I found this free-read unusually appealing in that it embodied a work of near future science fiction with some of the issues of near past emigration.
TI found this free-read unusually appealing in that it embodied a work of near future science fiction with some of the issues of near past emigration.
This speculative fiction incorporates the premise that those who are lucky enough to go to Mars will NOT be returning. It brought to my mind an interview that I once saw with an old Russian woman who immigrated to the USA as a young girl. In later years her mother had written to her that seeing her aboard the ship was one of the hardest things she’d ever done. “It was like seeing you go into your grave.” That was how Trans-Atlantic immigration worked in the early 1900’s. It was almost certain that those you bid farewell to might never be seen again.
Cy Konstantin and Scottie Andrews’ relationship is a bit taboo, but not because it’s M/M. It’s just that folks in the Evergreen program are discouraged from any relationships that might distract from their training. When one of these guys is injured and cannot go, the other is forced with a painful choice of partings. Leave behind the man he’s just starting to develop a relationship with, or stay and force his only family, his sister to leave him behind. Resolving that dilemma, and the one that arises later is plenty for a full-length novel to deal with. That it was handled as well as it was in under 60 pages was pretty extraordinary.
Yes, this three chapter tale was fast paced and involved a lot of telling rather than showing since it contained so many plot details in so few pages. The sex isn’t completely fade to black but it’s clearly not the main intent of this work. Not all the scientific details were right and apparently some Russian dialogue was a bit flawed. And yet for a sci-fi novella this was a sweet read and it was fun to spend an hour that might as easily have been introduced as a twilight zone episode but with Zachary Quinto filling in for Rod Serling.
It’s less than an hour’s reading time and free on Amazon. If you’d like to add a bit of Sci-fi and still keep to a strictly romance diet, this might be the novella for you.
As a freshly minted high-school graduate Ray Bradbury edited this magaizine and even contributed a poem.
It's interesting that this young man living oAs a freshly minted high-school graduate Ray Bradbury edited this magaizine and even contributed a poem.
It's interesting that this young man living on the cusp of World War II and at the end of the Great Depression was involved in speculative fiction that in one slim issue commented on communism, the rise of robots and the redundancy of man, and the roots of war. There's even a short bit that foreshadows Jurassic Park! Not bad for a 70 year old summer project!
Easily read in under an hour and available free, there's NO reason I can think of to NOT read this. Check it out. ...more
Though I've been familiar with this story since I was child scared witless by the "monster movie" classic, I'd never actually read the classic novel oThough I've been familiar with this story since I was child scared witless by the "monster movie" classic, I'd never actually read the classic novel on which it was based. Now, that I've amended that shortcoming, I can say that I enjoyed the book and can see it's genius as an original Gothic thriller but I think some of the later treatments actually made it a better story.
Victor Frankenstein was a bit of a whiner and from some of his later quotes it appeared that he'd learned nothing from his ordeal. "I felt as if I'd committed some great crime, the consciousness of which haunted me. I was guiltless, (really, Victor?) but I had drawn down a horrible curse upon my head, as mortal as that of crime." How he can feel guiltless after creating a sentient being and then abandoning him to become the monster that he became escapes me.
In some ways, Victor was the original Deadbeat-dad. Still, it IS a great tale and the iconic images that Ms. Shelley crafted are unarguably memorable.
Perhaps I was a bit put-off by the sub-plots that Shelley decided to spend time upon. The story of the De Lacey family was well enough, but I can't see what was added by the tale of the first mate's failed romance.
The fact the book is so popular today says a lot about that greatness. But I'm guessing that Victor's inability to acknowledge his hubris as being the fault of so many of his troubles played a big part in J. Robert Oppenheimer's quoting The Bhagavad Gita rather than Frankenstein after unleashing the first atom bomb.
Great for a novelization. Follows the movie plot-line but fills in some of the character back-stories and thoughts in a way that movies can't without Great for a novelization. Follows the movie plot-line but fills in some of the character back-stories and thoughts in a way that movies can't without taking too long.
It allows you to spend a few more hours with characters that you like and even gain a slightly deeper understanding of their perspectives. If you liked the movie, you'll probably like the book. ...more
Eight short stories based on one man's sci-fi musings. These stories are not quite as eroto-centric as one would expect from a book published by FirstEight short stories based on one man's sci-fi musings. These stories are not quite as eroto-centric as one would expect from a book published by FirstHand Books but almost. These tales tend to be a bit longer and a bit more high-concept than FirstHand magazine's regular "friction-fiction".
