Audio Book Review: Caliban’s War

Caliban’s War  Book 2 of The Expanse Series

by James S. A. Corey

narrated by  Jefferson Mays

Continuing the saga begun in Leviathan Wakes, Caliban’s War takes us to Ganymede for starters.  Nefarious human organization is once again playing around with the Proto-molecule only this time they are not going for massive infection.  Grabbing up kids with a specific disease that blanks their immune systems they are using them as berserkers to rip through soldiers in the most advanced powered armor.  That’s one of the threads.

This really foul mouthed Indian woman who seems to be a big deal in the UN government is yanking on strings, trying to unravel the hawk machinations of the UN Fleet and her boss by using a Martian Marine Corp Gunnery Sergeant as her own little army.  Now that’s cool!

Of course, Jim Holden has gotten himself and the crew of the salvaged Rocinante stuck right in the middle of all this and he blunders along making dangerous assumptions…per usual.  What’s unusual is that he gets them fired from Tycho station and that brings the crew back together.

I’m enjoying these.  I know that SyFy has made a series out of these books which I haven’t seen yet and don’t know if I ever will.  The screen of my mind still works however and if only you could see what my mind does when the scenes in this book unfold.  I’m giving this four out of five enjoyment points.  If Holden gets smarter in the series or at least shows some growth then the next one will rate higher…maybe.

Enjoy, and be legit.  Do not pirate, and don’t utilize the refund business that audible plays at.  If you don’t like something, review it and consider it a lesson learned.

 

http://www.audible.com/pd/Sci-Fi-Fantasy/Calibans-War-Audiobook/B008XKUPQ8/ref=a_search_c4_1_1_srTtl?qid=1435360823&sr=1-1

Comic Book Review: It’s better with Maple Syrup!

Captain Cannuck Volume 1 from IDW publishing

by Richard Comely and George Freeman

There have been remarkable advances since the seventies when these were published in Trade but they are still remarkable.  The artistry, the story line, the whole package has a much higher quality than what I believe was offered by the MEGA comic publishers at that time.  Sure, it is the nice way of Canada saying…America, suck it eh! but I have a place in my heart for it.  Some of the back story has changed I think in the reboot but the artists taking over the franchise for Chapterhouse Comics are treating cannon with respect.  In this volume you find out how Cannuck got his powers, how he feels a debt to his brother and how the Canadian Intelligence Service rocks…in their eyes.  Lot of fun so three out of five points.

 

http://www.captaincanuck.com/

http://www.amazon.com/Captain-Canuck-1-v/dp/1600104436/ref=sr_1_sc_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1435338811&sr=8-3-spell&keywords=Captain+Cannuck+1

 

Comic Book Review: New, Independent and Edgy.

Mythica Issue #1

by Matt Campbell, William Tooker and McLain McGuire

Magnus MacDracken is running around behind enemy lines during World War I in a kilt with a claymore.  He has a squad with him of angry Scots, those are rare, dealing mayhem and trying to dodge Germans and Daemons.  Somehow, Magnus’ behind the lines shenanigans communicate themselves of a prim young Belgian woman named Kim who is engaged to a Doctor Yosef (psychoanalyst) and the triangle is thus formed.  Magnus has otherworldly abilities which I suspect will be revealed in future issues.  Volume I kind of leaves us with a hint as a humongous daemon breaks a sword over Magnus back and he is still in the fight, amazing his squad.  It would amaze me.

The artwork is awesome, the story is fun and the next thing I want to learn is about the German uniformed dude with the red eyes.  The cover states on the bottom “suggested for mature readers” and I suggest the consumer heed this warning.  Four out of five enjoyment points are hereby awarded for art, storyline and stepping out on the edge.

 

http://mythicacomic.com/

Episode 40 – The Man with Three Golden Ta-Ta’s

It lives at the age of 40 episodes.

Book Review: Somebody says this is a Modern Classic

A Clockwork Orange

by Anthony Burgess

Alex DeBarge and his droogs, Pete, Dim and Georgie, set about creating the maximum level of damage and chaos in their drug fueled rampaging behavior throughout the first third of the book.  It’s Your Humble Narrator relating these slovos about him and his droogs.  Fights with britvas, buying old ladies scotch to cover for them, delivering a bit of the Ultra Violence to hapless victims caught unaware on the street and the occasional hold-down assisted In-Out to a piece of loud classical music.

