Writing a Science Fiction novel is a touchy balance between technology and humanity, between “telling” the setting and “showing” the characters. Since different readers like different levels of tech description, it is very difficult to strike a balance that will appeal to a broad audience. The Near-Future subgenre, using technology that is close to what…
Month: October 2016
REVIEW
“Once Lost Lords” by Stephan Morse
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If length and complexity are any criteria, “Once Lost Lords” is certainly an epic work. Stephan Morse has created highly involved society of humans, wolves, elves and vampires, with each race having a distinct set of rules, often in conflict with those of the others. The power of the story resides in our sympathy for the main…
REVIEW
“Rimrider” by L. A. Kelley
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If you’re looking for rollicking Young Adult Science Fiction, this is your book. It has all the required elements: a fleet of independent space traders being squeezed by a suppressive multinational corporation, a pair of orphans taken in by a welcoming spaceship crew, and even a cute extraterrestrial creature with telepathy. There is also an…
REVIEW
“Patriarch Run” by Benjamin Dancer
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Authors are often too passionate about the ideas they discuss. It is refreshing to find a writer who does not fall into the trap of first telling us all about the issues, and then putting characters in to show what they mean. This story ties together a great number of crucial issues: population expansion, the…
REVIEW
“Bloodwalker” by L. X. Cain
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“Bloodwalker” starts out as a detective story with a mild paranormal element, a tale that depends on beautifully described setting and mood for its tension. The tale takes place in Eastern Europe, in societies rich with paranormal legends. It also occurs at the intersection where two ancient cultures – the traditional circus and a backward…