The Immune by Doc Lucky Meisenheimer

The Immune by Doc Lucky Meisenheimer

Publishing Information: ARC Paperback; 348 pages
Publisher: LJS&S Publishing; 13 May 2011
ISBN 10: 0966761227
ISBN 13: 9780966761221
Standalone
Copy: Provided by Publisher
Reviewer: Tyson

Synopsis: "A biological crisis of epic proportions threatens the world. Genetically manufactured creatures, named airwars, attack and kill at random. Despite having captured and sequestered the airwar's creator, a hastily formed world government appears more effective in consolidating power than managing the crisis. Hope emerges when a navy admiral discovers there are individuals born genetically immune to the deadly stings of the creatures. As the "immunes" struggle to protect humanity, they bemoan escalating governmental control. There is, however, one key "immune" with the intelligence and leadership to look beyond the crisis. As the government unfolds its secret plans to end the crisis, the future of humanity may well rest on his shoulders."

Not knowing anything about the author or the book when it reached my doorstep, I had no idea what to expect when I began to read The Immune. The cover is a little campy, but I have to admit I kind of like it. The novel starts out in a rather serene situation until strange floating jellyfish known as Airwars start appearing around the globe. I really enjoyed the build up to the "first contact." We spend some time with our protagonist (later known to the world as "The Immune") and got a feel for the world before everything changes. This also did a great job of setting things up for all of the United Nations changes that rapidly come to become world-wide law.

One of the most enjoyable aspects to The Immune was when chaos begins to spread across the globe and the world seems to change overnight due to a quick acting multi-national group. At times Meisenheimer has some really bleak and dark moments in human history occur. There were a few times where it did not quite hit the mark but still manages to get us to believe in the swift policy changes. Meisenheimer also give you an opportunity to think about national governments and world governing bodies as well as various other political ideas and concepts. He does not browbeat you, but I get the feeling our author has a few libertarian leanings. If fact, I could be wrong as the way in which he presents them is more in the vein of devil's advocate. I really enjoyed it as it got me to thinking about many of the ideas he brought up in the book as they all play a major role in how the world shift when a world-wide crisis occurs without warning.

However, the biggest thrill was how the book loved to use PR or Public Relations to sway the public to either go along with what the government's plans or to single out cells of hold outs who refuse to go with what the UN has deemed required. The propaganda and its uses are interesting and a huge plot point in the book which was nicely done and did a fairly good job of keeping me off-balance.

Through out The Immune, Meisenheimer weaves an intricate tale of characters and events that all build up towards a major ending. Except it was not the ending I was expecting. Just when I thought I knew who and why the Airwars appeared I was stunned to find out I was completely wrong. It is rare to find a book that manages to pull an ace from its sleeve and catch me unawares and I found that I liked it. The book felt a little too predictable and then the rug was pulled out from under me, I liked the fact that I was wrong in my prediction. Once the real conspiracy was uncovered it was resolved a little too quickly but with the big reveal there was very little more to do than deal directly with the new knowledge. However, it would have been nice to have a little bit more of the real cover up as it came from left field and was completely unexpected.

The Immune is a nice change of pace it tells of a world-wide threat that is unexplained, how the governments of the world step in or in most cases get out of the way and, and how people cope with their new realities. It also raises a lot of questions about our world governments, the UN, and the secrets that they keep. Science and genetics are also questioned in the book. I have a feeling that The Immune may escape a lot of readers attention, but it really should not be missed. It just might be the sleeper hit of the year. A book with the same ideas as Heinlein but a bit more in your face and focused on today's current concerns. Recommended.

Plot 8
Characters 7
Style 8

Overall 8/10

REVIEW: Contra Alliance: Shadows of the Past by Tom Kolega (Kindle Edition)

Contra Alliance: Shadows of the Past by Tom Kolega
Publishing information: Kindle
Publisher: State of the Art Entertainment, LLC; 9 October 2010
ISBN 10: 9780615302027
ISBN 13: 978-0615302027
ASIN: 0615302025
Series: The Contra Alliance Trilogy Book One
Copy: Provided by Author
Reviewer: Tyson

Synopsis: "The year is 2035. America's preeminence has withered. Global warming, scarce resources, and conflict have pushed the world to its breaking point. Throughout the increasing turmoil, a rogue group called The Revolution has risen to prominence seeking domination over humanity.