This is Alex’s life at fifteen envisioned by the author in 1963 when the work was created and maybe then, Britain was having a long bout with levels of social reform.  Anyway, Alex gets caught because he was set up by his droogs, mainly Dim.  He gets carted off to State Prison where he tries his best to ingratiate himself to the Chaplain and portray model reform though nobody is really watching.  A new government takes control and institutes change.  Where that impacts Alex is that he volunteers to be cured of his evil ways in a fort-night, not knowing that it would involve drugs and conditioning.

Even though this work is fifty one years old as of this review I don’t want to trash your experience with spoilers because I recommend reading.  Better get your stamina up though as Burgess almost made up an entire language to relate how teenagers in his envisioned world would talk just to separate themselves from the old bored and stuffies.  What makes the version I read better in my mind, at least closer to the modern classic it’s pumped up to be, is the reinstatement of the last chapter.  That completely changes the story and illustrates why publishers and editors should never be given complete creative control.  To be clear, this is the 1986 American Edition with the final chapter added back in.  I give this a four out of five satisfaction points and that is because wading through the invented language was kind of a chore.

 

 

http://www.amazon.com/Clockwork-Orange-Anthony-Burgess-ebook/dp/B005HSGB6W/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1434391860&sr=1-1&keywords=a+clockwork+orange

Audio Book Review: Excellent Military Space Op with a little too much Data Dump!

Earth Strike:  Star Carrier, Book 1

Written by Ian Douglas

Narrated by Nick Sullivan

‘A Boot’ is what the marines call the star where a colony of non-consenting Islamic believers grabbed a foothold on a planet that is absolutely unfriendly to our concept of life.  The colony is there because all those governed by Earth were pressured to sign an accord of non-proselytizing, absolute tolerance of others beliefs and no prosecuting of religious wars.  Yeah, there is quite a history building up to that in Ian Douglas books.  Anyway, these didn’t want to sign that so they formed their own colony on a shit planet they figured no one else would want.  Apparently, they didn’t take into account what the Sh’daar wanted nor how their minions would deliver on the Sh’daar wishes.

Meanwhile, marines were tasked to protect the colony found themselves besieged by the, spelling by ear, Tur’oosh.  The Navy swoops in to attempt a save leading to the events that eventually form the title of the book.  Enough with the spoilers and move on with the review; should I read or listen to this work?

The work is encumbered somewhat with multiple technological data dumps, some are repetitive.  I’m not sure whose idea that was, author, editor, publisher…but after a bit it detracts from the work.  That is not enough to dissuade me however.  Having read many works by this author I have seen that his universe is skewed to the somewhat dark in that most everything he envisions us encountering will require a jingoistic military response.  He may be right and this is after all military space opera, if something needs repelling or a good fight then let’s get the bastards!

The futuristic societal split on Earth between techies and Prims is kind of eye opening and not far off the mark.  Techies embrace new tech, neural implants, altered features making them resemble forms they empathize with like Selkies or Elves.  Prims refuse tech enhancement and live outside of the net cloud in abandoned structures.  This may not be that far away.

I’m going with yes…you should read or listen to this series.  The audio version kept me enthralled and the battle scenes where well done.  The narrator did an excellent job conveying the gestalt of the Tur’oosh combatants seeking consensus between the mind above and the mind below.  The author did a masterful job of conveying how even in futuristic space combat roles at near relativistic speeds and individual can still make a difference.  Three satisfaction points instead of four because I feel the data dumps were overused.  I would rather see characters in the story unveiling what is needed than the NARRATOR.  That’s a Red Shirts reference.  Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

http://www.audible.com/pd/Sci-Fi-Fantasy/Earth-Strike-Audiobook/B00657NR2K

Book Review: Bureau of Supernatural Investigations

Things to do in Denver When You’re Un-dead

by Mark Everett Stone

Agent Kal Hakala is a ten year veteran agent of the BSI, Bureau of Supernatural Investigations.  This in itself is somewhat supernatural in that the mean life expectancy of a BSI agent is two years.  His team is called to Denver to quell or eradicate a herd of zombies and they stay around because supernatural events happen in clusters.

As it happens Kal has been preparing for this career all his life, or at least since the age of fifteen.  That was when he saw his sister brutally murdered by the Finnish version of cthulu called Iku-Turso.  What saved him and is family was the intervention of a government agency; let’s just call them the Men in Grey.  They don’t make you forget but they do lay a spell on you that will prevent you from spilling the beans.

