll just leave this right here.

The primary theme of the book, and my takeaway, is while one can be obsessed by past situations, there is always hope for a better future if one can focus on the things in life that are important. The author sums it up in a quote from Buddha: "In the end, only three things matter: how much you loved, how gently you lived, and how gracefully you let go of things not meant for you."

Or perhaps another quote that applies is from Star Trek. Mr. Spock observes in the episode entitled Amok Time...

"After a time, you may find that having is not so pleasing a thing after all as wanting. It is not logical, but it is often true."

The Photo Jumper is a well written, highly entertaining sci-fi adventure. I was mesmerized from the start and was never bored, nor did I run into anything that took me out of the story. It unfolds much like a movie would in the reader's mind. The tale is loaded with twists and turns, and I didn't find anything predictable. There are some disturbing moments of violence, but those were not gratuitous and helped to move the story along. The science fiction is on the lighter side, so there are no long-winded explanations of how things work, and there isn't a lot of jargon to bog down the flow of the story. It is one fine story I can recommend for any reader; it has everything one can want from an engaging reading experience. Highest Recommendations!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"Writing stories like no other."

Tony's passion is writing science fiction and fantasy with an emotional punch. Raised with humble beginnings in Georgia, his early childhood limited travel. The only way to experience other places was with voracious reading and imagination. He draws inspiration from fantasy/fiction genres, dreams, comics, the supernatural, and roleplaying games. He applies his degree in world history to deliver relatable but unpredictable storytelling that readers demand.

Tony is never not writing, but breaks away to burn new recipes in the kitchen, neglect chores to obsess over football, and play with his dog. He is based in San Antonio, Texas, happily married, raising two children, and works in the financial industry.

Tony has a lot of future work in progress. Check out his web page at https://tonybible.com/ for more information.

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Lives In Time Part 1 By J.D. Ray - Want An Amazing Story? Here's One You'll Love!

Lives in Time (Part 1) By J.D. Ray

I learned about Lives in Time in a Zoom meeting, including the author and several other people. I enjoy reading work by new authors and when J.D. mentioned his work, I went to Amazon, purchased a copy, and downloaded it to my Kindle. Little did I know what I was in for when I dove in to this tale of time travel and low-tech adventure. I was hooked from the very opening of this and stayed that way all the way to the end. This book was fascinating and just plain fun to read. I cannot give Lives in Time a better endorsement than to say, I WANT MORE!

We start the tale in the year 2285. The place is on the coast of Croatia. It is a peaceful time where everyone seems to enjoy the advancement of technology and medicine. Lives are vastly extended, and people are happy. The story focuses on a young couple, both are twenty years of age, and they are developing a closer relationship as they spend time together. Celeste and Marko decide they want to spend some time together away from their parents and other people. They are both from wealthy families and want for very little.

During their walk, they come upon a cave and decide to explore. When Celeste tries to take a photo of a carving on the cave wall, there is a bright flash of light and the couple feel a little dizzy. When they recover, they find they have been transported back in time to the 14th century!

Now, imagine two young adults in t-shirts and shorts wandering the countryside trying to figure out how they are going to fit in to an alien society starting out with nothing! They have to start by depending on the charity of others and eventually understand how to make it work on their own until they can learn how to go home. What an adventure!

Celeste and Marko are a pair that complement each other amazingly. Celeste is a brash young woman who exudes self-confidence. She can think on her feet and readily adapt to situations. Her major strength is in how she can relate to people. She is likeable and friendly when the situation calls for it. At the same time, she is secretly a little unsure of the world around her. But even at that, she is quite capable of defending herself.

Marko is strong, yet agreeable. He is a fast learner and follows Celeste's lead whenever necessary. He quickly learns skills to help the couple survive in the unfamiliar landscape of 14th Century Croatia.

Together, they make friends and live in the past, but always think about getting back to their home in the 23rd century. Both are very strong characters and are good people. But great characters is only one aspect of this story.

Another strong point is the world-building J.D. treats the reader to. The writing of the times and events in the 14th century feel utterly authentic. I'm sure there was no small amount of research into what the lives, times, and events of establishing this story. Nevertheless, I felt as though I had been transported into the past myself, experiencing the tastes, smells, and feelings of the people in this tale.

