Book Review: “The Oppressed”

(See all of my Book Reviews) – “The Oppressed” eBook was published in 2018 and was written by Matt Thomas. This is Mr. Thomas’ second publication. This is the first in his “Wroth Worlds” 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. The primary character is Bryan Howe leader of Free Human Special Forces Detachment 8222.

Earth had been invaded and conquered by the Hetarek. Much of the human population on Earth has been exterminated. The remainder has become Hetarek slaves. A few from Earth escaped the Hetarek and, with the help of the Ahai, have fled to the stars. The Free Human forces have begun to fight back against the Hetarek. They have already taken a few systems, now they have set their sights on Earth.

Howe and his team are inserted on Earth to start building a guerrilla army to rise up and assist in an invasion of Earth. But Howe and his team have a difficult job. Not only do the Hetarek keep a close and ruthless watch on the remaining humans, but the humans consider Howe and his colleagues “Runners’. They are looked down upon because the humans that have survived on Earth feel that they were abandoned. With a generation having passed, it is difficult to recruit survivors to risk everything to support the ‘Runners’.

I thoroughly enjoyed the 11+ hours I spent reading this 375-page science fiction novel. I liked the plot of a conquered Earth being retaken. There is a lot of action and not all of the characters you start out with survive. This is just the beginning of the story of a much longer struggle. The cover art is OK, but I would have preferred something closer to the storyline. 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).

Instrumental Music on YouTube: “Dancing on the Moon”

(See my other Music and Science Fiction related posts) – This video was uploaded to YouTube in June of 2019 by SpaceAmbient. The music is by Tisamoo (Kristóf, K, H.Hetény, Hungary.).

Not sure I would categorize this as easy listening, but I like the ‘science fiction’ feel to it.

Book Review: “Darkness”

(See all of my Book Reviews) – “Darkness” eBook was published in 2019 and was written by Lain Richmond (https://www.iainrichmond.com). This is Mr. Richmond’s first published novel. It is the first of his planned “Oortian Wars” 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 not too distant future. The primary character is Captain Jack Falco of the United Nations Navy.

Falco is a hero of a war with North Korea, though it has left him a widower. Now he has reluctantly taken a commission as Captain of the Cyclone Class deep space scout ship Anam Cara. Falco, and the Anam Cara, will be on a 15-year mission to the Oort Cloud. They are there to investigate anomalies around Station Pluto.

To the surprise of everyone, Falco and his crew discover that the dark cloud in that part of space is home to an alien race that has been disturbed by the human presence. The alien civilization is far older than Earth and they have a history of violence. Before long that violence is turned on the human presence and Earth is soon at war.

I generally enjoyed the 11.5 hours I spent reading this 462-page science fiction novel. I liked the overall story and the characters, though I had some problems with the story when it switched to the alien’s point of view. Their thought process was hard to follow and it almost made me want to call a Rule of 50 on the book and drop it. The cover art is OK, but I would have preferred something more in line with the story. 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).

Wednesday SciFi Flix: “Rim of the World”

(See my other Science Fiction posts) – I watched the movie “Rim of the World” on NetFlix a few nights ago. This is not for the serious Science Fiction fan, but rather it seems aimed more at Young Adults. The synopsis (per IMDB):

Four misfit teenagers join forces to save the world when an alien invasion interrupts their summer camp.

The kids in the starring roles are all attending a dysfunctional summer camp. All of a sudden their world is turned upside down by the invasion of aliens. The camp is evacuated leaving the kids stranded. An astronaut crashes near their camp and gives them a thumb drive. If they can get the thumb drive to JPL there is hope to stop the invasion. The story follows them on their journey to deliver the thumb drive.

This wasn’t the best movie and the 5.1/10 rating on IMDB reflect that. It is rated TV-14. I suspect that is due to the Violence and Mature Language in the movie.

Disneyland​ Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Open

(See my other Disney & Star Wars posts) – Well, we have been waiting for this for a while now. Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland is now open. This 14-acre expansion has been watched by many with anticipation.

I can’t wait to go myself, but it will be a few years. Regardless of when I go, Galaxy’s Edge will never look as empty as in the video above.

First Teaser for New Series “Star Trek Picard” Released

(See my other Star Trek and Science Fiction posts) – I haven’t heard much about this new series. All IMDB has on it is:

The plot has been kept under wraps. Described as a follow-up series to ‘Star Trek: Next Generation’, and centers on Captain Jean-Luc Picard in the next chapter of his life.

The teaser doesn’t reveal too much either. We will just have to wait, though if Star Trek Discovery is any indication, it will be good.

