Star Wars – This short (5:02) video depicts the final turning of Ben Solo into Kylo Ren as he confronts his friend Torin Wixstil.
It is pretty well done, though there are only minor special effects. The video was produced by Resistance Pictures for the 2016 Star Wars Fan Film Awards.
Star Trek – I posted the trailer back in May for the new Star Trek: Discovery TV series. CBS has now announced that the series will premier on Sunday September 24.
While the series will be available only on CBS All Access (a premium service at $5.99 per month, $9.99 if you want advertising-free viewing), the premier episode will be aired on the CBS broadcast channel. At least we will all get a glimpse of what the series will be like.
The new Star Trek series is set 10 years before the familiar Enterprise of Kirk and Spock. A 15 episode first season has been ordered with the episodes to be shown in split fall-spring runs.
Book Reviews – “Future That Never Was” eBook was published in 2017 and was written by Kin S. Law (https://voxvorago.wordpress.com). Mr. Law has published two novels.
I received an ARC of this novel through https://www.netgalley.com in return for a fair and honest review. I categorize this novel as ‘PG’ because it contains scenes of Violence and Mature Language. The story is set in the late 19th century, but in an entirely different time line. The primary character is Albion Clemens, currently the captain of a steampunk pirate sailing ship. This is one of many that sail through the skies instead of on the oceans of the world.
Clemens is trying to find his adoptive father Samuel Clemens. He gets involved with a beautiful British Scotland Yard agent on a secret mission from the Queen. Unknown forces are stealing prominent landmarks from across Europe. Samuel Clemens is somehow involved.
Albion Clemens, along with his crew, the Scotland Yard agent and an reporter trail across the skies of Europe trying to track down who is stealing the buildings. They find themselves in one tight spot after another as they close in.
I spent 9 hours with this Steam Punk Science Fiction Alternate History novel of 312 pages. I really liked the concept of the flying ships and the overall plot. The writing was difficult to read though and not just from the 19th century language. There were also gaps in the plot where as one chapter ended the crew were being pursued and the next chapter started with them having (somehow) escaped their pursuers. I liked the idea of the novel, but was not impressed with the execution. I was glad when I finally finished this novel. The cover art is appropriate for the story. I give this novel a 2.8 (rounded up to a 3) out of 5.
My book reviews are also published on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/31181778-john-purvis).
Star Wars – This short film (11:27) is well done. It has pretty good special effects and reasonable acting. The video debuted in 2016 and was written and directed by Michael Tukes. More of his work can be found at https://www.tukesarts.com/. The synopsis:
The Galactic Empire is pursuing all Jedi and their followers, intent of purging them from the galaxy. Jedi Master Elis Echo and his apprentice Kira Nyon are ambushed by a Star Destroyer commanded by Darth Vader. The Jedi use escape pods to flee Vader, but he has sent a pair of his secret apprentices after them.
I liked this short and will be adding it to my Fan Film library.
Book Reviews – “Fata Morgana” eBook was published in 2017 and was written by Steven R. Boyett (http://www.steveboy.com) and Ken Mitchroney. Mr. Boyett has published six novels and this is the first for Mr. Mitchroney.
I received an ARC of this novel through https://www.netgalley.com in return for a fair and honest review. I categorize this novel as ‘R’ because it contains scenes of Violence. The story is set during World War II. Captain Joe Farley and his B-17 crew are on a bombing mission over Germany. While trying to avoid pursuing German fighters, they fly through an odd storm and end up in another place and time. A desolated world with two groups of humans at war with each other.
Farley and his crew struggle to survive. They fall in with one group of humans, but must struggle on their own to regain their aircraft and try to find their way back home. Farley meets the beautiful Wennda, who is mysteriously the girl of his dreams that is depicted on his plane’s nose art.
Farley and his crew struggle to make it home, fighting the humans they encounter on the desolate world as well as autonomous weapons which attack anyone caught in the open. Will the crew survive? Will they be able to get back to their England? What will happen to the lovely Wennda?
I enjoyed the 8.5 hours I spent reading this 329 page Science Fiction novel. I did have a little trouble as to why the humans found on this desolate world spoke understandable English. An explanation was given but it was a weak one in my opinion. Ignoring that detail I thought that this was an interesting story. I wasn’t a fan of all the wisecrack responses that the crew gave to one another and their new allies. The cover art is OK. I give this novel a 4.4 (rounded down to a 4) out of 5.
