Category Archives: Science Fiction

Unknown's avatar

The Martian

by

The Martian by Andy Weir

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I love anything to do with space and especially with Mars because I cannot wait for us to finally take the step. I usually read the book before seeing any movie made from it but this time I did the opposite and saw the movie. I really liked the movie and actually considered not reading the book because it worked for me. I decided to read and listen to it and was pulled right into the story from the very beginning. The narrator of the audio book, R.C. Bray brought the character to life and made me love the book even more than the movie. I love the way that it was set up with multiple points of view but still allowed most of the focus to be on the stranded astronaut.

Just days after their arrival on Mars a storm is heading toward their Habitat which could cause damage to their lift-off vehicle and the mission is aborted. While making their way to the orbital vehicle Mark Watney is struck by a piece of debris and lost in the storm, he is presumed dead and ultimately left behind. When he realizes what happened and with no way to communicate to Earth that he is still alive Mark sets out to make sure he is still alive when the next mission shows up on Mars.

The thing that kept me so interested was that the character was so upbeat and funny throughout his ordeal. He had a few bad moments but for the most part, he made you root for him just based on the fact that you wanted this great guy to survive because he deserved it. I laughed out loud at some of the dialogue and felt like crying any time something went wrong. I also like the science in these stories because space exploration is something I am totally interested in and have been since I was a kid. If I had been better at math and science as a kid I would have tried for the astronaut program myself.

This is a really good book with a movie that actually does it justice. I would recommend that you watch, listen and read The Martian because you will enjoy it in any form.



View all my reviews

Unknown's avatar

Coming Home

by

I do love the Alex Benedict stories because there is always excitement. I will say that this was a bit more subdued than usual though. The characters were still interesting and full of life. The science was good and made me want to see just how much was actually real, if any. The locations from Earth to the asteroid belt is described wonderfully. It is just an overall fun and suspenseful ride.

The Capella, an interstellar which has been lost for eleven years is about to surface again. On that ship is Alex’s Uncle Gabriel and 2600 other passengers who may not know what has happened to them. Everyone is hoping they can rescue them and keep the ship from going back into the time/space warp it has been trapped in. While Alex deals with this a friend comes to him with a communications devise from the dawn of space travel. People have been looking for lost artifacts from the moon as well as NASA that went missing 8000 years ago. Then this pops up and Alex promises to help track down whether any others are still in existence. As usual he is being targeted for his search, which could be placing him and Chase in a deadly situation.

I love science fiction, particularly good science above everything. These stories take you so far into the future that it is always good just to see that humanity could still exist, because some days I have my doubts. I would definitely recommend this as well as all the books in this series. Jack McDevitt is a great story teller who can take you to the edge and back.

My rating: ✯✯✯✯

Unknown's avatar

Orbs III

by

This is the last book in the trilogy and while I enjoyed it I still wanted something more from it. The characters were good but I was no longer as invested in what happened to them as I had been when the series started. It’s like they were in a rut and didn’t really grow very much between the first and last book. I knew what to expect from them without them having to do or say anything. The story moved forward at a good pace though it lacked some of the suspense that I was expecting from the final installment.

The inhabitants of the Biosphere have been pared down significantly while the aliens seem to have limitless replacements so Sophie decides that they should join with Captain Noble and his NTC crew. Sophie’s people learn through a satellite that has survived that the Organics have set up poles on the highest points around the planet and wonder what this discovery could mean for their own survival.

Before anything can be done about their new information the biosphere must deal with sabotage that could be the end of them and any hopes they have a living to see the Organics destroyed. Sophie still believes that the best chance they have would be to leave the planet if a way can be found.

Even though I may not have loved it I still think it is well worth the time. I recommend the series because it is different enough to stand out with aliens that I do not remember having seen before. Not to mention that the author does work it.

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Unknown's avatar

Orbs II: Stranded

by

This second book did not pull me in like the first book did. The characters felt a little less interesting but I couldn’t really put my finger on the reason why. They are the same as they were before but seemed just a little duller, which could be because they are changing. The action seemed a bit more subdued than it had been in the first book even though we had some new aliens show up. It still had it’s moments that kept me wanting to know more. Some of the problem may have been that the narrator, while okay, does not add a lot vocally.

Dr. Sophie Winston and her team, along with the military personnel they have acquired continue to survive in the Biosphere. The Organics continue to empty the Oceans and every other body of water. The temperatures are continuing to rise and the last surviving humans on the outside are being herded into farms. Dr. Emmanuel Rodriguez has developed a weapon that may help to turn the tide on the Organics.

Sophie and Sgt. Overton is not getting along as well as they could and he is starting to chafe under her command. Overton wants to take on the aliens and make a rescue attempt which might result in finding more of his men. Sophie would prefer to be cautious and not draw attention. Just as things seem to hit rock bottom they get some news that makes them all feel a little better about the future.

I have to admit that this was not one of my favorite reads even though I love Nick Smith and pretty much everything he has written. I would recommend this if you have read the first book because it does advance the story and you cannot miss that.

