Taking Time Travel by the Paradoxes

I normally don't do book reviews on my blog because... well... hello, I'm an author here and it seems like kind of a conflict of interest.

Saying that, we all know I'm about to break that pesky rule because I just had to. Why? Well, I'm bubbling with the need to 1) break a rule, and 2) talk about this book.

The book is "Man in the Empty Suit" by Sean Ferrell.

Usually I get completely aggravated with time travel stories (and movies) because they never address the conflicts in the act of travelling through time. It's one of the reasons I've never attempted to write a time travel book either. If the professionals can't figure it out, how the hell am I ever going to?

Ferrell, however, took the conundrum of time travel, embraced it with a big "F you", and went with the chaos time travel wreaks in the mind of those who think about it.

I loved how the character's regard for the rules he'd set slowly disintegrated as the story unfolds, culminating in -- oh, never mind, you'll have to read it. (And it is fantastic!) I'll tell you one thing though... this book was written with the details of the concept complexities in mind.

Oh! Oh! And the main character!

The main character is human in every sense of the word. Not the stereotypical hero with the mission and justice always in his thoughts and actions. No, his character is humanly inconsistent. His morals and judgement wavered depending on who or what it is involved. I know I'm more forgiving when it comes to friends and people I care about than I am towards a complete stranger. And you see that characteristic in this character often... sometimes with himself. (You'll get it when you read it.)

As a writer I don't know HOW he wrote this book. The depth of chaos and timing get all wrapped up, twisted, and twirled. I, as the reader, barely kept up with the progression of the story. I can't imagine having to have outlined it.

Very impressed by the skill and technique used to complete this book, which is really why I felt compelled to post my thoughts here on my blog. Reading books like this get me jazzed about the art and technical skills of writing.

So there's my thoughts on "Man in the Empty Suit". If you're going to read it, just make sure you have enough time because you're not going to want to put it down.

Book Review: Rebels and Lovers

Rebels and Lovers by Linnea Sinclair is a fantastic sci-fi romance. I liked the nerdy male main character, Devin. At his basic he's a glasses wearing, data crunching, business guy who gets himself caught up in something he can't handle.

In comes Kaidee, a girl from the "interstellar" block so to speak. She's from a rough side of space, with a questionable father in an even more questionable business. The story interweaves through one action-packed adventure to the next. Through it all Kaidee keeps saving Devin and his nephew from trouble.

There was a bit of back story that at times had me questioning whether this was a trilogy or series. I kept checking the front information...as if it would change or something. It wasn't until I went to Linnea Sinclair's website that I saw it was, in fact, one of the Dock Five Universe series.

The detailed world Sinclair's built is a magnificent, realistic world based on sound social and technological assumptions. If there were one complaint - and it's a small one - they spent a bit too much time fighting at the space port and not enough time in space travel...but I'm not going to complain. I mean, I have to concede that the series is titled Dock Five, which is the port they were hangin' at.

If you want to read a great example of a sound sci-fi romance, pick up Linnea Sinclair's Rebels and Lovers. Now I just have to go get the first 3 in the series...and then wait anxiously for the next.

Good writing (and reading) all!

Book Review: Frankenstein Series

You either love his books or hate his books, but every reader knows his name.

Dean Koontz.

A couple months ago I read through his new trilogy about Frankenstein. This isn't your mother's Frankenstein either. This is science fiction to its modern day extreme.

I personally love the casual way Dean Koontz puts his stories together. He knows his readership, other writer's opinion be damned. But don't think because his storytelling is casual that his story is simple. This is exactly demonstrated with the Frankenstein novels: Prodigal Son, City of the Night, and Dead and Alive.

He's built a very complex and dynamic plot with very grey and flawed characters. The science fiction behind this concept is exact and detailed on the threshold of society's interest. He makes writing out these difficult ideas seem very easy.

I like that he placed Frankenstein's monster at the center of this story. He's an unlikely but obvious-once-pointed-to persona to fit the bill.

It's not perfect, as most Dean Koontz book aren't. There's certain parts of his other main characters, the cops, that aren't well developed and at times seem cheesy and two dimensional. Part of their persona even seemed slapped together. But right as they started to irritate me, he'd bring in the evil Victor Helios (read to find out more about his true identity) and all would be happy in the land of "AR Reading Land".

So, if you're looking for a great read then check out Dean Koontz Frankenstein trilogy.

'Kay, good writing all! (And reading)

Book Review: The Loch

Dropping by CVS to pick up some crackers...okay, okay. It was chips. I was heading in for chips. Moving on...Running in I naturally passed by their little book area. The 3 face-front rows stared at me, and I stared back. I felt that instinct kick in. There was something here. Some visual clue that was triggering my subconscious.

And then, BAM! I spotted it. The Loch by Steve Alten.

I was not disappointed, for the most part. The story was an interesting and fantastic take on the Lochness monster myth. Alten used the basic theories and legends, but weaved them in with modern flawed characters and a well developed plot.

There was a bit of...fat...that dragged out the story at points. Once I got the feel of his writing style I could spot those parts and skip without remorse. I really, really loved his characters. It is a strength that I, as a writer, can't help but envy. Envy in a good way. It gives me insight into the "right way" and urges me to strive for that quality.