There is also a full spectrum of emotional content woven into the tapestry of Lives in Time that adds even more to the enjoyment of the book.

My takeaway from Lives in Time is, when in Croatia in the 14th century, do as the Croatians do. When one finds themselves in unfamiliar surroundings, it is better to be quiet and observe. Pay attention to all happenings around you and follow the examples you see.

Lives in Time is a stunning story that is more about people than it is science fiction. Sci-Fi is the vehicle that transports the principal characters into the past, but it just takes common sense and a keen wit to get along and even prosper.

This is a well-written, well researched, and masterfully crafted story feels so plausible. It seems real to me. All the characters, whether major or supportive, are real. The situations and settings feel authentic and make me want to explore the beautiful landscapes used as the backdrop.

The ending is a cliffhanger wide open to a sequel.

Eminently entertaining and well worth the time to read, I give my highest recommendations to Lives in time.

Don't miss this one, it's a gem!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

A Pacific Northwest native, J.D. lives in Portland with his wonderful wife Jennifer and usually some cats. Aside from various adventures and escapades, he's made a career of technological sorcery while writing short fiction as a hobby. His mentionable other hobbies include cooking, cheese making, travel, and spending time with his wife, who - as mentioned - is wonderful. His debut novel, Lives in Time Part One, is the first in a series of three set in a universe that leaves room for more.

Problem on Polonius By Robert Collins - A Low-Tech Sci-Fi Adventure With An Old-West Flavor

Problem on Polonius by Robert Collins

I recently finished reading Problem on Polonius, a new story from Robert Collins. I always enjoy reading Robert's work and find it entertaining and interesting. This story is a low-tech sci-fi adventure that reads like a police procedural. I also enjoyed it because it has an old-west flavor set in a future where the galaxy has been colonized by humanity. At 125 pages, it is a quick read and is complete as is. There are some interesting characters, but the principal character, Mateo Hobson, stands out, and the story is told from his point of view. There is plenty of action and intrigue as Mateo goes about solving the mystery and sorting out the good guys from the bad. The plot is pretty straightforward and includes some humorous moments that had me laughing out loud.

The planet Polonius has petitioned the Interstellar Alliance of Independent Worlds for membership to strengthen their trade possibilities. Before being admitted to the organization, there are a few problems needing to be investigated and resolved. One of those problems involves some low-level criminal activity and a mysterious unsolved murder.

Ensign Mateo Hobson has been called into the Intelligence Directorate office to investigate and act as he sees fit.

Mateo meets several characters on Polonius, both honest and shady. As his story unfolds, he runs into twists and turns, all the while uncovering the activities of the small underworld gang known as the Black Hats.

Mateo Hobson, the principal character of Problem on Polonius, is a young officer in the Alliance Patrol who has no apparent skill at solving crime, or much of anything else. What qualifies him for service in the Intelligence Directorate, though, is his ability to bend or break the rules in favor of doing what is right, even if he is hurt in the process. One thing in his favor is a relentless curiosity about fact-finding. He finds himself in a situation where he must put a large and complicated puzzle together and each question, he asks the people he encounters gives him another piece to put the whole picture into focus. For not having any special skills, he comes across as an incredibly skilled investigator by his instinct. Mateo is the kind of character one can get to know and want to read more of.

We see his ability for questioning in exposition of the story as he arrives on Polonius. One of the first people he encounters on the planet is a minor official whom he asks about why the places are named after Shakespeare's characters, or why certain characters are left out. This part of the tale is the most humorous scene in the book and had me laughing out loud. I read and re-read this passage a few times because I found it not only funny, but it read like an exchange between Abbot and Costello.

My takeaway from Problem on Polonius is how anyone can be successful when one is determined to get to the truth of a matter. There were several places in the story where Mateo could have just walked away and given up when things became complicated. His tenacious personality drove him on to complete his quest. I wouldn't mind reading more stories featuring this character.

