Short Science fiction Film “Amendment 10/60”

Short Films – This short (20:43) film was published on YouTube in June of 2017 and was produced by DUST. The synopsis:

In a post nuclear era where owning books is a felony and the intellectual community is persecuted, a group of scientists is trying in vain to find a way to save the world. A Professor’s assistant will be called upon to make the most difficult decision of his life.

There is not much dialog and what there is isn’t in English, but the film has English sub-titles. This is an Alternate History which split from our own in 1947 when the US and Russia declare war on one another. A battle of nuclear warheads between the two wreck the world . The war ends in 1950 and the scientists of the world are blamed for the war. Scientists prove Einstein’s Unified Field Theory in 1951, making ‘curving’ of time a possibility.

While this is a dark film, it is well done. My only wish is that it had been made in English and it was longer.

Star Wars Fan Film “Fade”

Star Wars – Fan film – This (1:10:21) fan film was published on YouTube in October of 2012 and is a sequel to the film “Immolation”. The synopsis:

The Jedi Civil War rages on, engulfing the planet Ruusan in conflict. The stalemate exhausts Jedi and Sith as hope fades. A Jedi Knight discovers a threat greater than the Sith Brotherhood. He must venture forth to uncover the secret of the threat. To succeed, he must quell the doubts of the Jedi Order as he again confronts the terrible truths of Darth Ansia’s past.

The film seems to be a mediocre production for the most part. The acting seemed a little flat to me and the special effects a little primitive. I’m not sure why there are lengthy stretches of only loud music and no dialog while the action in the film continues. The most I can say is that this film has is length.

Science Fiction Short Film “The Brain Hack”

Short Films – This short (18:18) science fiction film was produced by DUST and was first published on YouTube in December 2016. The synopsis:

“The Brain Hack” by Joseph White
Is there a scientific path to god?

Two film students set out to document their attempt to use science to communicate with god. Have their experiments made them crazy or have they truly found the answer?

A well produced and very different film.

Short Science Fiction Film “9 Minutes”

Short film – This short (13:00) science fiction film was produced by DUST and published on YouTube in September of 2016. The synopsis is:

9 Minutes is a tense science fiction thriller set in the middle of the desert.  As this darkly atmospheric short progresses, this man and his dog are paid by a visit by unwelcome extraterrestrial guests.  The encounter is sudden and terrifying.  When the man comes to, he is unnerved by the footage captured by his phone.

The man tries to go about his business and move on but there is something irreversibly wrong with his dog after the encounter.  Watch the short for yourself to find out what happened.

It is an interesting and somewhat scary film.

Review of “From Ice to Ashes”

Book Reviews – “From Ice to Ashes” eBook was published in 2017 and was written by Rhett C. Bruno (http://rhettbruno.com). Mr. Bruno has published nine books.

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 many centuries in the future. Humanity has spread across the Solar System, while life on Earth was almost destroyed by an impact.

Now after centuries apart the remnants of humanity on Earth have joined with those in the rings and moons on Saturn. The ‘Ringers’ are taken advantage of by those from Earth. Now there is growing resentment and resistance.

The major character in this story is Ringer Kale Drayton. He has had skirmishes with the law, but is now trying to eek out a living. His mother is sick and when he is contacted and given the opportunity to have her taken care of, Drayton takes it. Little does he know how this will affect his life.

I thoroughly enjoyed the 7.5 hours I spent reading this 274 page Science Fiction story. This is a stand-alone novel, though author Bruno has other publications set in this universe. While a young man thrust into the role as a rebel is not a new plot, I did like how this one was laid out. I also liked how the author made the character of Drayton grow over the course of the novel. 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).

Science Fiction Short film “Helio”

Short Film – “Helio” is an award winning science fiction short (19:47) film. It received recognition as the Best Science-Fi / Fantasy Film of 2016 at San Diego Comic Con. It was first published on YouTube in January of 2017 and was produced by Shadow Council Productions. The synopsis:

HELIO is a short, visceral film centered on a post-apocalyptic underground society where its citizens mine to sustain their dark existence.

It is very well done, though I thought a little confusing.

Review of “Slow Bullets”

Book Reviews – “Slow Bullets” eBook was published in 2015 and was written by Alastair Reynolds (http://www.alastairreynolds.com). Mr. Reynolds has published 15 novels.

I received an ARC of this novella 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. The story is set in the far future. The primary character is Scur, a young woman who was conscripted into the military.

Just as the war ended, Scur finds herself in a battle to the death with a vicious enemy. She is severely injured and when she awakens, she finds herself on a prisoner transport ship. She shouldn’t be there, but she is. She finds herself with hundreds of others from both sides. They have been asleep a very long time.

This was an odd, but interesting little science fiction story of only 192 pages. It took less than 3 hours for me to read this novella. It was an interesting plot, though I would have enjoyed another 100 pages or so for it to be flushed out. Cover art is OK. I’m not sure what else they could have used. I give this novel a 3.8 (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).

Short Science Fiction Film “Hibernation”

Short Film – This award winning short (16:42) science fiction film premiered in 2012 and was published on YouTube in September of 2015. The synopsis:

Joseph is an astronaut set to go where no man has gone in the Universe through the hibernation program. But something is wrong between him and his instructor Claire, and the countdown for the lift-off is on.

While this was a very well done film, I found it to be very confusing. I had difficulty hearing the dialog over the music, so perhaps that is why.

Review of “Cursed Command”

Book Reviews – “Cursed Command” eBook was published in 2017 and was written by Christopher Nuttall (http://www.chrishanger.net). Mr. Nuttall has published nearly 30 novels. This is the third book in his “Angel in the Whirlwind” series.

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 in the far future. While the main character is Captain Kat Falcone, her former Exec and now Captain, William McElney is also a prominent figure.

Falcone and McElney are sent with their ships away from the front and the war with the Theocracy to the Jorlem Sector. They are on a primarily diplomatic mission. McElney’s new command, the HMS Uncanny, has a spotted history and is nicknamed the Unlucky.

McElney must overcome the reputation of the Uncanny, assist Falcone in fighting pirates, help smooth diplomatic relations and carefully confront a Theocracy ship that is on a “diplomatic” mission in the Jorlem Sector. Falcone again comes across as a strong and resourceful leader.

I thoroughly enjoyed the 8.5 hours I spent reading this 416 page Science Fiction novel. I have read all three of the novels in this series and have thoroughly enjoyed them all. This is another good military science fiction novel. I have liked the principal character of Kat Falcone. The cover art is OK, but does not appear to relate to any particular part of the story. I give this novel a 5 out of 5.

My book reviews are also published on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/31181778-john-purvis).

Star Wars Fan Film “Star Wars: From the Shadows”

Star Wars – Short film – This is a short (7:08) film in the Star Wars universe, but a bit of a tongue-in-cheek story. It isn’t a bad production and has fair special effects. This film was published on YouTube in December 2016 and was done by Drew Struckmeyer. The synopsis:

To what lengths will two teens go to convince their superfan friend that they lived a Star Wars adventure?

It isn’t for Star Wars purists as it mixes the Star Wars with contemporary life, but it is an interesting film.