What I also liked was the little vignettes in between chapters. They were small enough not to distract and tied to the theme so well they added another layer of realism and connection.

Good job to Steve Alten on a great book. I will be on the lookout for other works of his.

Good writing all!

Book Review: Nomads of the Sky

In a throw-back to 1992, I'm going to review one of my all time favorite books, Nomads of the Sky by William H. Keith, Jr. (hereby referred to as just Keith Jr).

Keith Jr creates a brilliant masterpiece, building a universe that sparks the reader's imagination.

"Space was a velvet blackness, made glorious by the unwinking diamond dust of stars." (Nomads of the Sky, W. Keith, 1992)

This first line had a sci-fi chick like me dreaming off into space. By the end of the first paragraph I was fully enveloped in the story. Hell, I was the main character. I could feel space, the shuttle, even smell the tree space colony!

What enthralled me the most was the intricate way he built the universal society and made it believable. The tree space colony, done wrong, could've come across as crazy and laughable. Instead, his logical approach made me wonder why it hadn't been talked about in main stream science.

Now, the way the tree culture sustained their life....Well, yeah. I'll leave that up to you to read and find out about.

And, let me tell you the SCI in sci-fi is not overpowering or nauseating. It's just right and fits the storyline. Not only that, it helps unveal the character's flaws and strengths throughout the story.

So if you're looking for a classical, well written science fiction novel with well developed characters and plot, pick up the oldie but goodie Nomads of the Sky by William H. Keith, Jr.

Good writing all!

Book Review: The Tomb of Hercules

There are times when I go into the bookstore, walk the rows, and let my instinct select the purchase. This time my instinct told me to purchase Andy McDermott's The Tomb of Hercules. It turns out this is part of a series, exploring various legendary myths through the adventures of a non-married couple. Reading the back cover I was excited at the prospect of a new mythic adventure.

The book isn't quite what I was hoping for, unfortunately. I'm not sure if I placed my expectations too high, or the book didn't live up to the expectation it set up in the packaging. Nevertheless, there were several areas that bogged it down for me.

I knew there was going to be a problem when the prologue dragged on for nineteen pages. The worst part of those pages? It could've been written in about one-third of that...if McDermott wouldn't drag on and overdose his reader with useless description. One sniper assassination seriously took several pages to write out. A whole paragraph to describe night goggles! Thanks to Bond and Bourne everybody and their mother knows about night goggles. You don't need five sentences to describe them.

This wasn't an issue with just the prologue either, the whole book is plagued with boring descriptions. I kept getting painfully sucked into pages of minor, useless aspects that I had to go back just to figure out what the point of the scene was supposed to be.

Most disappointing to me was that the actual journey to find the Hercules tomb didn't even start until almost the end of the darn book. The first two-thirds was spent in a muddled intrigue plot that I think was trying to add complexity to the story. To make matters worse, they only stayed in the tomb for, I believe, one chapter (possibly a chapter and a half...no more than that), then were out and back in the odd world domination plot.

The protagonists motives were cliche, cardboard, and ultimately unbelievable. I was frustrated with the smothering of stereotypes in this story and the dry dialogue and interaction between characters. The main female character was supposed to be an experienced archaeologist but acted more like a prissy city girl instead. The main male character was just a jerk with a bad mouth and no unique characteristics.

My assumption is that the author was attempting to mix Indiana Jones with James Bond. For me, it clearly missed the mark. I love the concept he's built and done right it would be a fantastic story. I will not be reading any other book in the series to see if they hit their objective better then this one.

Dud may be a bit harsh but I will say sluggish.

Book Review: Under the Dome

My first book review, I'm quivering with excitement here. To kick things off I chose one of my top authors, Stephen King and his latest novel, Under the Dome.

First, the man. What else could be said about Stephen King. He's an offbeat legend with a odd thought process and warped view of the world and its story. That's the only way I can sum him up. I was hooked by the short story Different Seasons and soaked up all that I could find from him after that.

One of the best things I like about him is his ability to create a very realistic, human antagonist that you can still hate. Many authors over dramatize their villain, almost putting them in a surreal existence.

Nope, not Mr. King.

His villain in Under the Dome is any a-hole politician given the right situational ingredients. The fact that he brought down the infrastructure of the town with this character in about a week and got the reader to believe it, is amazing. Before reading Under the Dome, my estimation of societal breakdown would've been...say....several months. Stephen King outlined in his creative way how it could be done in virtually the snap of the fingers.

The protagonist is essentially an imperfect nobody who's dodging the memories of his past life. In any other writers hands, the character's disinterest in leading the hero role would've been ham-ish. Mr. King builds the back story in a smooth, non-info dump sort of way that makes you understand why the character is hesitant. Not only that, he makes you empathetic to him, even with his past misdeeds unravelled before you.

And just when the story is leading you to the inevitable conspiracy theory...he takes the snow globe of your mind and shakes it. The flakes that reign down on you are completely speculative fiction. You are left dumbfounded and in awe of his storytelling talent.

My only qualm, if it could be counted that, is in regards to the main female character. I felt, especially with her involvement of the conclusion, she should've been given something more. She was three dimensional but a tiny bit too stereotypical liberal press woman for me.

Stephen King, I know you'd never reach a small blog like mine to see it, but I bow to you and your writing gift.