I enjoy Robert Collins' work because it is light and accessible. Some of what I have read from this author has an old-western flavor I enjoy, especially when it is set in the frontier of space. I wouldn't be surprised to see such a story as this appear as an episode of Gunsmoke or other cowboy type theatrical tome. The low-tech nature of this tale makes an easy read where one can just sit back and enjoy a good story without having to overthink what is happening in the scenes. I recommend Problem on Polonius as an easily digestible, fun story set on a frontier planet with characters perfect in such a setting.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Robert Collins is the author of three science-Fiction novels: Monitor, Lisa's Way, and Expert Assistance. He's also author of two fantasy novels, Cassia and The Opposite of Absolute, and the young adult novel True Friends. He has several short-story collections available, including The Frigate Victory Omnibus Collection and The Case Files of Gwen Conner.

Robert also has a YouTube channel featuring his model railroad projects. Visit his channel by clicking HERE.

To Learn more, follow him on social media, and to keep up with his writing, visit his blog, One KansasAuthor.

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

Ground Control by K.A. Hough

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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

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Alien Love by Stan Schatt - Fast Paced Aliens Among Us Fiction

Alien Love by Stan Schatt

Not long ago, I received an email from author Stan Schatt about the release of a new novel entitled Alien Blood. I have enjoyed Stan's work in the past and eagerly headed to the Amazon website and downloaded a copy to read over the long Thanksgiving holiday weekend. At the same time, I found that I had missed one of the author's earlier releases entitled Alien Love. That one appeared to be a prequel to the novel Stan was alerting me to, so I also got that one. Here are my thoughts on Alien Love by Stan Schatt.

It would appear that our planet is crawling with Aliens that most of us know nothing about. They all seem to have their agendas and even use our planet as a battleground to try to solve their problems. When a dying astronaut brings this information to light, it promises to create quite a stir on the planet and something must be done before there is massive trouble for the indigenous inhabitants of Earth.

Enter former Navy SEAL, Jack Starling who is having a rough time after mustering out of the Navy. He lives alone and is having trouble finding a job not to mention suffering from a mild form of PTSD. When he witnesses a beautiful woman being abducted on a San Diego street, his training kicks in and he intervenes, saving the woman. Later, she appears at his apartment and wishes to show Jack her gratitude by taking him to bed. Jack is a little surprised at first, but goes along with the scenario. He falls hard for the woman, but there is something not quite right about her. At first he thinks she is crazy, but later learns that there is more to her than meets the eye.

Jack finds himself caught up in a roller coaster ride of twists and turns that move at breakneck speed leading to the revealing of a treaty signed with an alien race by a former president of the U.S.

The story follows the exploits of Former SEAL Jack Starling who seems to be a pretty likable guy who is down on his luck. He a big man, but while he is described as a good looking man, he is also a bit scary. He really wants to just find a job and go on with his life. He is in therapy to help him cope with his PTSD and takes medicine. He wants to keep in contact with his former SEAL brothers but is forbidden to do so by his therapist. So, as he is somewhat estranged from his family, he is pretty much alone.. When Jack finally finds his chance for some companionship, it takes some strange turns. He learns things about what is happening in his world, and about himself that brings him into contact with many other characters that are as colorful and interesting as he is. There was just enough character development in the story to make Jack seem like a real person to me, and to care about what happened to him.

While Jack was the main character, I found that I wanted to know more about the aliens. The reader is introduced to the aliens in the story with the introduction of Jack's love interest, Cassandra. When she is introduced, there is something that seems off about her. After making love with Jack for the first time, she starts talking about pregnancy and basically freaks Jack out. He is not sure he wants to pursue a relationship with her, but after a time, he finds her irresistible and goes along with it, eventually falling in love. After a time, Cassandra is revealed to be a member of an alien race that is in danger of becoming extinct. Cassandra seems to be seeking help from Jack for some unknown reason, that is until we learn an interesting fact about Jack.

I would call Alien Love a low-tech, conspiratorial, aliens among us, sci-fi novel that is very much in the vein of an X-Files type story. It was quite entertaining and a lot of fun to read. It is fast paced and well written and I read it quickly. While the story follows logically, there are numerous plot twists that provided surprise and intrigue. Even though it was not a huge part of the story, I enjoyed the conspiratorial aspects of the plot that involved the government knowing and being okay with some of the aliens begin on the planet. The astronaut in the beginning of the story had me curious and I was hoping for more on that, which did come as the story developed.

