Great contemporary sci-fi with a message
590595
This is one of those "signpost" films - it's significant in being one of the first of it's kind that's unabashedly not US-focused (set in South Africa), filmed in a gritty, realistic, news footage / documentary style; and for focusing less on what the aliens are, where they came from, or why they are here, and more on the (relative to the preceding questions) mundane issue of literally what would people do with 1MM stranded alien refugees. Specifically, it focuses on how human society would almost assuredly do the wrong thing at every opportunity, while lying and covering up the truth. A sci-fi political drama. Plus the effects and action are top notch. Great stuff.

More films are now spending less of the limited story telling time explaining how their particular sci-fi universe came to be the way it is, and more time focusing on a specific and compelling sub-story within that universe.
2015294
I am a science fiction aficionado and I like to always try new authors off the beaten path. I came upon this novel based on the recommendation of a friend, and I was very pleasantly surprised. For one thing, the book reads very easily and is very well paced, almost like a screenplay (in fact, I can see this book being easily adapted into a movie). At the same time, there is a good balance of character building and action. While character building is important, sometimes one reads books where that part goes on forever, resulting in pretty lengthy introductions.
But the real nice part is that this novel is not purely about hard science fiction: it is about a common human drama of divided loyalties and identity search that resonate with current themes in our global world.
The book is very well worth reading as a standalone novel, but I sure hope there will be a sequel so that we get to know what happens to Max (and Janine).
3671881
A feel-good book with a thoughtful message.  I read a lot of young adult literature. As a teacher of middle/early adolescents, it is important to me to read books that they might be interested in.  I also just enjoy a good story.  The way between is an excellent first book, though I am a little nervous about the production schedule for the following books. It does not seem like Rivera Sun is chopping at the bit to finish the series.  That is my only critique as the book leaves you wanting more.  So, please keep writing this series, Ms Sun!  This is a story about what it means to be actively non-violent.  It's a worthwhile message at a time when so much of the zeitgeist is polarizing
2276784
3.5 stars

Im not sure how you would categorize this novel it has a very contemporary feel with a dash of sci-fi mixed in. The setting is somewhat vague you don't know the exact time period is it an alternate current world, further in the future I don't know, though Im not entirely sure thats super important. What is important though is that resurrection technology is now available and there are people on both sides of the fence of the ethics of it.

To regulate this technology, laws have been passed that state each person gets one resurrection on their eighteenth birthday. They either can use it then or forfeit it forever.

Lake Devereaux will be eighteen in just a couple of weeks, and her resurrection choice has been already promised but then the unthinkable happens, both her best friend Penny and her boyfriend Will are killed in a car accident and Lake is the only survivor. Suddenly she has to decide if she keeps her promise, or reneges and brings back one of the people she loves most in this world.

As the days disappear Lake searches for answers on who she is supposed to pick, and as she digs more and more into her past, she realizes that maybe her life isn't exactly as it has appeared.
I am slightly torn on my feelings about this book. On one hand, it was incredibly interesting and intriguing. I found myself very interested in what choice ultimately Lake was going to make, but I also felt like the story dragged a bit and the pacing felt a bit off. The story is told in present and past chapters, noted by the number of days before her 18th birthday, and the jumping back and forth made sense, but it also gave me a lot of clues that had me figuring out the hook way before I got to the reveal.

Lets talk characters. Lake is interesting for sure and I found that I really liked Ringo but we only get a snippet of Will and Penny when they are alive, and the rest is told in flashbacks from Lakes perspective and I think I wanted more in the way of the how and the why they were who they were when the accident happens. (sorry thats so vague, I really am trying not to spoil this!)
And Lakes brother Matt  lord, I hated him from the beginning, but again, hes not who he is without reason but I think that really colored my vision of him, so who we see at the end was just so jarring and almost unreal compared to him throughout. Lets just say his attitude made sense to me when everything is revealed.

Lets talk romance there is one, though I felt it was completely unnecessary and somewhat out of place. It almost didn't make sense to me considering the strong feelings she had for her boyfriend who had just died. It just kind of threw me a bit and I really just wish things had remained platonic not every book needs to have romance to be successful.