Shadows of the Past explores the adventures of a NATO Counter-Revolutionary (CONTRA) Strike Force as it battles against the mysterious organization. Elite Special Forces operators use advanced military technology to hunt The Revolution, finding its feared wickedness is worse than imagined. When secrets of the enemy's origin threaten accepted reality, dangers intensify.

Disturbing evidence exposed by CONTRA uncovers stunning truths about the galaxies. A covert faction of extraordinary messengers race to save Earth. Legends of the past and visions of the future collide when a long-dormant evil resurfaces to challenge the most powerful space alliance in the universe. The course of human history irrevocably alters, setting the world on an unforeseen path.

When Time Unlocks The Truth to History . . . The Epic Begins."

When I received Contra Alliance I could not help but think about the classic video game. However, after a few chapters in I knew that it was not the case. Contra Alliance deals with a highly secretive branch of operators working for the United Nations and two powerful alien races who are secretly waging a secret war on Earth.

The biggest obstacle is that there is a huge cast of characters, nations, and abilities to juggle. Many of which really don't play a major factor in the story or the characters abilities, at least at this point in the story. But it truly is an international group, and to a degree, interstellar force. While the setting takes place in the near future not much has happened in the way of weapons. Lasers have started to make an appearance on the battlefield, as well as battle suits that augment the person wearing them. We are told that the United States has lost its grip on being the ultimate superpower yet they are still at the forefront of every altercation, still have the best equipment, and continue to play a major role in international affairs which left me a little confused as to how or if they had truly fallen.

Contra Alliance has two plot lines going: the evil plan of the Revolution that plans to use earth for their personal revenge against their ancient enemies and the constant, well-planned and oftentimes violence from radical groups, and the second plot is the newly formed UN's Contra force must assist in bringing order out of chaos. There is a third plot, where earth's alien protectors must keep their involvement and identities secret but it is a minor plot point.

There is a lot of action and the way Kolega weaves them is quite good. They are quick and the results felt well into the final pages of the book. No one is really safe from injury or death except for a few key players that will be obvious from the start. Contra Alliance has the feel of a novelizaton for a comic book and I could see this as a Sci-fi (sorry Syfy) television show similar in the vein of Stargate: SG1 if it ever made it to the small screen. Which I think would bring in a lot of viewers.

At the end of the day, Contra Alliance is a suprising military action story with some great characters and the potential for a great series. I know there is a plans for a prequel and its sequel should be released soon. While not the deepest story you will ever find, it is a lot of fun to read and does a great job of keeping you guessing. Had I not been asked to review the book would have missed out on a great science fiction military adventure. While it does not take place in space, there is some foreshadowing of what is to come and it has me excited to see what happens next. Contra Alliance: Shadows of the Past is the perfect read for anyone looking to escape. I am glad I was introduced to the series and hope that I have a chance to continue the adventures that Kolega started in this book.

Plot  7
Characters 7.5
Style  7

Overall 8.5/10

The Dangers of Reviewing Books

I am sure everyone has already seen this review and response from the author, but it should be noted that sometimes you need to take a deep breath and think before you speak.


Jaqueline Howett, a self-published author, does not care for negative reviews and goes on a tirade against the reviewer and the reviewing community at large. This is spreading like wildfire and some good advice is attempted to be given by the internet community, unfortunately it has fallen on deaf ears. The comments are exploding and it is has also started a debate on Amazon.

REVIEW: Yellow Blue Tibia by Adam Roberts

Yellow Blue Tibia by Adam Roberts
Publishing Information: Paperback; 336 pages
Publisher: Orion Publishing Co.; 22 January 2009
ISBN 10: 0575083573
ISBN 13: 9780575083578
Standalone
Copy: Out of pocket
Reviewer: Tyson

Back of the Book "It is 1946. WWII is over, the Soviet Union has crushed Nazi Germany and now exerts control over a vast swathe of Eastern Europe. However, Stalin is uneasy. He knows that the decadent United States will collapse within a decade and without an enemy to galvanize it, the Soviet Union's pursuit of worldwide Communist revolution may falter. He summons a group of the USSR's leading science fiction writers to a remote dacha and has them create a new foe to energise the Russian people. They concoct a story of radiation-based aliens launching an assault on the Earth by initially destroying an American spacecraft and then launching a devastating radioactive assault on the Ukraine. After several months of work, Stalin has the project terminated and the writers are sent back to their lives, warned never to speak of the project again."

This is my second attempt to read Adam Roberts, my first attempt was with New Model Army, which I felt was less than stellar. In Yellow Blue Tibia Adams does a much better job. The book spans forty years of Konstantin Andreiovich Skyorecky's life. From his encounter with Stalin where he is to brainstorm the ultimate Science Fiction story to keep the Soviet people in fear from an outside invaders to his time when Chernobyl meltdown.