I feel like somewhat of a kindred spirit to the author because he is a fan of Star Trek, to which he makes numerous references. I was also amused that some of the aliens in the story were also mild Trekkies. They appear to be so because they wanted to know more about human culture.

While the story is quite serious, there were places where one could see aspects of Stan's sense of humor rise to the surface. There are a few moments that I had to laugh as those undertones revealed themselves.

I recommend Alien Love as a fun read, full of twists and turns, and a lot of action as well as interaction between characters. I found myself eager to read on when I had to put it down and while reading, I was engaged and entertained. I am looking forward to reading Aline Blood right after I finish writing this to learn more about the aliens and their various agendas during their interactions with humanity, both noble and nefarious.

From Stan's website, here is how he describes himself...

"Futurist, technologist, novelist, and a person curious about many things. The roll call of jobs I’ve held over the years includes but is not limited to autopsy assistant, police department administrator, salesman, sales manager, literature professor, telecommunications professor, and technology analyst, and research director. I’m a full-time writer now and live in Carlsbad, California with my wife, Jane. My plate’s pretty full right now with writing projects. I’m writing primarily mysteries at the moment when it comes to fiction and non-fiction books on careers and retirement. I have always loved technology and politics almost as much as writing."

You can find a more complete list of both his fiction and non-fiction work on his website, and there is a short list of his works at Amazon.com.

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Fog & Fate (Dust & Cannibals Book 4) By Bruce I. Schindler - The People Of Harlan County Are On The Move!

Fog & Fate (Dust & Cannibals Book 4) by Bruce I. Schindler

I first met Bruce and learned about his writing at the Buffalo County Fair a few years ago while he was manning a table with the Central Nebraska Writers Guild. After visiting with him for a few minutes, I knew I had to read his Dust & Cannibals novel. He described it as a post apocalyptic cowboy/Sci-Fi mashup that takes place in and around Harlan County, Nebraska. Since reading that first novel, Bruce and I have become friends and I await every installment of the series with great eagerness. I finished reading Fog & Fate and am all the more chomping at the bit to read the next book which is promised to be released soon.

The Dust & Cannibals series opens somewhat innocently enough with a single rider headed into the town of Alma, the county seat of Harlan County (or simply Harlan as it is known to the people there). This rider, a man named Lyle Lillard happens to be on a “green-broke” horse with a saddle that is too small. When he is about halfway to his destination, he is set upon by a large group of people who are intending to have him for dinner, but not as a guest, but rather as the main course! It is only thanks to his horse being spooked that he escapes. As the story unfolds, we learn that a series of disasters, both natural and man-made, have made the world into a place where chaos is the rule rather than the exception. Those that have survived the disasters find themselves in a position in which only the fittest will continue to survive.

Fog & Fate moves forward with an imminent threat from the a large group of terrorists to the south near Colorado Springs. It is not known what capabilities the terrorists have to wage war against Harlan, but the possibility of a nuclear threat is a real concern. It is determined that a small group from Harlan needs to go on a recon mission to determine what numbers and capabilities they are facing. It would seem that the terrorists really don’t have anything against the people of Harlan, that is, other than a difference of philosophical points of view. Actually, they are determined to kill all the men and enslave the women for nefarious purposes. An altogether unacceptable situation for the citizens of Harlan.

It is soon determined that there are far too many terrorists to fight and that mass relocation is necessary for continued survival. When the idea of using the existing railway system and steam engines comes up, preparations are made to leave. But where can they go? There are so many places that are unsafe either because of the terrorists reach, or the climate conditions, the choices are very limited. While things are looking grave for the people of Harlan, there is still hope and determination driving them forward.

