Science Fiction

Animorphs – Book 1: The Invasion – By K. A. Applegate

Robert @ ReadingOverTheShoulder, , , 5 Comments

Jared,

I’ve decided I need to get started on this series sooner rather than later. My plan is to read at least one a month, but with 52 books plus extras I don’t really want to still be reading this series 4 years from now.

theinvasion.jpgTitle: The Invasion
Series: Animorphs; Book 1
Author: K. A. Applegate
Genre: Science Fiction
Audience: Youth
ROTS Setting: CU, Modern, Aliens
Synopsis: Sometimes weird things happen to people. Ask Jake. He may tell you about the night he and his friends saw the strange light in the sky. He may even tell you about what happened when they realized the “light” was only a plane — from another planet. Here’s where Jake’s story gets a little weird. It’s where they’re told that the human race is under attack — and given the chance to fight back.

Now Jake, Rachel, Cassie, Tobias, and Marco have the power to morph into any animal they choose. And they must use that power to outsmart an evil that is greater than anything the world has ever seen…
Recommendation: Highly recommend this series.

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Animorphs – Book 1: The Invasion – By K. A. Applegate

Luna Series – Book 1: New Moon – By Ian McDonald

Robert @ ReadingOverTheShoulder, , 2 Comments

Hey Jared,

This was not what I was expecting at all, and I basically had zero expectations. The second book is coming out in a few days, but I have no intention of reading it after this.

newmoonTitle: New Moon
Series: Luna; Book 1
Author: Ian McDonald
Genre: Science Fiction
Audience: Adult
ROTS Setting: Near-Future, Colonization, Moon
Synopsis: The Moon wants to kill you. Whether it’s being unable to pay your per diem for your allotted food, water, and air, or you just get caught up in a fight between the Moon’s ruling corporations, the Five Dragons. You must fight for every inch you want to gain in the Moon’s near feudal society. And that is just what Adriana Corta did. As the leader of the Moon’s newest “dragon,” Adriana has wrested control of the Moon’s Helium-3 industry from the Mackenzie Metal corporation and fought to earn her family’s new status. Now, at the twilight of her life, Adriana finds her corporation, Corta Helio, surrounded by the many enemies she made during her meteoric rise. If the Corta family is to survive, Adriana’s five children must defend their mother’s empire from her many enemies… and each other.
Recommendation: Not recommended. Superfluous, explicit sex scenes.

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Luna Series – Book 1: New Moon – By Ian McDonald

RED RISING TRILOGY – BOOK 3: MORNING STAR – BY PIERCE BROWN

Jared, , , 4 Comments

Hello Robert,

Meet the conclusion to this bastardly series.

Title: Morning Star51nnve8he2l
Series: Red Rising Trilogy; Book 3
Author: Pierce Brown
Genre: Fantasy, Sci-fi
Audience: Adult
ROTS Setting: Alternate Future,
Synopsis: Darrow survives the coup, but is taken by the Jackel. What you imagine the Jackel does he does and Darrow suffers. Darrow is broken down to nothing and then must rebuild himself into a new man, or the man he once was.
Recommendation: I do not “Recommendation:” this book. It built up my hopes and then dashed them all away. To build them up again and then have them crashed on the rocks of reality. Of course, this book is only really for adults. It is nice though to have the series finished,  now at least I can sleep at night.

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RED RISING TRILOGY – BOOK 3: MORNING STAR – BY PIERCE BROWN

The Expanse – Book 6: Babylon’s Ashes – By James S. A. Corey

Robert @ ReadingOverTheShoulder, , , 7 Comments

Jared,

It’s taken 3 months to finally get this bad boy……Which is way too long for me personally. It taunts me and then I have to rush and get the book finished before the library loan expires.

babylonsashesTitle: Babylon’s Ashes
Series: The Expanse; Book 6
Author: James S. A. Corey (Pen Name)
Genre: Science Fiction, Space Opera
Audience: Adult
ROTS Setting: CU, Futuristic, FTL Gates
Synopsis: A revolution brewing for generations has begun in fire. It will end in blood. The Free Navy – a violent group of Belters in black-market military ships – has crippled the Earth and begun a campaign of piracy and violence among the outer planets. The colony ships heading for the thousand new worlds on the far side of the alien ring gates are easy prey, and no single navy remains strong enough to protect them. James Holden and his crew know the strengths and weaknesses of this new force better than anyone. Outnumbered and outgunned, the embattled remnants of the old political powers call on the Rocinante for a desperate mission to reach Medina Station at the heart of the gate network. But the new alliances are as flawed as the old, and the struggle for power has only just begun.
Recommendation: I strongly recommend this book to mature audiences only. (Late teens or adult.) This is due to the quantity and detail of the violence.

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The Expanse – Book 6: Babylon’s Ashes – By James S. A. Corey

Mecha Anime Fanboy Moment

Jared, , 1 Comment

Hey Robert,

So over the last few weeks, I decided to finally watch season 1 of Mobile Suit Gundam Iron-Blooded Orphans gtekketsu01and it made me so happy. There were some great giant robot fights it is dark and gritty and weird. But my favorite thing is the location for the final battle of the season…. Edmonton, Alberta. For those of you that do not know I currently live in Edmonton which is in Canada. I think this might be the first time E-town has ever been destroyed in media and it’s wonderful. Have a look at this link to see all the locations. Just so that you know it is Gundam but I don’t feel like it falls into all of the tropes that the series has lived on for awhile. It feels new and refreshing. Also for those like me who enjoy giant robots smashing stuff Iron-Blooded Orphans is a nice place to start on the franchise as it takes place in a stand-alone universe. My next favorite thing is that I was able to watch Gundam subbed on Youtube via Gundaminfo official channel. Anyway, I was pretty excited. You may return to your regular programming.

Jared

P.S. It’s also available on Crunchyroll. (not a sponsored post)

Mecha Anime Fanboy Moment

The Mars Trilogy – Book 1: Red Mars – By Kim Stanley Robinson

Robert @ ReadingOverTheShoulder, , 3 Comments

Jared,

I’m finally done this book! It took me two weeks but I’m done. Not the actual reading time but it wasn’t an easy book to get into.

redmarsTitle: Red Mars
Series: The Mars Trilogy; Book 1
Author: Kim Stanley Robinson
Genre: Science Fiction
Audience: Adult
ROTS Setting: Near-Future, Mars, Terraforming, Colonization,
Synopsis: For eons, sandstorms have swept the desolate landscape. For centuries, Mars has beckoned humans to conquer its hostile climate. Now, in 2026, a group of 100 colonists is about to fulfill that destiny. John Boone, Maya Toitavna, Frank Chalmers & Arkady Bogdanov lead a terraforming mission. For some, Mars will become a passion driving them to daring acts of courage & madness. For others it offers an opportunity to strip the planet of its riches. For the genetic alchemists, it presents a chance to create a biomedical miracle, a breakthrough that could change all we know about life & death. The colonists orbit giant satellite mirrors to reflect light to the surface. Black dust sprinkled on the polar caps will capture warmth. Massive tunnels, kilometers deep, will be drilled into the mantle to create stupendous vents of hot gases. Against this backdrop of epic upheaval, rivalries, loves & friendships will form & fall to pieces–for there are those who will fight to the death to prevent Mars from ever being changed.
Recommendation: For those adults who appreciate Mars-porn.

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The Mars Trilogy – Book 1: Red Mars – By Kim Stanley Robinson