Overall, an interesting read and I really like what Baker did here. I like her style of storytelling and I like the characters she has created so Ill definitely be looking for more from her in the future. If you like books that deal with ethical dilemmas and the possible issues that arise around them, give this one a try- plus its got that twist in the end that you might not see coming!
1077208
Feed is a refreshing quick read, fast-moving and full of inventions in both future technology and literary style. The perspective of a teenager is perfect for bringing to life a future world of space travel, constantly changing fashions and environmental gloom. The narrator, like many teens, is both world-weary and discovering the world at the same time. And the world he lives in has a lot to say about our own. Anderson extends the experiences and worries of early 21st century America into a future world that's part enticing, part terrifying, and endlessly imaginative. The writing feels fast and almost slapdash, with passages of great lyricism jammed up against inarticulate yet realistic dialog and references to future technologies that are sometimes only half conceived but always intriguing. The cherries on top of this are the names and words, which are chosen with perfect pitch and surprisingly often become vocabulary lessons. The underlying story is simple but sometimes quite moving, with insights into human nature that feel true. Well worth a read at any age.
3600197
There is something for everyone in this Sci-Fi novel which is heavy on the Sci but liberally peppered with the Fi. I like a good future story and this one didn't disappoint. I enjoy a romance with twists and turns, chock full of philosophy, and got that, too. But wait! There's more. If you like complex economics served with humor, valets that have learned from their mistakes over four centuries, dashing military men, car races with unusual rules, twenty-fourth century agriculture, brilliant technology, and an easy-to-digest meal of religious theory, this is the book. The story has enough violence to make us believe Mars has been settled by humans. Are there Aliens? Of course! If I had to choose my favorite aspect, aside from the tongue in cheek delivery, it would be the new way we conquer longevity. Or is my favorite part the cunning protagonist who knows everything that is important to know? Oh yeah, it's the hero of Mars who comes from earth to help with one problem and solves many as he kindly manipulates those who need guidance. Then again, he wasn't born yesterday. Read and enjoy.
4763439
Huskins did a great job with this post-apocalyptic world, the whole book occurring in space. It's a great underdog story. He used a symbolism/parallel with chess which was a lot of fun and led to a very satisfying plot, climax, and resolution. Also, he somehow was able to soundtrack the book, by including songs here and there which were very appropriate in their lyrics and tone (if you know the songs, you start the playback in your head as you read). Reading a great book like this, which is also little-known, makes me think: I keep trying to find good classics (which by definition means they're also popular), but every once in a while I stumble upon a great work that is definitely not in the canon of classics, but it blows me away with its unique greatness. Really fun.
3985170
I haven't read a good sci-fi novel in a while. James Gilmartin's glossy yet profound The Spiral Effect: The Collector is a juicy read that while borrowing from the sci-fi genre, it manages to tell a human story about saving lives.

It's apocalyptic but contemporary. The story find a strange disease wiping out scores of the Earth's populations. It's origins, and more important, its cure, is unknown.  Gilmartin presents a world where most people have ESP, allowing the protagonist here to flex his skills at saving the world.

He's the Collector. He's immune to this rampant virus, therefore he naturally decides to embark on a journey to find information on how to find a cure before the Earth is completely decimated. Using his special telekinesis skills, he ventures into the minds of those he comes upon, trying to piece together facts or some semblance of action to combat the evil sickness.

The messaging about the savagery of humanity does not go unnoticed. Nor does the immediate embracing of a life of violence that people will take to save themselves and their loved ones. It's a bit Dawn of the Dead-y but so much more. The Collector carefully takes his time and watches his steps carefully as no one is to be trusted around him.

It's a fairly dark and heavy read, but Gilmartin manages to present hope in subtle ways. His knack at depicting a world that is at the mercy of science and those immune few who hold their salvation in their hands. It's a good one - check it out.

Like this review? Read more like it at www.readingotherpeople.com
2121848
One of the most honest, realistic post-apocalyptic sci-fi novels I've read. It's dark and depressing at time, but the overall message of the ability of people to overcome dark, difficult situations without losing their humanity is an uplifting one. Well written and well constructed characters and plot.
4323845
This unique and fresh science fiction novel is one of the best sci-fi stories I've read in awhile. The alien world is presented without too much embellishment and the story is gripping. A world without light is hard to imagine, but Vick builds your expectations and then throws you twists you didn't expect. This dangerous world of tribalism and survival leads to mind-altering social change for entire people. I really enjoyed this page-turner. I'd love to see this novel get out into the YA crowd.
497304
I really enjoyed this book. It's not such hard science that the story suffers. It has an interesting trick of using the sun to massively amplify a signal that is later received by another civilization. It has some rather interesting ideas about how that civilization responds in a way that will disrupt our scientific advancement until they are able to arrive so that we can't defeat them. They live in a three star system and so their planet goes through Chaotic and Stable eras which aren't predictable (thus the 3-body problem), and eventually their world will be destroyed. Earth, orbiting in the sweet spot of one star seems like a paradise to them.