Book Reviews: “Atlas Alone”

(See all of my Book Reviews) – “Atlas Alone” eBook was published in 2019 and was written by Emma Newman (http://www.enewman.co.uk). Ms. Newman has published eleven novels or novellas. This is the fourth in her “Planetfall” 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. A colony ship has left Earth with more than 10,000 passengers and crew. The primary character is the young woman Dee, an avid gamer and one of the few on the spacecraft that knows that Earth has been destroyed.

She is angry and wants to take revenge on those who caused the destruction of Earth just after the colony ship departed. She is certain that those who gave the orders are onboard. She tries to lose herself in a ‘mersive’ game she is invited to play, but when she kills a character inside the game only to find later that the person is really dead, Dee discovers that there is a plot and she is at the center. There appears to be at least one other who wants revenge for destroying the Earth.

I thoroughly enjoyed the 8 hours I spent reading this 317-page science fiction tale. I liked the characters and the plot, though the novel did not necessarily leave things totally resolved. While I previously read #3 in this series, Before Mars, this novel stands well on its own. 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).

Book Review: “Earth Quarantined”

(See all of my Book Reviews) – “Earth Quarantined” eBook was published in 2018 and was written by D. L. Richardson (https://www.dlrichardson.com). Ms. Richardson has published ten novels and novellas. This is the first in her “Earth Quarantined” 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 ‘G’. The story is set in the far future in 2355. The primary characters are Kethryn Miller, an award-winning actress living in City Prime, and Neah, a single parent living in an underground bunker.

A deadly virus has swept across the Earth killing most of the residents. The human race would likely have been exterminated without the intervention of the Criterion, an alien species. As part of their fix, a quarantine is placed on the Earth. The Criterion has promised the technology needed for humanity to reach out into the stars and establish a new home, but so far they have not delivered.

Miller is about to succeed her father as the leader of State Seven. She can hardly stand all of the attention and decides to flee to the outskirts of the city. Unexpectedly she finds there are people living in a bunker there where no one should live.

Neah has lived in a bunker all of her life. She and all who she knows say that the world outside the bunker is desolate and uninhabitable. She sneaks out and finds that it has all been a lie. The outside is desolate, but it is habitable.

As one young woman sneaks into the bunker she has found the other makes her way into the city. Now each is shocked even further when they discover that they are identical twins and that they now must find a way to survive in their respective worlds. How do they survive? How do they handle the lies they have been told?

I thought that the 10.5+ hours I spent reading this 358-page science fiction novel were interesting. I like the overall plot but thought that the story was both slow and long. While the Criterion and their treatment of humanity is brought up as a problem, the story really doesn’t touch much on that. I like the cover art, but it is not directly relevant to the story. I give this novel a 3 out of 5.

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

Happy “Star Wars Day”

(See my other Star Wars posts) – It is May the 4th and Star Wars Day again (you know, “may the 4th (force) be with you”). What is Star Wars Day?:

The first organized Star Wars Day took place in Toronto back in 2011. The event included an Original Trilogy Trivia Game Show, a costume contest, and a showing of fan-made tribute films, mash-ups, parodies, and remixes. In late 2012, Disney purchased Lucasfilm and has officially observed the holiday at Disneyland and Walt Disney World ever since.

How can you celebrate? The Suggestions per the https://nationaltoday.com/ site include:

1. Start counting down – “Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge,” the 14-acre Disney theme park expansion, will open at Southern California’s Disneyland Resort on May 31. A second version of the “Star Wars” land will open three months later at Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World in Florida.
2. Host a viewing party – Invite friends over for a movie marathon. (Whether you take them through the behind-the-scenes footage or not is up to you.) Hang decorations and prepare nerd-tastic snacks for the occasion.
3. Dress-up day – Costumes aren’t just for Halloween. Head out in your finest rebel attire, or a themed T-shirt if that’s more your comfort zone.

I won’t be counting down or hosting/participating in a viewing party. I do have a Star Wars shirt and hat. I will be wearing both today. How are you going to celebrate?

Wednesday SciFi Flix: ​”GALAXY OF GHOSTS: INTRODUCTION”

(See my other Science Fiction and Short Film posts) – I came across the short (9:51) animated science fiction film “GALAXY OF GHOSTS: INTRODUCTION” a short time ago. This film was uploaded to YouTube in June of 2017 by MadArtistPublishing. The synopsis:

In the 22nd century, mankind started exploring deep space. Research spaceships searching for new planets and alien life. And they finally found something that could be the answer to all our questions, endless source of energy. Many people, corporations, bandits want to be the first to have it. But they don’t know what they really have found. So, the story begins.

I thought that this was a very well done animated film. I still don’t understand why people in this day and age still have their spacecraft ‘bank’ when they turn in space though. They should understand physics far better today than that.