My book reviews are also published on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/31181778-john-purvis).
Trailers – Disney and Marvel have released the trailer for their latest movie in the Marvel Universe, “Black Panther”. It will be a while though before we can see it as it is not scheduled to open until February 16, 2018. What I find in the way of a synopsis is (from IMDB):
T’Challa, the new ruler of the advanced kingdom of Wakanda, must defend his land from being torn apart by enemies from outside and inside the country.
We got a glimpse of the Black Panther in “Captain America: Civil War”. The character comes from the fictional African nation of Wakanda which has progressed on a separate technological path from the rest of the world.
This is a dark and frightening short. Dédalo is a Horror Science Fiction film from Jerönimo Rocha. The synopsis:
Siena, a trembling survivor of a ruthless space battle, is trying to survive inside her refinery spacecraft. A swarm of slimy, spiked aliens stalk her.
I thought that this was an interesting short (8:25) film. It is certainly not one I would want to show young kids late at night in a dark house.
Book Reviews – “War of the Worlds: Retaliation” eBook was published in 2017 and was written by Mark Gardner and John J. Rust (https://www.facebook.com/JohnJRustAuthor/). Mr. Gardner has published about 10 novels and Mr. Rust six.
I received an ARC of this novel through https://www.netgalley.com in return for a fair and honest review. I categorize this novel as ‘R’ because it contains scenes of Violence and Mature Language. The story is set on Mars. This is a sequel to George Orwell’s War of the Worlds. The Martian attack took place in 1898.
It is now 1924 and Earth is ready to launch an attack. To Retaliate. Earth history, as we know it, was changed by the Martian attack. World War I never happened. Now the military forces of the world, including George Patton from the US, Erwin Rommel from Germany, Charles de Gaulle from France and Georgy Zhukov from Russia all lead troops in the invasion of Mars by Earth.
I enjoyed the 5 hours I spent reading this 302 page Alternate History Science Fiction novel. I liked how the characters we know from our World War II knew each other in this tale and worked together to conquer the Martians. Space fleets from Mars and Earth battle one another, then the surviving troops are landed and it becomes a land battle. I give this novel a 4 out of 5.
My book reviews are also published on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/31181778-john-purvis).
Star Wars – I thought that this, Star Wars: Liberation, was an above average fan film. The acting lacked a little, but the production quality and special effects were excellent. This 11:04 video was published back in August of 2016. The official synapsis is:
It is a time of great peril for the Rebel Alliance. One of its fiercest warriors Vince Nurada has been captured by the Empire and held captive aboard an imperial vessel. After months of being a prisoner of war, Vince may have finally found his ticket to freedom
I think that I will be adding this one to my collection.
Book Reviews – “Power Game” eBook was published in 2017 and was written by Christine Feehan (http://www.christinefeehan.com). Ms. Feehan has published an impressive 100 novels. This is the latest of her currently 13 Ghostwalker series novels.
I received an ARC of this novel through https://www.netgalley.com in return for a fair and honest review. I categorize this novel as ‘R’ because it contains scenes of Violence, Mature Language and Mature Situations. The story takes place in the swamps of Louisiana and in South East Asia. The primary characters are Captain Ezekiel Fortunes, a genetically enhanced special operations operator, and Bellisia, also genetically enhanced to act as an assassin.
Bellisia escapes the man who is controlling her and spies on Fortunes and his family. When Fortune is kidnapped, she pursues and saves him. Once they meet they feel a bond that quickly grows into a deep desire for one another. Bellisia is quickly adopted into Fortunes family circle. Soon she and the others must defend the family compound from those coming to take Bellisia back.
I enjoyed the 10.5 hours I spent reading this 400 page Science Fiction Romance Thriller. There was quite a bit of action and some very heated romance depicted. I liked the plot with the enhanced soldiers, each having different levels and types of enhancements. I would certainly read other novels in the series. This one, even though the 13th in the series, read well as a stand-alone novel. The cover art is OK, but really does not reflect much in the novel. I give this novel a 3.9 (rounded up to a 4) out of 5.
My book reviews are also published on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/31181778-john-purvis).