I really like the way the book is rooted in Chinese history. It's full of footnotes about the cultural events it references. I feel as enriched by these parts as I do the speculative science.

This book was translated to English by the author's brother, who is also a sci-fi writer. As an English reader, I can tell you that the translation is of the highest caliber.
980886
Far from Earth, yet linked by penumbral rifts, the Orianus solar system exists.  From ages past; plants, animals, and humans from Earth have passed to other inhabital(and for the unfortunate, uninhabital) planets of the Orianus system.  Even the message of the Gospels have made their way through the penumbral rifts.  On the planet of Kaeldon, modern scientists have accidently unleashed an ancient enemy set on world domination.  Only from the help of millenia old wizards and warriors, ancient technology of unknown origin, and more importantly, through the faith in God, might the citizens of Kaeldon have a chance at survival.

"Black Storm Rising" (BSR) is a thrilling ride.  D. Shane Burton does a wonderful job of allowing his characters to tease the reader with suggestions of hidden knowledge they hold but cannot divulge.  This keeps the reader's interest to ponder what truly is happening.  Much of the time, the plot twists catch you off guard, even though you were expecting them to show up somewhere.  BSR is one of my top suggestions to a Christian Science Fiction reader.  As an added bonus, BSR is twice the length of most novels, yet is priced as a regular novel.  It is an excellent buy for the money and excellent choice for libraries to add their catalogs.

CSFFC ratings:
Teen Friendly:  A  (With the detail of writing, the BSR would be considered an adult story, but with no cursing or sexual scenes, it is definitely teen friendly.)
Christian Message:  A  (D. Shane Burton focus's greatly on morals, prayer, and trusting in God.  Well Done.)
Drug or Alcohol Content: A (none)
Crude or Profane Language: A (none)
Sexual Content: A (none)
Writing:  A-  (Writing style is clear and descriptive.  Only a few minor editing mistakes.)

Leathel Grody
Author of "The Foundations of Hope Trilogy"
Christian Science Fiction & Fantasy Central Reviewer
69113
This is the second book in the Hawkings' George series. Once again their offering was a big hit with both my 5th grade students and my own children, 5 and 8.

This book centers on the question of the possibilities of life elsewhere in the universe. George's next door neighbors move to Florida at the beginning of the book so that Eric, the scientist father, can oversee a Mars rover landing. This of course upsets George, but before long he gets an email from Annie telling him he has to find a way to visit her in Florida for a top secret mission. George's Grandma comes to his rescue with money for plane tickets to Florida for him and her as a chaperone, as well as money for George's parents to go visit an island slowly being affected by rising seas due to global warming.

Once George gets there he finds that Annie has found a secret message demanding she go to Mars or the Earth will be destroyed. He also meets Emmett, a computer genius child, staying with Annie's family. Emmett and Annie don't get along at the beginning of the book and Emmett is portrayed as a stereotypical whiny computer geek. However, Annie soon learns to respect Emmett and they all go off on an adventure across the Galaxy using Cosmos the supercomputer (helpfully restored to functionality by Emmett). They believe an alien race must have sent the message. They end up finding a series of clues which lead them ever farther away from Earth and our solar system.

In this book George and Annie learn that geeky supposedly annoying people are actually pleasant, fun, and helpful once you learn to treat them respectfully. Yes that lesson was rather cardboard-cutoutish... More importantly they learn about all the scientific issues around the search for extraterrestrial life. Eric, the scientist, also manages to come to the rescue of George's eco-activist parents and provides this particular book's treatment of one of the series's recurring morals, that scientists can help people who are concerned about the environment. Science is not bad for the environment. That particular message seems to be one the Hawkings really want to hammer home. Finally, there are good messages about forgiveness and the wrongness of jumping to conclusions about people without sufficient evidence.

