It’s rare that I get fully engrossed in a fictional political narrative anymore. Sure, the vast number of Tom Clancy novels and movies deliver compelling, high-octane thrill rides, and The Manchurian Candidate (both the 1959 novel as well as the 1962 and 2004 films) still stands as one of the best election stories out there. But, when it comes down to it, the real world of politics (in the United States and elsewhere) is already rife with enough drama, deceit and decadence. Sometimes it’s just so damn tiring—and all of this coming from me, a genuine political junky. (On top of it all, most political stories just aren’t that good.) So, it came as a wonderful surprise when I read Malka Older’s debut novel, Infomocracy, that I found myself invested in a story so distinctly political again.
Science Fiction
Review: Ten Low by Stark Holborn
This is a Sci-Fi set on a moon at the edge of the universe, where the reach of The Accord barely exists and lawlessness abounds. I loved reading a story about a backwater moon where the rest of the universe is clearly populated, if not entirely cared for. It gives the characters who live there a lot to fight for and not a lot to lose. The race across the landscape means you see farms where crops can’t grow, towns built like prison hulks, and shining fancy transport that is at odds with its surroundings. Somehow Holborn has taken this space-desert moon and filled it with life and with threats.
Review: Day Zero by Robert C. Cargill
(Terminator anyone?), you’re left alone to take care of an eight-year-old kid as his parents were both executed by a robot-nanny-turned-evil. But wait, there’s one more thing, you are a robot too. That is the premise of Day One by Robert C. Cargill. A dystopian story of survival and the relationship between an eight-year-old kid and his best friend who turns out to be a cyber-plush-tiger.
Guest Post: Cover Reveal – Mirror in Time, by D. Ellis Overttun
Hey, everyone! Author D. Ellis Overttun is back with another guest post. This time we are celebrating the cover reveal of the author’s soon-to-be-released 4th book, Mirror in Time. And with that I am handing the mic off. Enjoy!
Review: Gone (Gone #1) by Michael Grant
Gone was one of those books where the premise, the buzz (I mean Stephen King on the cover—it must be good right!) and the book itself was exciting, engaging and stress-inducing until the last chapters. It literally was 10 stars until it got to the climax of the story where my rating deflated to an 8 like an untied balloon left flying.
Mini-Review: Hard Reboot by Django Wexler
Hard Reboot is a lot of fun, and I think it is really well-rounded for a novella. I was impressed at how author Django Wexler was able to incorporate so many different aspects of a story into only 150 pages.
Review: Velocity Weapon (The Protectorate #1) by Megan O’Keefe
Primes and Icarions—going on in the background. I loved it, and will read the next two books pronto.
Review: Day Zero by C. Robert Cargill
Day Zero is a prequel to Cargill’s 2017 release Sea of Rust (which I did not know until my cohort Justin pointed it out in his review). Though not a perfect read, I found this to be worthwhile: definitely entertaining and a little thought-provoking.
Review: Day Zero by C. Robert Cargill
Day Zero, as the name suggests, starts at the beginning — well, the beginning of the end — of the human race. See, technology has advanced to the point of true AI, with androids serving most basic functions in society, with the exception of a few that are solely left to the realm of man. For instance, teachers are still human, as are the military, which brings us to the laws of robotics.
Book Tour: Bloodlines (The Guardian of Empire City #1) by Peter Hartog
Welcome to FanFiAddict’s stop on the book tour for Peter Hartog’s Bloodlines (The Guardian of Empire City #1). We want to thank Justine & Timy @ Storytellers on Tour for letting us be involved and a big shoutout to Peter on the release of his debut!
Review: Fugitive Telemetry (and previous 4 books) by Martha Wells
n the end, I truly enjoyed Fugitive Telemetry and the previous four books, but not as science-fiction literature or its robot-driven narrative, but truly for its exploration on human nature and its reflection from the perspective of a rich-humanized robot.
Guest Post: Author D. Ellis Overttun
My slot on the blog today is a guest post from Author D. Ellis Overttun. It is a really thoughtful look at themes the author explores in his books as well as an excerpt from his upcoming release and 4th book, Mirror in Time. Enjoy!