Blue Remembered Earth by Alastair Reynolds
reviewed by Paul Kincaid
The first thing to be said about this novel is that the plot is nonsense. Engaging nonsense,
carried off with a great deal of panache, but nonsense nevertheless. The two central characters are sent
dashing hither and thither across the solar system to find buried plot tokens that have been hidden decades
before and yet whose discovery is somehow urgent for the immediate well-being of humanity.
Of course, the things have been hidden so long that recovery has become filled with peril.
The Lost Fleet: Invincible by Jack Campbell
reviewed by Michael M Jones
After a century of cryogenic sleep following a space battle in which he was one of the only
survivors, John "Black Jack" Geary was discovered. He awoke into a world in which he was a living legend, into a
society made weary by a century of constant war and strife. Through a series of bizarre circumstances, he was forced
to assume control of the Alliance's fleet, stranded deep in enemy space, and bring it home. Against all odds, he did
so. His reward? Rather than being allowed a quiet retirement, he was promoted to Admiral, given command of a new
fleet, and dispatched into the furthest regions of known space.
John Carter
a blu-ray review by Rick Klaw
After numerous failed attempts and a dreadful direct-to-video 2009 clunker starring Antonio Sabato, Jr. and Traci
Lords, the classic Edgar Rice Burroughs novel, A Princess of Mars, finally arrived on the big screen just in
time for the story's centennial. Re-christening the tale John Carter, acclaimed animation director Andrew
Stanton in his first live-action endeavor created a lush, yet uneven film.
The Best of Kage Baker by Kage Baker
reviewed by Steven H Silver
In a more fair universe, this collection would include the
subtitle "Volume I: 1997-2010." In the universe in which we live, however, we have to settle for this single
book that contains twenty of her stories that will leave the reader wishing to
be allowed access to that other universe where the book is followed by more installments.
The stories in the book are organized based on which of Baker's collections the stories were reprinted in,
rather than in strict chronological or thematic organization, many of the tales relate to Baker's Company
series about a time travel organization.
Under the Moons of Mars edited by John Joseph Adams
reviewed by David Maddox
John Carter, the former Civil War soldier turned Warlord of Barsoom, has been around for almost 100 years. His
adventures have spanned multiple worlds, hordes of enemies, and countless adventures. His exploits have
inspired numerous visionaries, from Superman creators Joe Shuster and Jerry Siegel to modern day filmmakers
George Lucas and James Cameron. And he continues to spark imagination in all those who seek to journey beyond the mundane.
Keepsakes by Mike Resnick
reviewed by Trent Walters
The narrator and Jebediah Burke are galactic policemen on the trail of the Star Gypsies, mysterious aliens who will
save any desperate being -- human or otherwise -- from their circumstances. For instance, they'll fix your stardrive
if you're stranded and can't make it to your daughter's graduation and, you think, you'd give anything to be
there. Their prices are far below what you'd think you should have to pay. But they also want a small item of
minor monetary value.
Judge Dredd: Crusade & Frankenstein Division by Grant Morrison & Mark Millar
reviewed by Sandra Scholes
Mega-City One is a post apocalyptic nightmare vision of the future where every citizen is a potential criminal
who could run riot on the mean streets with only one man who can stop him, and countless
others -- Judge Dredd. Each judge including Dredd is the law and judge in one person, they have the power to
end the lives of criminals if they are deemed to be dangerous enough. Though what do they do against another
Judge who has turned to evil?
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Moon Over Soho by Ben Aaronovitch
reviewed by Nathan Brazil
Moon Over Soho is the second novel to feature British Detective Constable Peter Grant, the UK's only trainee
wizard. Those who picked up on the first novel, Rivers of London, will know that Grant's department, the Folly,
has a staff of two policemen, and a female creature of indeterminate supernature. This time around, DC Grant and
colleagues are on the trail of Jazz Vampires!
The novel begins with the death of Cyrus Wilkinson, a part-time jazz saxophonist and full-time accountant,
who apparently has a heart-attack just after a gig.
Watching the Future
a column by Derek Johnson
People love their series. Fans love them because a new entry allows them to return to beloved characters and
further exploration into a created world, whether that world imagines a 1938 with only tangential relation to
the real location on the timeline (Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade) or leaves the comfort of a planet's
gravity well altogether in favor of a galaxy far, far away (Return of the Jedi).
So it's all the more frustrating when the key items that brought us so much joy fail to provide the same level
of entertainment. Derek considers the possibilities of the third and final chapter in
Christopher Nolan's Batman series.
Babylon 5.1
TV reviews by Rick Norwood
Falling Skies is the best sf on tv this Summer, with
likable characters and excellent special effects. Rick is disappointed that it,
like all of the other alien invasion tv shows before it, doesn't seem to be going
anywhere. He had high hopes, after the Season One Finale, that Season Two would up the
ante. Rick also gives a list of what to watch in July.
Prometheus
a movie review by Rick Norwood
Prometheus is a major science fiction film, most notable for its thrilling action sequences and outstanding
special effects. Some claim it is a prequel to Alien, and the ending paves the way for it to be the first
of a Prometheus Trilogy.
Brave
a movie review by Rick Norwood
Brave is a modern fairy tale, occasionally a post-modern fairy tale (the witch has an answering
machine). A few chauvinist piggies have suggested that the heroine, Princess Merida, is a lesbian because she
doesn't want to get married. Idiots!
Nexus Graphica
a column by Rick Klaw and Mark London Williams
Summer is one of those times when a lot of the topics covered here are mandated by
cultural and media events. There is the inevitable parade of summer tentpole films, more and more of them sourced
from comics. Sometimes those films can alarm people or amuse and beguile them to the tunes of hundreds of millions
dollars. When we're lucky, they can be rousing superhero adventures and still gives us a
filmmaker's view of the world. And sometimes, they're mostly just eye candy.
Mark London Williams has seen The Amazing Spiderman and has some thoughts.
The God Engines by John Scalzi
reviewed by Trent Walters
Ean Tephe is a starship captain whose engine is a god, unruly and kept in iron chains, which doesn't keep him
from killing tormentors whom he fools despite his bonds. Three types of iron exist and inflict damage on gods
depending on the number of times it has been forged in fire: third-made binds, second hurts, first kills.
Although Tephe believes in the god that has enslaved the god of his engine, he has to play good-cop, use
diplomacy, yet reluctantly apply cruelty when necessary.
Little Winged One by Will Kosh
reviewed by Sandra Scholes
Alida Beretta is a teenager living in a Colorado town and to everyone she is just a normal
everyday teenager, but for one thing, a pair of bird's wings that have fully grown from her back. Alida has
friends, though society does not accept people like her, winged ones who have the ability to fly and feel as
free as a bird. She has to accept the prejudice from others as she's spotted flying around.
The Theology of Dracula: Reading the Book of Stoker as Sacred Text by Noel Montague-Étienne Rarignac
reviewed by Sandra Scholes
To some, Dracula is just a horror novel, the one that brought the vampire phenomenon to the world and set off many
writers using the theme to pen some of their greatest novels to date. Stephen King and Anne Rice are among many
who have been inspired by its author, Bram Stoker, and no doubt there will be many more new writers out there
who have felt equally inspired by his work.
This is not the only reason for writers being inspired though.
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