Upon growing up he finds a card that an agent had given him and his rage resurfaces leading him to make…rash career and life choices.  That is the end of the potential spoilers.  The story is excellent and comes off kind of like a SWAT team for the X-files and Supernatural.  There are zombies, witches, ghouls, Renfields and Vampires.  Oh yeah, Brownies in a miniature Winnebago.

The action is violent and people get killed in gruesome ways so this is not a bedtime story for your kids…or fragile adults with disorders.  Four out of five satisfaction points are thus awarded.

 

 

 

http://www.amazon.com/Things-Denver-Youre-Un-Dead-FILES-ebook/dp/B005AZYWJ0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1433723515&sr=8-1&keywords=Things+to+do+in+Denver+when+you%27re+un-dead

Truly Organic

quotidiandose

My guest today is no stranger to the Mack studio,  he’s been my guest in the past for  a previous novel.  It’s my pleasure to have Angus H. Day as my guest today,  science fiction author.  I don’t know how he cranks them out, but he does consistently.

Truly Organic A Next You Novel

Science Fiction Space Opera

 Angus H. Day

Aaron Prekel rescues his family through Pizza and a Micro-brewery.  Did he realize he would open up the stars for a segment of the human race in danger of being destroyed?  Large forces on Planet Earth move in to thwart his efforts and keep space to themselves.  Intrigue, assassination, espionage and risking global nuclear war are just the hors d’oeurves served hot in the first portion of this tale.

I’m pretty sure Aaron had no concept of Cyborg aliens and a planet where anything mechanical would be attacked by…

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Audio Book Review: Saga of Seven Suns, Book 4, still strong.

Scattered Suns:  The Saga of the Seven Suns, Book 4

Written by Kevin J. Anderson

Narrated by David Colacci

As this is a large series, and this the fourth book, the author wrote a primer in the front section to keep everyone up to speed.  There is always a chance that someone may read to the book before and have to take a break for some reason.  That is why I appreciated the consideration here.  Thank you.  As I have been consuming these works in the audio format please forgive me if I misspell any of the characters.

The myriad storylines are continuing as strong as ever.  King Peter is still a royal hostage of the ruthless Hansa chairman Basil.  Deedee, a companion compy of Margaret Colicos is still being dragged around the galaxy by the Klickas robots.  Mage Imperator Jor Rah is still longing for the green priest Meara who was sequestered away by his unethical Brother Edru.  Designate Roushad has incited a rebellion using a drug called Sheing to take possession of Ilderans from the fism. These and other lines are still going on all the planets the Author has built into his story.

I thought that some of these stories would begin to get tired as the series progressed and I’m glad that hasn’t occurred.  My favorite so far is Devlin Lutz, specialist in obscure details or super high level operator.  This character reminds me of several futuristic spy stories I have read including All My Sins Remembered by Joe Haldeman.  This is an excellent series, well written and narrated.  It makes my commuting-chore-walking time something to look forward to.  Four out of five points are hereby awarded.

 

 

http://www.audible.com/pd/Sci-Fi-Fantasy/Scattered-Suns-Audiobook/B002V8DKCY

Book Review: Colony world besieged by bugs led by a Telepathic Alien. I’m in.

Price of Vengeance (Dreamscape Warriors)

by Kurt D Springs

 

 

Liam, the adopted son of Marcus and Lidia and the bonded brother of Randolph is special.  He is the last vestige of the Finnian remaining on their besieged colony world.  Being smaller and different from the Neo Etruscans he starts out being bullied and harassed but his adopted brother helps him out to get started.  Soon Liam’s fighting prowess is so great that nobody wants to pick a fight with him.

The citizens of New Olympia are under constant attack from an insectoid species called the Chitin who are being telepathically controlled by a being trying to speed up Darwinian selection and glean warriors.  Liam, with the help of some lovely priestesses, discovers his untapped abilities to enter the dreamscape.  That’s all the spoilers you’re getting.

The author did an excellent job at world building here.  As this is a piece of an unsettled Galactic Alliance rebellion I expect to see more novels in this franchise.  I do feel it was a bit heavy on the religious and guilt but the title is ‘Price of Vengeance’ so there you go.  Creativity, world building and storytelling earn this one a four out of five geek points from me.

 

 

http://www.amazon.com/Price-Vengeance-Dreamscape-Warriors-Springs-ebook/dp/B00J4P7QOA/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1433170335&sr=1-1&keywords=price+of+vengeance