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

Sands of Dune by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson

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

In this volume, the four stories are:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

My Highest Recommendations for Sands of Dune!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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

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

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

 Crudrat: The Tinkered Stars by Gail Carriger

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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

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

Gail at OSFest 6 - Omaha, 2013

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

If it sounds daunting, it is.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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

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Aeon Rising: The Apocalypse Begins by Matthew Mather - This One Is A Hell Of A Page Turner

Aeon Rising: The Apocalypse Begins by Matthew Mather

I downloaded this book from Kindle Unlimited and am leaving this review voluntarily.

I became aware of Aeon Rising when it was being announced on my Facebook newsfeed. I've read Mather's work in the past and enjoyed it, but this seemed to be a special project from the author. There was a lot of content surrounding the release of this story.

Aeon Rising is the tale of a disaster from outer space that threatens to change life on the planet as we know it. I enjoyed the characters and was pleased to see them grow as the story progressed. There is plenty of engaging action taking place and I really didn't want to stop reading when I started. I hurried through my mundane obligations so I could get back to the book.

There is also a great deal of emotional content in this story, and the writing was so good, one could feel what the characters must have been feeling. The emotional spectrum in this tome is mostly on the dark side, but there are also brief glimmers of hope and even a small amount of humor thrown in for good measure.

Another thing I was stirred by was the varied settings and how they were presented in the prose. There were urban settings, the Amazon Jungle, and the frozen tundra of the South Pole. Mather's descriptions were vivid and colorful, complete with the discomforts that come with those environments, as well as a few the author made up to add to the terror, especially in the jungle.

Overall, I love this engaging story.

Opening at a scientific research station on the continent of Antartica, a scientist monitors her equipment to detect neutrino particles as they strike the detectors. During the project, the scientist feels lucky when there is a hit, but one fateful day, her detectors lit up with a brilliance as an astronomical number of neutrinos excites her equipment. The scientist knows what this discovery means, and it isn't good.

What follows is a nearby (a relative term in astronomy) super nova event that has the effect of placing a second sun to heat the already warmed Earth. Climate change is rapid and will prove catastrophic to all life, especially human life. 

A man is sent to the Amazon in South America to contact an eccentric billionaire and friend to learn what he is up to in pursuing scientific discovery he would not be allowed to work on in the U.S. The man's pregnant wife is left to fend for herself and finds difficulty, but also finds help from a mysterious source.

The people of the Earth seek relief by moving north as fast as they can while resources are stretched to the limits and services are nonexistent.

The characters in this story are all well written and come alive as the reader gets to know them. 

Max Carver is former military, currently a professional over-the-road trucker. He's been tapped to find and contact a friend from his past and learn what he is doing in the Amazon jungle. Max seems to be a gentle, nice guy on the surface, but he has a skill set and very good survival instincts. Mostly, he just wants to finish the job he was sent to do and get back home with his wife. She is seven months pregnant with their first child.

Talisha Carver, Max's wife, is also preoccupied with the idea of Max being home before their baby is born. She also has a special skill set and is trying to survive in the difficult situation brought about by the supernova that has trapped Max in the jungle. When she is accosted by several dangerous people, she has to go on the run to save herself and her unborn child, while trying to learn what happened to Max and getting some place safe. She also finds she has a mysterious companion who claims wanting to help her.

Dr. Xin Rhou is the first person to detect the neutrino burst heralding the coming of the supernova. She is stationed at the South Pole and is a Chinese national. There seems to be more to her than just a simple researcher. She also finds herself involved in a mystery involving murder and other mayhem.

My favorite point of plot for Aeon Rising is all the things hinted at in future installments of the series. There are several questions that come to mind:

1. How will governments deal with a mass migration of people moving north to get away from the effects of the Aeon supernova?

2. What part does Max's friend play in the changes in the Amazon jungle?

3. What is the nature of Talisha's mysterious friend who wants to help, and why has this entity appeared?

4. How is Max going to survive in an environment that is out to do him harm at every turn?

5. What will finally be the fate of Xin and what is her actual role in developing events?

The overarching theme and my takeaway from Aeon Rising is survival for everyone in a situation that happened without warning. There are no contingency plans in place to deal with the mass migration of humanity to the northern parts of the planet to escape a developing situation. On the surface, the people of the planet seem to face certain extinction from something no one understands and can't do anything about, except hold out in hopes the crisis will work itself out.

Mather has set up a seemingly impossible to survive story. It will be interesting to see what roads he will lead us down as the questions are answered. This segment of the series gives the reader an exposition of people, places, and things likely leading to some amazing plot twists. I think Aeon Rising is an uncommonly great example of telling a story to invoke compassion, apprehension, and extraordinary thrills. I give Aeon Rising: The Apocalypse Begins my highest recommendations as a book well worth reading.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The two novels following this one are: Aeon Burn - due to be released early December 2022 - and Aeon Fury - in April 2023.