The character of Konstantin is an interesting one as his sense of humor helps to propel Yellow Blue Tibia beyond the mundane and adds a distinct feel of Russian humor to the novel. The one scene in particular that demonstrates this is his time being interrogated by the KGB. I felt that it sums up the character rather well and does an excellent job of humanizing the secretive agency while injecting some humor. All of the supporting characters are also written fairly well and do a good job of projecting their personalities in the story.

Yellow Blue Tibia supposedly takes place in our history, but Roberts ends the novel in a fairly strange way which makes you wonder if the book really takes place in our time line or in an alternate reality. I know that as I finished the book, I was uncertain of just where or when things took place. It made for a more entertaining read that I enjoyed all the more for it.

While Yellow Blue Tibia was by far a better book than his New Model Army, I still am on the fence as to whether I actually like Roberts as an author. There are some funny situations and dialogue in the book but the book also loses focus and makes for a confusing read here and there which turned me off as we neared the second act of the book. If Roberts has another book that sounds interesting, I may pick it up otherwise I doubt I will go out of my way to pick up another of his novels. It should also be noted that Yellow Blue Tibia was nominated in 2010 for the Arthur C. Clarke Award.

Plot 9
Characters 7
Style 7

Overall 7/10

Two New Neal Asher Artwork Revealed

This week Tor UK revealed new artwork for two Neal Asher books: Line War and Hilldiggers.

Line War by Neal Asher

Paperback: 566 pages
Publisher: Tor (3 April 2009)
ISBN-10: 9780330441544
ISBN-13: 978-0330441544

The Polity is under attack from a ‘melded’ AI entity with control of the lethal Jain technology, yet the attack seems to have no coherence. When one of Erebus’s wormships kills millions on the world of Klurhammon, a high-tech agricultural world of no real tactical significance, agent Ian Cormac is sent to investigate, though he is secretly struggling to control a new ability no human being should possess . . . and beginning to question the motives of his AI masters.

Further attacks and seemingly indiscriminate slaughter ensue, but only serve to bring some of the most dangerous individuals in the Polity into the war. Mr Crane, the indefatigable brass killing machine sets out for vengeance, while Orlandine, a vastly-augmented haiman who herself controls Jain technology, seeks a weapon of appalling power and finds allies from an ancient war.

Meanwhile Mika, scientist and Dragon expert, is again kidnapped by that unfathomable alien entity and dragged into the heart of things: to wake the makers of Jain technology from their five-million-year slumber.

But Erebus’s attacks are not so indiscriminate, after all, and could very well herald the end of the Polity itself . . .

Hilldiggers by Neal Asher

Paperback: 551 pages
Publisher: Tor (4 April 2008)
ISBN-10: 0330441531
ISBN-13: 978-0330441537

During a war between two planets in the same solar system – each occupied by adapted humans – what is thought to be a cosmic superstring is discovered. After being cut, this object collapses into four cylindrical pieces, each about the size of a tube train. Each is densely packed with either alien technology or some kind of life. They are placed for safety in three ozark cylinders of a massively secure space station. There a female research scientist subsequently falls pregnant, and gives birth to quads. Then she commits suicide – but why?

By the end of the war one of the contesting planets has been devastated by the hilldiggers – giant space dreadnoughts employing weapons capable of creating mountain ranges. The quads have meanwhile grown up and are assuming positions of power in the post-war society. One of them will eventually gain control of the awesome hilldiggers . . .

From the Inside Flap

"A terrible war once raged between the two rival planets within a distant solar system. Over the centuries their human inhabitants had 'adapted' themselves to the extremely different conditions of their new homes, far outside Polity influence.

In the midst of this merciless conflict, one side encountered a bizarre object suspected of being a cosmic superstring employed as a new weapon by the rival side. Their attack on it caused the object to collapse into four parts, each found to be packed either with alien technology or some unknown form of life. Pending further study, these were quickly encased inside four separate Ozark cylinders and stored in a massively secure space station in orbit.

Sometime later, while conducting research on this alien entity, which they now call 'the Worm', a female scientist falls pregnant and subsequently gives birth to quads. She then inexplicably commits suicide by walking directly out into space . . .