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Unknown's avatar

Severed

by

Like all the previous books in the series this was a great read that left me wanting more. I loved the characters from the moment I met them and was totally invested in their lives entirely. The new world that we get to explore is very interesting with some of the most diverse people so far. I was into the book from the opening sequence with our future heroine in her natural habitat.

Rylee Hale is a paralegal in Florida and a friend of Zoe, the Zoe who disappeared without a word or trace. Though she does not know it things are about to get very weird for her. Rylee is being watched from the AMI by two alien males who want her help in dissolving their accidental bond. Drace and Lucian are Denarins, two males who bond in order to join with a single female. The pairings are usually between an Alpha and a Beta, they are both Alphas and find themselves in an embarrassing situation that could earn them ridicule.

They were told that a Pure One could break their bond with just a touch and so pay a large sum to bring Rylee to the station. When she touches them what happens is the opposite, they seem to be bound closer together. What ensues next is a quest to find an artifact which can severe their bond. But do they really want that?

Though all the books can be read as a standalone I think that the best way to do this is read the them in order. These are some very colorful, very hot and very sexy alien males who are devoted to their chosen females. The females are not what you would expect and make you like them because they have the type of personalities that make them great friends. Highly recommend this !!

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Unknown's avatar

Cursed

by

Cursed

(Brides of the Kindred #13)

by Evangeline Anderson

I have been in love with this series since reading Claimed after getting it because it was free. The stories always make me feel like I am a part of what is going on. The introduction of each new couple brings something a little different to the mix while still allowing you to keep up with those who came before. The planets as well as the inhabitants are so imaginative and strange that they keep you coming back to see what will happen next.

Stavros Rii was in charge of the HKR building in Asheville and stayed on Earth after the declaration of war against the Kindred because two people, a Kindred warrior and his bride were not allowed back onto the Mother ship by Councilor Terex. Stavros has not and does not plan to claim a bride but feels that the war is stupid. He has left the remote cabin where they have been staying because he has a feeling that someone on the mother ship is trying to contact him. He just wants to get to the HKR and find out what is needed of him.

Charlotte ‘Charlie’ Sayers had been a detective with the Asheville PD when war was declared on the Kindred. She is more than happy to sign up with the special force that is formed to kick the big aliens off the planet or lock them up as war criminals. She has had a special hatred of the Kindred ever since tragedy struck her family because of the draft. After getting off work she spots and starts to follow Stavros hoping to take him into custody. What follows is more than she bargained for and brings into question her feelings against the Kindred.

Stavros and Charlie are definitely one of the hotter couples to grace the pages, maybe because they are both hurt and need each other so badly. I cannot help but feel that everyone should give this series a read because you are either going to love it or hate it. While there is always a level of sameness involved the characters are always great and the story entertaining. You just have to get started.

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

“Why can I feel her? Is it just because I’ve never let a female drink from me before? He didn’t know. He only knew that Charlotte Sayers was different and special somehow. And judging from the horrified look she’d given him as she backed into the fresher, she was also scared to death right now. Even if she wasn’t, she was still completely off limits and out of his reach. That didn’t stop him from wanting her. With a low groan, he threw an arm across his eyes. What have I done? Oh Gods, what have I done and how can I ever undo it? *”

― Evangeline Anderson, Cursed

Unknown's avatar

Enhanced

by

Enhanced

(Brides of the Kindred #12)

by Evangeline Anderson

I am always happy to enter the world of the Kindred because it is one that will usually take me on an intergalactic adventure with romance and danger. Have you you ever read a book that you loved, with characters you care about so much you could not stand the thought of something bad happening to them? I was not disappointed in any way by this one. The characters continue to be rich and approachable, the world building continues to fascinate and hold me. The stories are a bit predictable but that is not necessarily a bad thing at all, it just means that they have be written even better to compensate for that fact. In the case of these stories they are written perfectly and make me keep coming back for more.

Mei-Li Hastings is the daughter of Senator Hastings and has been dreaming of a Kindred who scares her because of the way he looks. She tells this to her father who goes and demands that his daughter not be claimed even though she is registered like all the eligible females on Earth, he wants special privileges.

Six is a Dark Kindred who has been Enhanced as is the way of the inhabitants of the planet on which he lives. Six is disturbed by the dreams partly because he does not understand what is going on. When he told, he does not plan on claiming her because it is something the Dark Kindred do not ever do, but he is ordered to do so by One. This claiming sets in motion things that will bring darkness to both the Earth and the Kindred.

This is another great story that takes us to the other side of the galaxy and back with some very hot scenes. I think that this is a great series and I look forward to the next entry. I highly recommend this series and this book.

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

“A strange, strong feeling came over her, prickling the skin on her arms and raising the short hairs at the back of her neck. Somehow she knew that if he left her, she could never love anyone else. She was his—Six had taken a piece of her soul and welded it permanently to his. Without him, she would never be whole again. Never”

― Evangeline Anderson, Enhanced

Unknown's avatar

Protected

by

These first chapters have just wet my appetite for more. Once you meet Grab and Leah you know they are perfect for each other, now they just need to figure it out. Take a look and find yourself hooked on their story. Love the Alien Mate Index!