From Cro-magnon, a story about what happens when a time traveler overshoots his mark (rife with early-man on man action) to Faster than Fucking Light a slightly warped story about what might happen if mankind ever does discover a true "sex-drive", these stories combine erotic fantasy with speculative fiction. Of course, given that these were all penned prior to 1992, some of that speculation is clearly a bit out dated but others like the harlequinesque bodice ripper Pirates of the Pleiades are timeless in their own way.
Still and all, the stories are well crafted and more professionally written than much of the self-published fiction that is being produced today. Read it and judge for yourself. ...more
Another satisfactory installment in the Star Trek TNG saga. This one makes good use of Worf and to lesser degrees Dr. Pulaski and Geordi to tell a talAnother satisfactory installment in the Star Trek TNG saga. This one makes good use of Worf and to lesser degrees Dr. Pulaski and Geordi to tell a tale about a world that has devolved into a gladiator entertainment centered society.
The story does raise some interesting issues about what develops strength of character and how a society that is decimated by an alien conflict might be psychologically scarred for generations. It doesn't make much use of the Star Trek mythos other than borrowing a few of the main characters and a few of the precepts but there's nothing inherently wrong in that.
Perhaps not the best Star Trek novel but still a worthwhile read. ...more
A worthy installment in the Star Trek TNG book series. This novel features an interesting storyline while capitalizing on the characters and mythos deA worthy installment in the Star Trek TNG book series. This novel features an interesting storyline while capitalizing on the characters and mythos developed around the Star Trek TNG series.
We get to again spend time with characters we enjoy and consider how the stage of development of a planet might affect its inhabitants. We also get to consider the roles of masks and identities and the roles that people are forced to play by society.
I somehow missed this when these novels were originally release but I went back and filled the gap. This one seemed to lack some of the appeal of the I somehow missed this when these novels were originally release but I went back and filled the gap. This one seemed to lack some of the appeal of the series with most of the action taking place on an ecologically challenged planet with two warring factions. It easily reached the level of good science fiction but didn't rise to the level of brilliant or even inspired.
None of the characters revealed any new quirks or traits and it presented no truly new ideas.
Still, the prose was workmanlike and it was a speedy read. I'm glad to have finally filled the gap....more
I used to read Star Trek and Star Trek TNG novels on a very frequent basis but have sort of fallen off in my readership over the last few years. When I used to read Star Trek and Star Trek TNG novels on a very frequent basis but have sort of fallen off in my readership over the last few years. When I saw that there was a new series about starfleet academy dealing with the characters at a younger age I was curious and picked this one up. It's been in my "to read" pile for yonks and I finally decided to tackle it.
It's interesting to see Spock as a young man still living at home and very much under his father's sway. The book uses all that we've gleaned over the years about Spock and is faithful to the canon while giving an adventure for a young Spock.
The book is well written and fast moving and concentrates on some cultural taboos that Sarek and Spock stumble upon while trying to help a less logical race end a war and join the Federation. While clearly aimed at a younger audience than the standard Star trek novels this book is in no way juvenile. It was worth the reading time and had some of the best of the elements that I've grown to love in these books over the years. If you're a trekkie, by all means check it out....more
Just read this and realized that the first time around I'd never finished it. I'm not sure why.
This book is timeless in many ways. There's a curious Just read this and realized that the first time around I'd never finished it. I'm not sure why.
This book is timeless in many ways. There's a curious mix of future think and past think in this 60 year old science fiction masterpiece. The main ideas concerning robotics are as fresh and current as ever. The space exploration elements are a bit dated but not terribly so. However the corporate think is what feels the most creaky. Also Asimov was a bit off on his predictions about jet cars and the common aspects of space flight in the 21st century. Still, he's spot on in the primary aspects of his interest, Robotics and artificial intelligence.
This book deserves the acclaim that it got and is still worth reading. The attitudes of some of the characters seem a bit dated as you'd expect. I find it interesting that in 1950, Asimov wrote such a strong female character as the robopsychologist. I was upset with her at one point, with how cruel she was to Herbie. Driving him insane. At least HAL gets back at humans later in 2001!
I loved the positronic brain references and its clear where much of the Star Trek character Data got his initial inspiration. It was a bit strange for someone with my computer programming background to see how the ideas were first thought of in the late 40's early 50's
This book really is a masterpiece. For a science fiction novel to have aged this well and still have relevance today is amazing. That it's still a fun read is genius. ...more
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