Review: FULCRUM OF ODYSSEUS by Eric Michael Craig (Shan Takhu Legacy Book Two)

5 Speculative Stars!

SHAN TAKHU LEGACY Book Two

After the mind-blowing revelations of Book 1, LEGACY OF PANDORA,  FULCRUM OF ODYSSEUS leaps into an electrifying emergency situation leaving readers wondering,  "Is there a viable solution? Will anyone escape, alive?" Don't devalue the Captain and crew of the "Jakob Waltz," despite the very real dangers, and the fact that the Alien matrix in which they may be trapped does not and cannot relate to nor even recognize human emotions and elements of danger.

Philosophy,  politics,  Artificial intelligence,  Rebellion & Resistance,  Alien Mindsets...it's all here in a fascinating novel of serious science fiction. Fans of SF author Daniel Gibbs' characters of integrity and conscience will find much to delight in here.

Review: THE CARRION SEA by Steven McCumaskey

5 Speculative Stars!

Beautifully lyrical in execution,  this Oriental-setting, medieval-style fantasy strums all the themes of Man against Nature, Man against Monster,  and Man against Himself. In a small village of fishermen and hunters, an anomalous Winter refuses to end. Fishing is poor, animals are scarce, elderly and newborns can't survive.  Is this a freak weather event--or something more?

The answer is the proverbial lone brave warrior,  a man formerly of battle and now of peace, the one who will sacrifice all to save his village. 

Review: LEGACY OF PANDORA by Eric Michael Craig

5 Speculative Stars 

LEGACY OF PANDORA is an engrossing "hard science" science fiction novel,  first in the SHAN TAKHU LEGACY Series.  By "hard science, " I mean that a diligent focus of the story is on the sciences, astrophysics for example,  but also other sciences, as well as on character and plotting [think for example of SF authors Larry Niven and Peter F. Hamilton and Arthur C. Clarke.) As with these, while I enjoyed the story, I could feel my brain awakening and my mind stretching to accommodate new scientific concepts and creative, cosmic, possibilities.

Review: STONE HILL: LEVIATHAN WAKES

5 Stars

This Series is like a mandala, with themes and locations circling, circling,  characters ever-evolving to yet higher levels.  Nonstop action continues,  once our protagonists have enjoyed a very brief hiatus to catch their breath after the deaths of both the evil Pastor John and his equally evil second-in-command. With new, seemingly friendly,  acquaintances, new trips into the ancient tunnels below the once quiet community of Stone Hill reveal untold treasures and unspeakable terrors,  culminating in a mind-boggling conclusion.  I truly hope the Story will continue on!

Review: THE HOUSE ON WIDOW'S HILL by Simon R. Green

5 Spooky Stars 

This installment of the Ishmael Jones Mysteries relies heavily on Science Fiction rather than Horror as did some of the earlier novels.  Going in, one expects supernatural horror,  as Ishmael and partner Penny are tasked by a previously unknown member of the Organization (identified only as Whisper) to spend one night in a reputedly haunted Victorian house in Bath, England. Accompanying are a psychic,a journalist who is a member of the family owning the derelict property,  and a local historian who is also a White Witch. As the story unfolds,  we learn more about Ishmael Jones' background, and encounter some seriously Spooky moments and unexpecte56d events.  This one is also noted for its humour: despite all the serious issues,  I frequently chuckled,  even laughed aloud [rare for me].

Review: STONE HILL: SHADOWS RISING by Dean Rasmussen

4 Spooky Stars

The horrors that have overtaken the small, gentle, community of Stone Hill, Minnesota,  make my skin crawl, and I refer to both the otherworldly elements and the sheer unadulterated human evil. A formerly "normal" small mostly-farming community has become--well, at the risk of trope, a portal to Hades. Or, not exactly that specific location,  but somewhere in another dimension, allowing horrific entities to cross over, abduct, terrorize, feed. What is under the apple orchard [shudder] boggles the mind....but does create a far-reaching territory for our "heroes" to explore in future installments. Meanwhile,  the fascist totalitarian control of Stone Hill (monstrously in the name of religion) seems to be reminiscent of Nazi Germany,  specifically how the non-combatant civilians were terrorized into submission by the controlling government run by the demagogue Adolf Hitler.  But even Hitler couldn't match the Denouement of STONE HILL: SHADOWS RISING, an event of jaw-dropping terror,  a real cliffhanger...

Tour: THE LIGHTEST OBJECT IN THE UNIVERSE by Kimi Eisele

5 Hopeful Stars!

Apocalyptic--Post-Apocalyptic

Over several decades I've perused a cornucopia of books categorized as pre-Apocalyptic, Apocalyptic, and post-Apocalyptic. I think it's only been in the last two decades or so that an EMP (Electromagnetic Pulse), whether of human design or due to a Solar Flare/Coronal Mass Ejection of the Sun, is the cause. Many of these books are extremely depressing, hopeless, even horrifying. Few are hopeful: THE LIGHTEST OBJECT IN THE UNIVERSE is a shining light of hope and courage in the morass of Apocalypse. What can we do in the face of Society's collapse? Persevere. Hope. Love.