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Protected
(Alien Mate Index #2)
by Evangeline Anderson

This second book in the Alien Mate Index is just as great as the first book. Having met the big blue guy in the first book you knew it was going to be an interesting ride when he got off on his own. The characters continue to be fun and interesting as they take you along on their various missions.The story while centering around a couple still manages to give you more than just their drama by incorporating various subplots that keeps things from getting stale. The language is perfect because you know they cannot be speaking English all the time but the phrases are so right that you really don’t care. The main thing is that the backgrounds of the characters and that of each new race that is introduced gives you more depth and insight into what and who they all are.

Gravex N’gol is a murderer and escaped convict but he also a protector of females who would give his life to protect theirs. When he is given the task of going to Earth and making sure that Zoe’s friends are alright and to give them a message from her, he is more than happy to do it. While checking on them he becomes enamored with Leah, who is living in a bad situation but embodies everything Grav finds attractive. When he sees her being abused it is more than he can stand so he goes to her rescue and so starts an adventure he had not planned on.

Leah lost her friend Zoe under mysterious circumstances that had her and Charlotte using every avenue possible to find her. When they found nothing she lost her friend Charlotte as well when she moved away to grieve her loss alone. Leah marries her boyfriend who promptly moves her away from her family where he can do what he wishes without interference. When he goes to far one night Leah is surprised to be rescued by a stranger who just appears in her home. This stranger delivers news that her friend is alive and well, he is also willing to take her to her. She leaves because it is the best course though she cannot see what will happen as she travels so far from home.

I love Evangeline Anderson and the imagination that can deliver such great aliens and worlds so strange you cannot help but be pulled into them. This has everything you could hope for when traveling the galaxy, evil computer programs bent on domination, alien females with murder on their minds, palace intrigue, and much more. I totally recommend this to anyone who loves sexy aliens who can stoke a fire like nobody else. I would love my own if it were possible.

** Listening is an experience that everyone should have in regard to their favorite books and authors. I enjoyed this just as much or maybe even more than the first time I read it for myself, the only slight drawback is William Martin who sounds a bit the same when doing the male alien voices. They come off a little monotone, though I know its an inner dialogue that does not mean it has to be so bland. He does however do well when it is a conversation between the characters. As for the female half, Mackenzie Cartwright brings life and light to all the characters, including the male ones. Still very recommended by me.


My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Let me tell you, if you’ve never run flat out for your life with an Imperial Guard thrown over your shoulder, well, I don’t recommend it. There are easier ways to get your cardio in.

Unknown's avatar

Dusk to Dust

by
Dusk to Dust: Something to live for. Something to die for…

by Adrian Felder

I received this book free from the author in exchange for an honest review.

I was not pulled into this story as evidenced by the fact that it took me almost a month to read it. Regardless of that I was still interested enough to keep coming back to read more of what was happening. The characters never fully jelled for me though I found myself rooting for them none the less. They seemed a little superficial without any real character traits you could grab onto that would make you really like or hate them, they were just the good guys or the bad guys. There are some grammatical, spelling, and word usage errors which can be distracting.

David Carpenter and Alana Ramirez are ex-Marines who have gone into the smuggling business since being separated from service. They have managed to make a fairly nice living off of their illegal activities though both are honorable people who have had no other choice. Now David has taken a job from Windcorp, a shady corporation operating on the planet Prospect, for a job he has not been briefed on. When things start to go wrong even before they set foot planet side he should have known that this would not end well.

In order to save the galaxy David must find a way to get around the lies, deceit, and villainy which surrounds him to save his home and himself.

Overall this was not a disappointment it just did not really ring the bell for me. I love science fiction and the planet was really the most interesting thing for me, with instances where the characters did something really great. Though it did not pull me in that does not mean it will not work better for someone else.

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Unknown's avatar

Abducted-Part 1

by

abducted part 1Abducted Part 1: Through the Looking Glass
(Alien Mate Index .5)
by Evangeline Anderson

 

 

I was pulled into this story right from the beginning. I was happy to see what this new series is going to be like and it looks like another fun trip through space. The characters start out strong and continue to build in the short span of the story. The language is perfect and conveys everything from the emotions to the locale in vivid detail.

Zoe McKinley is living a normal boring life with a mundane job and a boss from hell, but things are about to change. Sarden sees Zoe on the Alien Mate Index (AMI), a type of interstellar mail order brides. He purchases her, which she has no idea about, and has her transported to the space station. Zoe is informed she will never go home and is being traded to some other alien. She will do whatever it takes to get back home. Sarden has plans to keep that from happening.

This was the perfect length to whet my appetite for the new series. I like Zoe, I like Sarden, I even like A.L., this is going to be a fun group. Definitely recommend.

 

My rating: 5 of 5 stars