Each book of the Dust & Cannibals series focuses on a different character. This installment takes a close look on Josh Morgan, a former soldier who survived the war in Afghanistan and made his way back the the U.S. on an aircraft carrier. He, along with his friend, Mark Tahner, made their way across the country on foot. Upon arrival in Harlan, Josh and Mark’s skills came in very handy and they were readily accepted into the fold. Josh is a likable character who is not too outspoken and willing to take orders. He and his wife, Alicia are expecting one of the first babies to be born after the threat of the devastating Omega Dust (a weapon of mass destruction) has passed.

Josh is sent to command a mission to reconnoiter the terrorists in Colorado. During this mission, we find that Josh is not a strong commander, but he shows great personal growth after the birth of Baby Grace. From then on, the people of Harlan find that they can depend on him to get the jobs done and that he does a fairly good job of assessing a situation and solves problems. There is only one situation that he finds himself in where his soldier’s sense fails him and he gets pinned down during a firefight.

Bruce really ramps up the action in Fog & Fate with several firefights of varying size. This action tends to drive home the point that things are very tense for the people of Harlan. Some of that tension is very palpable when Josh’s wife, Alicia stands outside of the Lillard home with an automatic weapon gunning down attacking terrorists en masse. There are many other smaller scale skirmishes along the way, and the descriptions of those are also charged with the same sense of tension; as I read, I felt a true sense of relief that the situation had been resolved. The apprehension of what might happen next always hung in the air and there are many surprises along the way.

As each novel is released, there is more and more territory revealed and the conditions therein. Fog & Fate ranges from Cheyenne, Wyoming to the west to near Omaha, and south to Colorado Springs. All along the way, Bruce gives us a picture of devastation that evoked some sad feelings for me since the story is set so close to home. In other words, he is doing what a great author should do by making the reader feel what one should.

As it is throughout the series, the theme in Fog and Fate is survival. The people of Harlan are being targeted by the terrorists and decide that they have to leave the area, especially in light of a possible nuclear threat. There are many things to consider when outfitting the trains they will use as their transportation, as well as their homes away from home. First they have to make sure that everyone has plenty of food and water, then there are the horses they will continue to depend upon that also need to be fed. While the trip will not be the most comfortable, many considerations are given to make things as pleasant as possible. The people of Harlan will only survive as long as they work together and stay focused on their goal.

While I have enjoyed every novel in the Dust & Cannibals series, this one is my favorite so far because of the author’s brilliant world-building and character development. He has really made me care about what happens to the people of Harlan. Add to that, Bruce’s style of storytelling that is quite non-formulaic allowing for surprises along the way. I give my highest recommendations for this book and all of the rest in the series. We are promised a fifth book in the series entitled Steam & Trust, for which I am eagerly awaiting as the people of Harlan try to find a place that they can find peace.

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Edited By Benjamin Arrowood

Snow & Sanity By Bruce Scindler - Lots Of Snow, But Not Much Sanity - An Insanely Good Read!

Snow & Sanity by Bruce I. Schindler (2015)

Snow & Sanity is the third in the Dust & Cannibals low-tech Science fiction series of stories involving the people in and around Harlan County, Nebraska following a series of events that have changed the political, economic, and physical landscape of our reality into something that is often horrifying and always a little disturbing while being thought provoking at the same time.

This third installment of the series takes the reader into the workings of one of the locations in Harlan (the residents have dropped the County off of the name) called the Wagon Ranch. The function of the wagon ranch is primarily to train horses and riders to help with the many jobs that need to be taken care of including transportation, defense, and delivery of messages and supplies in a timely manner. Operations at the ranch have been disrupted by snow storms that come through every few days dropping massive amounts of precipitation. That covers the snow aspect of the title. As far as the sanity part of the title, where Wagon Ranch is concerned, there seems to be very little of that to go around.

A lot of activity is happening around Harlan, and not all of it is good. At the Wagon Ranch, the appointed manager and his assistant seem to be taking pleasure in torturing Rick, a computer nerd, by making him do jobs around the ranch that have little to do with actually getting anything accomplished. At the same time, a young woman named Gwendolyn is being held in apparent slavery serving four households and being forced to do all of the cleaning and cooking. When Lyle and Mark discover this, they decide to make some changes in an attempt to improve conditions at the Wagon Ranch. While Kevin seemed to be the right choice for manager, it turns out that his personality has changed and so has the personality of his assistant, Duane.

