A Very Strange Alternate Time Line Tale -- Review of Blake Crouch's "Dark Matter"

NEW SCIENCE FICTION AND FANTASY REVIEWS

Reviews Of Recently Published Science Fiction And Fantasy Books

Reviewer: Forrest Schultz schultz_forrest@yahoo.com 770-583-3258

Blog Address: http://newsciencefictionandfantasyreviews.blogspot.com/

 

September 28, 2016

 

A Very Strange Alternate Time Line Tale

 

A Review of

 

Blake Crouch Dark Matter (Crown, 2016)

                       $26.90   342pp   ISBN: 978-1-101-90422-0

 

Reviewer:  Forrest W. Schultz

 

     Among my favorite kinds of stories, both to read and to write, are those involving identical twins and those involving alternate time lines.  Blake Crouch's newly published tale is among the best of these: the only one I can think of that can equal it is Keith Laumer's Imperium.  Comparing them would be a good topic for an essay!

 

     Crouch's story is not only an exciting read, but it also shows how alternate time line travel can be used for nefarious purposes.  In this case, a man tries to steal the wife of his alternate self!!  This generates one of the most exciting and interesting stories I have ever come across.

 

     I would like to thank someone from Lost Genre Guild (I forget now who it was) who via Goodreads recommended this book.

Dramatic Action, Believable Dystopia, But Dubious Science -- Review of Mind Writer

NEW SCIENCE FICTION AND FANTASY REVIEWS

Reviews Of Recently Published Science Fiction And Fantasy Books

Reviewer: Forrest Schultz schultz_forrest@yahoo.com 770-583-3258

Blog Address: http://newsciencefictionandfantasyreviews.blogspot.com/

 

September 15, 2016

 

Dramatic Action, Believable Dystopia, But Dubious Science

 

A Review of

Mike Lynch & Lisa Godfrees  Mind Writer (Elk Lab Pub., 2016)

                                                 $12.95   361pp   ISBN: 978194430115

 

Reviewer:  Forrest W. Schultz

 

     As my title of my review indicates, the action in this story is quite exciting and dramatic, and the dystopia is believable, but the science in it is "dubious", to put it mildly!  Here is verbatim what the jacket (and description in Amazon) say about the main character,  Rinee Newburgh:  "... her unique talents give her the ability to transfer a person’s thoughts, memories, personality—their soul—into a clone created for those deemed vital to society’s continued survival.".  This is clearly not "hard" science fiction!  If the only sf you wish to read is hard sf, you will not want to read this one.  If you are unconcerned about the science factor, you will like the book if you enjoy dystopias and dramatic action.  

Galactic Dystopia, Lethal War Games, A Reluctant Gladiator, and A Tough Woman -- Review of Arena Planet

NEW SCIENCE FICTION AND FANTASY REVIEWS

Reviews Of Recently Published Science Fiction And Fantasy Books

Reviewer: Forrest Schultz schultz_forrest@yahoo.com 770-583-3258

Blog Address: http://newsciencefictionandfantasyreviews.blogspot.com/

 

September 13, 2016

 

Galactic Dystopia, Lethal War Games, A Reluctant Gladiator, and A Tough Woman

 

A Review of

 

Mike Lynch & Brandon Barr Arena Planet (Silver Leaf Books, 2016)

                                             $18.95   258pp   ISBN: 978-1-60975-161-6

 

Reviewer:  Forrest W. Schultz

 

     The Arena Planet serves as the stage upon which small teams of gladiators fight each other in contests which are observed and studied by the galactic dictators who are looking for ideas to enhance the military skills of their armies.  The story focuses upon the leader of the Earth's new gladiators, Carter Stone (who is mad at being drafted because he prefers to live a peaceful life) and their mentor/trainer Taliah, who is unusual in two respects -- she is a woman and she is a member of a secret revolutionary group planning to overthrow the dictatorial regime, which has created a galaxy-wide dystopia.  Although these dictators are aliens, they behave in a totally human way, just like Earth's dictators do.  The story is interesting and well written and it has three features which are popular with many of today's readers -- a dystopia, a tough woman, and lots of armed combat.  Information on the authors and publisher is available at http://www.mikelynchbooks.com,/ http://www.brandonbarr.com,/ and http://www.silverleafbooks.com/