The war was finally brought to an end by the use of new weapons arising as a result of research on the Worm. These weapons were deployed by giant space dreadnoughts nicknamed 'hilldiggers' - and their destructive power was sufficient to create entire new mountain ranges out of the vanquished planet's ravaged terrain. Twenty years after the dust has settled, those four exceptionally talented orphans have grown up to assume varying degrees of power and influence within a post-war society.

And one of this exceptional breed now seems determined to gain total control over the deadly hilldiggers. But why?"

Sanderson and Vinge New Cover Art

Recently two new covers were uncovered over at Tor.

Brandon Sanderson's The Alloy of Law which is the fourth book in the Mistborn Series and scheduled to be released in November.  It has a steampunk feel to it.

And a stunning Vernor Vinge for The Children of the Sky. The follow up to the Hugo Award winning A Fire Upon the Deep. Have yet to read anything by Vinge but I may have to change that soon. Tor is having a giveaway for The Children of the Sky. click here for more information and a chance to win one of 50 copies.

REVIEW: Regarding Ducks and Universes by Neve Maslakovic

Regarding Ducks and Universes by Neve Maslakovic
Publishing Information: Kindle
Publisher: AmazonEncore; 22 February 2011
ISBN 10: 1935597345
ISBN 13: 978-1935597346
ASIN: B003WQAZ3Q
Standalone
Copy: Provided by Publisher
Reviewer: Tyson

Synopsis: "On a foggy Monday in 1986, the universe suddenly, without warning, bifurcated. Fast-forward to 35 years later: Felix Sayers is a culinary writer living in San Francisco of Universe A who spends his days lunching at Coconut Café and dreaming of penning an Agatha Christie-style mystery. But everything changes when his Aunt Henrietta dies, leaving Felix a photograph of his father and himself--dated ten days before Felix was born. It can only mean one thing: Felix has an 'alter' in Universe B. Panicked that his mystery novel may exist already, Felix crosses to San Francisco B and proceeds to flagrantly violate the rules of both worlds by snooping around his alter's life. But when he narrowly escapes a hit-and-run, it becomes clear that someone knows he's crossed over... and whoever it is isn't happy about it. Now Felix must uncover the truth about his alter, the events of one Monday, and a wayward rubber duck before his time in both worlds runs out."

When I received Regarding Ducks and Universes I really had no idea what to expect. The blurb made is sound like a humorous romp with the feel of Christopher Moore. to a certain extent, it is. But what I ended up getting was a light mystery more in the vein of China Mielville.

When we start the book we are in a transporter that allows individuals to travel from Universe A to Universe B. Neither universe is ours although both have a striking resemblance. However, Universe A relies on computers and has a serious inflation problem and Universe B still contains books and personal motor vehicles. Each universe was unique and I found myself being drawn into both of them without really realizing what was happening. Before I knew it, I was hunting for more of the little things to see how they compared to each other and our own universe. I also was looking for clues to the mystery the novel was attempting to solve.

Felix A (from Universe A) is our main character and from the moment we are introduced to him, he quickly comes off as a very real individual with real concerns and feelings. The rest of the characters do a decent job of rounding out the cast and some are wacky but overall they all add to the story. Felix A is a bored to death writer who dreams of writing a mystery novel and hopes to find out more about his double (Felix B) and to see if his double leads a better life than he does and if he has been beaten to the punch about his novel.

Another interesting thing about the two universes was how they came to be and how one could travel and communicate between the two. The two universes have a privacy law that far exceeds anything we have here in our universe and really holds the two universes together and to a certain degree, apart. The whole same yet different concept was explored in Mielville's The City and The City and Regarding Ducks and Universes is similar yet, much easier to take in. The rules are quickly established and then the characters look for ways to turn it to their advantage or in some cases blatantly disregard it.

There are many humorous incidents and observations within Regarding Ducks and Universes, which offer a few light-hearted moments. There are a few science fictional elements that make up the story but the core of the story is a mystery. As Felix A (from Universe A) and Felix B (from Universe B) work with and against each other to help different organizations find out just what event lead to the two (nearly) identical universes to become (slightly) altered. I really had no idea just what to expect when I started reading Regarding Ducks and Universes and found myself enjoying the adventure and mystery found within. It is a light read with a lot of great moments and a decent mystery that leaves you guessing until the end. The brilliance that I found in Regarding Ducks and Universes is that there is a lot of mystery in the book, from our character wanting to write a mystery novel, to his love of Agatha Christie, to the mystery contained within the book. The book itself is an enigma, wrapped up in a puzzle and all of it is done simply and without difficulty.

Plot 8
Characters 7
Style 7

Overall 7.5/10