Gwendolyn and Rick are married almost immediately after they meet and are appointed to run the ranch and it is soon discovered that the reason for Kevin and Duane’s behavior is a substance that is hidden in the walls of the buildings on Wagon Ranch. What ensues next is a struggle for control of the ranch, as well as many of the people of Harlan, and perhaps a struggle for the County itself. All the while, there are people who are caught in the middle, some are well equipped to handle the situation, while others that the people of the county count on for guidance and wisdom appear to falter because of moral standards that seem to be deteriorating in this world that is rapidly changing as resources dwindle. Then there are the weather changes that are affecting one of the most important aspects of being civilized; communication.

Once again, Bruce has delved into the area that I would call Social Science Fiction. This series is not so much how a post-apocalyptic society might deal with the lack of technology, but how they might deal with one another in a society that has to deal with the changes resulting from a broken down government, and threats from every angle. Everyone in such a society has to be a productive member by contributing to the welfare of the whole for the good of all, but as we see in the real world, there are those that will insist on taking advantage of a situation to advance their personal agenda, and Bruce demonstrates how this would tend to bring everyone down if situations like this exist. In other words, the needs of the many do outweigh the needs of the one. It is obvious that the author has given this aspect a great deal of thought.

At the same time, there has to be someone in charge to help determine what is best for the society saw a whole, and being human, leaders do tend to make mistakes. In the story, Lyle is a wise leader with years of experience under his belt, but even he can be flawed. Lyle has a deep respect for life and does not feel that anyone is expendable, now matter how bad someone might be, he wants to help everyone become a part of the community. He feels that with martial law in effect, he must be careful not to make decisions based on knee-jerk reactions, but sometimes there are situations that cannot be resolved thoughtfully. This story finds Lyle making a decision that did cost lives, and could have cost a whole lot more and plunged the people of Harlan into complete chaos. Fortunately, there are others who see the flaws in Lyle’s decision and take measures to lessen the impact.

One impact that was avoided was the possibility of losing the two people in the county that were best equipped to help restore the communication abilities in the county, that would be the two highest qualified people in the area that understand technology, Rick and Gwendolyn. In trying to save Kevin and Duane, Lyle’s decision not to eliminate them as a threat to the group, caused the couple to re-examine whether they really wanted to be a part of the community or to strike out on their own. I found that as I read, I was also disappointed in Lyle as he put many lives in harm’s way that could have been avoided. Unfortunately, not everyone can be redeemed.

One of the best parts about reading Snow & Sanity is in seeing the growth of the author in his writing. Now, just to be clear, I am not saying that the first two books were bad, but this one was my favorite of the three. The descriptions of the scenery and how it was effected by the weather was quite vivid, as well as the descriptions of the places I which the characters were taking shelter from the weather. The characters also seemed more comfortable in their settings. As always, the stressful elements such as rape scenes, beatings, as well as other such were done tastefully and we're all important parts of the story. I especially appreciate that the violence in the book is not gratuitous, but it is realistic and in line with what a reader might expect to happen within the world that Bruce has created.

That is also not to say that there are not surprises within the pages, and all is not dark and foreboding. There are also some good times and some humor. While the circumstances that created this world from the mind of Mr. Schindler are devastating, the center of the story are the characters he has created, sometimes good, sometimes evil, but always interesting.

I have really enjoyed the books in this series and give my highest recommendations to anyone who likes low-tech science fiction.

Well, there it is…

Qaplah!

Mud and Horizons by Bruce I. Schindler - The Sequel To Dust And Cannibals - Another Great Story In The Post-Apocalyptic World Of Harlan County

Mud and Horizons by Bruce I. Schindler (2015)

Recently, I read and reviewed Bruce Schindler's Dust and Cannibals, the first in a series of novels set in a post apocalyptic world where just about everything that can go wrong does go wrong. That book focused mainly on the survivors that live in and around the Harlan County area of rural Nebraska. At the end of that story, the people of Harlan County had defeated a band of cannibals, managed to avoid being annihilated by a devastating flesh-eating chemical agent, and a group of terrorists bent on killing every human being not agreeing with their philosophical point of view. They also managed to begin putting their small society in order by setting up a government of sorts and finding a role for everyone to contribute to the good of the community. by the end of the story, things were looking pretty good for the people of Harlan County.