The book's story is interspersed with essays about various aspects of the scientific question of extraterrestrial life and space exploration in general. Once again there are full color Hubble pictures. Some of the science essays are once again over the heads of many elementary school students although it is obvious the essay writers were attempting to be easy to understand and interesting.

The plot holds the attention of elementary school children very well and is quite exciting to them. As an adult, however, it is easy to spot many unduly contrived devices. For instance, the idea that an elementary school aged child could fix and reprogram a quantum computer which could not be fixed by Eric, one of the adult scientists who actually created it, beggers belief. There is also an issue with Cosmos which comes up that somehow stops him from being able to teleport the children back to Earth, but conveniently lets him teleport them ever further away from Earth. This, of course, makes no sense from an adult reader's point of view, but children accept this fact without fuss.

The real worth of this book is not the plot, though. It is all the science information the book manages to pack into the story. Children will learn a lot about a truly scientific outlook on the issue of extraterrestrial life. They will also pick up many space facts. Children reading this book, or hearing it read to them, will enjoy learning all the science. Adults sharing the book with children will enjoy the book simply due to the science content they know their children or students are picking up. I am unaware of another series of fiction books for this age group that does the job of science education as well as this series.
2066217
The only negative thing I have to say about this book is that it gets off to a somewhat slow start. The first chapters take a little too long to establish the books central conflict and unique identity. But--and I cannot stress this strongly enough--the excitement ratchets up very quickly after that. The story develops into a fascinating contemporary sci-fi adventure with Christian allegorical elements woven in. These faith-based themes are handled in an engaging, non-preachy fashion that won't put readers off, and they lead to some powerful moments in the books denouement. The characters are well-developed and intriguing, both the heroes and the villains. I was particularly impressed with how Pierce handled the character of Dion, especially with regard to the Christian themes--wish I could say more about that, but this is the kind of book you don't want spoiled for you in advance. There are multiple startling and clever plot twists. In summary, Two Lives, Three Choices is a skillful work of YA sci-fi, as well as a fun and gripping story. I hope K.L. Pierce writes a sequel soon. Shes a talented indie author whom you should definitely keep on your radar.
1567986
I tend to prefer my sci-fi on screen instead of in print because so many Sci-Fi novels either take themselves far too seriously or are far too generic and predictable or, sadly, both.

The team here writing under the pen name of James S.A. Corey do a good job of avoiding those two pitfalls. They build a realistic fictional universe that feels authentic and comprehensible without tons of technobabble and dense jargon. Many characters start as stock tropes (the noir detective, the sex and insanely competent tomboy, the lovable but violent meathead, the spoiled brat turned righteous crusader, etc..) but are developed in nuanced, compelling ways. There are great philosophical questions underlying the key plot points, but the book never bogs down with them. Best of all, the plot takes unexpected turns just often enough to keep you engaged but not so often that you're left struggling to keep all the loose threads straight in your mind.