You also might be interested in some of the promotional material that is available from the author. He talked about Aeon Rising with two other authors on videos available on YouTube. You can access those through the links below:

Talk with author Steve Konkoly

Talk with author Kyla Stone

In the meantime, be sure not to pass up Aeon Rising; apocalyptic sci-fi fans should really enjoy this one!

Amazon Charts Bestseller Matthew Mather's books have sold millions of copies, accumulated over 100,000 ratings on Goodreads, Audible and Amazon, been translated and published in over 24 countries across the globe, and optioned for multiple movie and television contracts. He began his career as a researcher at the McGill Center for Intelligent Machines before starting and working in high-tech ventures ranging from nanotechnology to cyber security. He now works as a full-time author of speculative and science fiction thrillers.

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Bouncing Off the Moon: The Far Side of The Sky Book 2 by David Gerrold - More Sci-Fi Goodness From A Master

Bouncing Off the Moon: The Far Side of The Sky Book 2 by David Gerrold

I finished reading the first book in this series, Jumping Off the Planet, a few weeks ago and gave it a five-star review. Bouncing Off the Moon continues right where the first installment ends. This is a tale of an estranged family with parents who are more childish than their children. It is very a very sad state of affairs when parents use their children as weapons against each other; everyone suffers, especially the children.

The story, so far, is told from Charles's point of view. He is the middle child of three brothers who are all different in their interests and behaviors, but they have one thing in common; they depend on each other for support and survival.

Bouncing Off the Moon is a brilliantly written story told in the classic sci-fi style. It is set wholly on Earth's Moon and the descriptions of the backdrop colorfully illustrate the colorless landscape of the colonized satellite. I couldn't help but think about Buzz Aldrin's observation when he encountered the body in 1969. He called it "magnificent desolation" and David brings those words to life in this book.

I was most impressed by the pains the author took to get the science right. However, what really drives the story are the characters.

This second book isn't your typical bridge between the beginning and the end of a trilogy, but it is a complete story unto itself. I found it exciting, scary, sad, and humorous; running a full gamut of emotions.

Charles, also known as Chigger, his two brothers, Bobby the younger, Douglas, the older, have just won their emancipation from their parents and are striking out to seek their fortune among the stars. Economic and political conditions on Earth have deteriorated to where its society seems doomed to collapse. The brothers are accompanied by Mickey, Douglas' newly found love interest.

Realizing they are being pursued for a toy they have in their possession; they learn they have to take an alternate way to avoid being captured. Bobby's toy contains something precious to many people. The boys are joined by Alexei, a friend of Mickey's and a resident of the Moon, who helps them escape from the tether in a cargo pod before they can be captured.

As a resident of the Earth's natural satellite, Alexei knows how to get around and he takes the boys on a fantastic adventure crossing the Lunar surface to seek safety. After arriving at a safe place, all is not what it seems, and the boys must watch their backs because there is uncertainty at every turn.

As for the characters in this second part of the tale, there is significant growth in the brothers. In the first book, they really had little in common with one another other than the schism brought about by their parents. Since they have been away from that influence, they have become closer and depend on one another for strength and support.

The story is told from Chigger's point of view, and we get to follow his feelings through the numerous new, strange, and dangerous situations the boys face. David wrote this story so one can feel what the boys feel, especially Chigger. As a young teenager, he is already emotionally compromised just because of the age. I have to say, though, that he handles much of what he faces well for his age.

My best advice for a reader is to keep an eye on all the characters. Some are not what they seem.

My favorite point of plot for Bouncing Off the Moon is all the swerves, twists, and turns this story takes. Just when one thinks this story is going to be predictable, it takes a turn and moves in another direction. I thought for sure I had a couple of characters figured out, only to find I was completely wrong about them. This alone makes this tale a fun one to read, as David takes the reader on an emotional and literal roller coaster ride.

Another point I appreciated were the descriptions of the surroundings and how the characters move through them while on the moon, not to mention how they get to the moon. The science is well researched, and it adds so much to the authenticity of the story. Everything the author shows the reader in this story is completely plausible. Indeed, it is all made up, but everything is so practical, it wouldn't be difficult to say that David is projecting today’s technologies into the not-too-distant future.

One takeaway from this story is how one must know their surroundings with great diligence. This is true especially with the people once interacts with. With the brothers, they had little choice in who to ally themselves with and it could have cost them their lives had they not been suspicious of nearly everyone they encountered.

But even more, during a scene near the end of the book, two characters get into a discussion of a legal and philosophical nature. The question posed is, "when it is appropriate to break the law?" Many would argue that illegal activity brings about change, but then at what cost does that change take place? Then there is the idea presented by American author, Henry David Thoreau, in an essay commonly known as On the Duty of Civil Disobedience. In nearly every book I've read by David Gerrold, there is something to give me pause and think. As for me, I think this small section is worth the price of the entire book. The conclusion to the argument is, "... it is never appropriate to break the law. It is, however, appropriate to challenge it responsibly." (p. 268, Kindle edition)

Not only is this my favorite part of the story, it is thick with substance and well worth the time, especially in the current political climate.