Mud and Horizons is the second book in the series and it focuses mainly on the character, Mark Tahner, a former soldier in the Army who came to Harlan (the residents decided to leave off the 'county') from fighting in Afghanistan. Mark made his way from that country back to the U.S. and along with his friend and fellow soldier, Josh, trek across the country after engaging in fighting on the Mexican border. Mark and Josh became a part of the Harlan community by demonstrating that they had skills and by being willing to contribute productively.

Lyle Lillard, the de facto leader of Harlan, recognizes Mark's abilities and worth and appoints him the manager of Harlan 

Ranch. Among his duties, Mark manages horses, the only means of transportation in this world with very limited resources.

While out checking around, Deputy Vince discovers some bicycle tracks. Knowing that no one in Harlan is currently using that particular mode of transport because of the heavy rains, this becomes an area of concern. Further investigation reveals that there are people from the McCook area observing the activity of Harlan.  It is soon learned that the cannibals, now under the sole leadership of Stanley Peepul, did not perish when the moved out of Harlan, but are now hunting and butchering wild pigs. The folks of Harlan are a little skeptical, but begin setting up relations with the people of McCook and trade begins to take place.

Meanwhile, Mark strikes up a rather steamy relationship with Ellen and manages to get himself in a little trouble. He worries about his position as the manager of Harlan Ranch and what Lyle might do when he learns of what is happening, and rightfully so because Mark's behavior and a subsequent falling out with Ellen has Mark looking toward the horizon and thinking about a hasty retreat. There is a period where Mark has his "foot on the rail" (referring to going over the fence and making a clean getaway, but he hesitates, knowing that if he pursues that course of action, he will not survive on his own.

With winter coming on, arrangements have to be made for the survival of the people of Harlan as well as the Peepul tribe, who have somewhat redeemed themselves, now that they are no longer hunting humans as a food source. Also, the newcomers from McCook will need to be provided for. For the time being, there is an uneasy peace in Harlan, but on the horizon there are the terrorists looming over any possibility of becoming comfortable.

In this second installment of the Dust and Cannibals series of books, the pace is quite a bit more laid back than the previous story. There is a lot to do to prepare for the upcoming winter season and the focus is more centered on Harlan County. But the slower pace does not take away from the quality of the story in any way, because we get quite a bit more character development in this volume. While the story focuses a lot on Mark Tahner, it also reveals a lot about other characters, especially Stanley Peepul.

In the first book, Stanley was presented as a possibly mentally handicapped individual who was the puppet of Willie, the St. Louis petty criminal that broke him out of jail and encouraged the cannibalistic activity of the tribe that Stanley now is well in command of.  According to the author, appearances where Stanley are concerned are quite deceiving.

The mysterious people that seemed to be in charge of McCook include Sammie, a former Air Force officer and four Marine snipers. While they think they may be in charge in McCook with members of the Peepul tribe serving their every whim, they do not seem to know that Stanley's followers only serve Sammie at Stanley's pleasure. Stanley is turning out to be an intelligent and very formidable character with survival instincts that will most likely be quite valuable to the people of Harlan. He only acted as a buffoon because that is the role that he has been expected to fill for his whole life, but in Mud and Horizons there is no one to pull Stanley's strings and his real personality is coming out. Where he was quite repulsive in the previous book, he is now becoming quite likable and I am looking forward to further character development on him.

I really enjoyed this book as much as I did the first one. Whenever I pick up the book, I feel like I am entering the Twilight Zone. I never know what to expect from one page to 

the next because things in Bruce's universe are quite unpredictable. One of the strongest points about this book is that it develops characters to the point that I can care about them. As I read, the people of Harlan County become real to me and it matters to me what happens to them.

Bruce assures me that there will soon be a third installment in the Dust and Cannibals series, and I am looking forward to that one.

If you want to know more about the author and what he has written so far, you can find links to that information by following the link above in the first sentence of this post.

Well, there it is...

Qaplah!