The result is a fun read that you can chew through quickly but still have ideas to ponder later on. I'm already well through the follow-up novel and looking forward to the rest of the series. It is escapism with some soul intact. Well done!
639337
I love this book- adventure, sci-fi, and thrills. It took me back to the movie Fantastic Voyage(Isaac Asimov), an  internal voyage through an artery to repair  a clot on the brain.  The author did a very good job in personalizing the characters, to make their actions genuine.
Bernard is a schoolboy with right brain inclinations, and relies a lot on his intuition. He is troublesome at school and ls laughed at when he states that his science project is on wormholes.  He got the idea when observing the vortices as water is sucked down the drain of his tub. Wormholes are defined as cosmic shortcuts through space and time thatcould link two places, even on opposite sides of the universe., but there are doubts that they exist.
Bernards father, a scientist, is under pressure to come up with ideas for his research work. But he is in a bit of a rut for ideas. He takes Bernard to his lab office on strict orders that he is to remain there until his review meeting is over. Bernard, who believes that his fathers atom analyzer could create wormholes, snoops, overhears and flees on being discovered. He falls into a wormhole. Bernards body is unconscious, but his mind is in the wormhole which disappears into his Dads head.
His own brain appears in front of a Holon, Basilides, which forges a body for his brain. Bernard starts learning about many brain things, for example that everything in his dads brain is alive- neurons have living cities and streets within them, etc. He learns of two different worlds: Brainverse - the world of mind; Materia: the world of matter; and that both worlds are connected by wormholes like parallel universes. Energia is energy, the flow of lifethe eternal source of birth, death and rebirth; he learns that dying is just a return to the flow. Bernard considers he is having the best field trip of his life.
Basilides is from Intuit, the right side of the brain, and advises Bernard that his father will die unless he has more healthy neurons (via more Energia). But Energia was drying up, and this threatens the Intuit world as well as his father. Basilides and his group were recycling what they could get. Bernard agrees to help them, encouraged by the brain state of his father.
The core of the story is about entering the left brain, Reezon, and there the excitement starts. They discover that Energia was being hoarded by the Reezon dictator, hence the drying up of its flow to Intuit. Bernard is initiated into forging, and has other revealing experiences. After many exciting encounters they finally manage to defeat the Reezon forces, free the Energia supplies and restore the flow to the Intuit side, and to Bernards father.
This is a very well written book, holding the readers interest throughout. It is imaginative, creative, and educational. It is always exciting to remember that all is taking place within the brain. I also liked the artwork which in addition to portraying the synaptic nature of the brain, also incorporates forms of characters, of housing (live-rises), and of storms. Nice!
2302685
Spark Rising is a post-apocalyptic Earth, dystopian tale with a few unique elements that made for a great story. Well written, well edited and all around an enjoyable read, the book has many aspects that made me love it. I think this book would be a good read for any fan of science fiction, dystopian, post-apocalyptic or science fiction romance stories, so it has a wide range of appeal. There were only a few, mostly minor, issues that I ran into which kept me, personally, from reaching the coveted 'OMG More!' moment.

In a quick run-down, this story is set in a futuristic south-west America, in which the world has been destroyed by an element called Dust. The Dust, however, is also now a vital part of human existence as the human race tries to rebuild itself in several relocation zones. Controlled by people called Sparks, the Dust is used the way we use fossil fuels today - to create combustion and generate electricity. It the main source of power remaining (I think steam-power was also mentioned), and so the Sparks have become tools to those in control of the city.

I think this is where I ran into my only real issue with the science fiction within the book. The Dust impedes and allows combustion to occur, and it also is responsible for the lack of fossil fuels like oil in the future-America. But, no explanation or mention is given to what happened to non-fossil fuels. Why aren't people using wind, solar, or hydro-electric dams? Also, the Dust is advanced tech from a future Earth. I have a hard time believing we'd still be so reliant on fossil fuels at that time. Is there some sort of electrostatic interference created by the Dust that interferes with wind or solar power? If yes, I missed it in the book.

That aside, the concept of the Dust and the Sparks was interesting. They seemed to have formed a symbiotic relationship in several ways, and it led to the power struggle between those in control of the Sparks, the citizens who needed electricity, and the Sparks themselves who were growing tired of being treated more and more like living tools. Enter Lena - a female spark of rare power / connection to the Dust - , and the Spark Agent sent to capture her, Alex Reyes. This is where the story begins, and it begins with a good bit of character interaction and action, the reader quickly learning what kind of no-nonsense, strong female protag they've found in Lena.

I loved Lena's character. She has a sharp tongue, isn't afraid to get her hands dirty or admit that she enjoys a good romp. She's no shrinking violet and isn't about to put up with any of Agent Reyes' crap. Alex Reyes is a hard-lined, emotionally compartmentalized man, raised in a Spark school and with little experience or understanding about family, love or putting anything ahead of the cause; at least not until Lena's Dust slowly gets under his skin.

There are many other great characters in this book, each with life, agendas and substance. At times, it did feel like the story of Lena and Reyes got a little side-tracked, making this more of a science fiction dystopian with a side of romance possibilities than a full-genre science fiction romance. That was another issue - the romance felt secondary to the story of the Sparks and their struggles, Lena and her struggles, and Reyes and his responsibilities. It all felt rather heavy.

That was my final issue - the weight of the book. I think there was a bit too much introspection, (some of it repetitive) and over-description. It made for a heavy read, which had me skimming a few times because my eyes were craving dialogue and interaction between Lena and Reyes. Despite this issue, though, I couldn't put the darn thing down! I had a couple late nights reading this book because, despite the few hiccups, the story and characters pull you into their world and you want to stay.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher with a request for honest feedback.