I recommend Bouncing Off the Moon along with the volume that comes before, Jumping Off the Planet, as something worth the time to read, not only because of the immense entertainment value of the saga but also to have one's mind stimulated with issues relevant to life today. David Gerrold's skill as a writer is shown in this story because the deep issues are not presented in a preachy way, but they are presented as important story points moving the story forward.

Highest recommendations for this book as well as the series (so far) as a whole.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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

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A Hole In The World by Weston Ochse - Modern Military Fantasy At Its Best

 

A Hole In The World by Weston Ochse

While scrolling through my Facebook newsfeed, I came across a post from Weston Ochse where he shared a review of A Hole In The World. The reviewer left no doubt that he/she didn't appreciate the book and, with much malice, virtually shredded it. First, I want to compliment Weston on sharing a harsh review of his own work; it takes guts to acknowledge what I thought was unfair and way over-the-top. I've read Weston's work in the past and enjoyed it, but when I saw that review, I knew I had to get a copy and read it. Nothing could be as bad as the description from my fellow reviewer (who I don't care to know).

I wasn't sure what I was getting when I downloaded this story. I was expecting more of a military sci-fi tale. It is a military tale, but there is very little sci-fi to this. It is pure military fantasy. 

The story is told from the point of view of a strong female character named Laurie May. She is a member of an organization that aggressively investigates (meaning sometimes fights) malicious paranormal beings. The attention of her organization, Special Unit 77, is piqued when a missing town in South Dakota. The strangest thing at the beginning is that everyone that lived in or around the town doesn't realize it is missing. As a matter of fact, it never existed as far as they are concerned. Only one person, a Native-American man calling himself Francis Scott Key Chases The Enemy, knows the place existed, and it has disappeared.

A similar incident happens in England, where Laurie is sent to investigate and offer aid wherever she can.

Paranormal mayhem ensues when she discovers she is involved in a massive war between two factions in the Fae realm. it became a brutal and bloody fight for survival to keep the fighting from spilling into the world as we know it.

Laurie May is a great character following in the tradition of many characters; one that comes to mind is Ellen Ripley. She is tough, but she cares. She knows how to take care of herself in a fight. When Laurie becomes a part of the team in England, she's more-or-less told to stay out of the way. As time passes, she earns a place in the team as they learn of her skill and ability to think on her feet and adapt to numerous situations. 

My other favorite character is Francis. With a name like his, who cannot like him. He strikes me as a kind of Native-American poet/philosopher/warrior. I was hoping to see a lot more of him in this story. He's someone I want to get to know.

As far as plot points in this tale, I really enjoyed the detailed descriptions of the characters and the battle scenes. As I mentioned before, the battles are brutal, and some descriptions are graphic in their detail. I don't mind this, but readers who are sensitive to this type of literature may find it unappealing. Aside from that, this book is full of characters who have a lot of fun to read interactions. Their banter is humorous, but not offensive. Oches does a fine job of bringing his characters to life, making A Hole In The World an entertaining read.

My takeaway from this story is how the classic battle between good and evil is usually won by the good side, but only as long as good is ready to get down on the same level of evil and behave as such. Really, the tactics between the two are much the same. 

While fantasy is not my favorite genre, my curiosity was sated in finding this work of fiction was not at all as described by the aforementioned reviewer. The story is solid, the characters are appealing, and the book is wholly entertaining. What more can one ask from an author? I've enjoyed Weston's stories in the past and I did not find the quality lagging, as a matter of fact, I saw growth in the writing from the earlier works I've enjoyed.

I recommend A Hole In The World for those who enjoy fantasy in a modern setting with modern technology as a tool to fight the good fight.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The American Library Association calls Weston Ochse "one of the major horror authors of the 21st Century." His work has won the Bram Stoker Award, been nominated for the Pushcart Prize, and won four New Mexico-Arizona Book Awards. A Writer of more than thirty books in multiple genres, his Burning Sky Duology has been hailed as the best military horror of the generation. His military supernatural series Seal Team 666 has been optioned to be a movie starring Dwayne Johnson and his military sci-fi trilogy, which starts with Grunt Life, has been praised for its PTSD-positive depiction of soldiers at peace and at war.

Weston has also published literary fiction, poetry, comics, and non-fiction articles. His shorter work has appeared in DC Comics, IDW Comics, Soldier of Fortune Magazine, Cemetary Dance and peer-reviewed literary journals. His franchise work includes The X-Files, Predator, Aliens, Hellboy, Clive Barker's Midian, and V-Wars.

Weston holds a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing, and he teaches at Southern New Hamshire University. He lives in Arizona with his wife and fellow author, Yvonne Navarro and their Great Danes.

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