Bryan, J.L.: Jenny Pox (The Paranormals) (2010)

2013-03-02 humanitysdarkerside Leave a comment

It is difficult enough being a teen-ager as it is. Add in a curse and life gets even rougher. What if that curse happens to be that anything that touches your bare skin or that you touch dies? Well, I would say a person could get mighty depressed.

Children sense when something is different about you. If there is anything to pounce upon, they will. Life is a jungle when you are little. Even if there is nothing strange about you, you will be picked on if the top dog is bored.

Jenny’s difference has made her the favorite kicking ball of her school. “Jenny Pox” has evolved into “Jenny Mittens” (due to the gloves she has to wear). All Jenny wants for herself is to get through her senior year and be finished with her fellow students. But her main bullyer is determined to make Jenny’s last year miserable. Ashley is Miss Popularity at their high school and she HATES Jenny with a passion.

I enjoyed Bryan’s characterisation of Jenny. He caught the desperation brought on by years of bullying. Very good job there. The Paranormals concept was interesting as well. As it would be a spoiler to tell, well, you will just have read Jenny Pox yourself.

Autism / Aspergers, Reblogged

Sandy Hook Aftermath: Asperger’s, the Media, and Social Justice

Link 2013-03-01 humanitysdarkerside Leave a comment

Falling into the trap of we/them thinking is so easy. This article demonstrates some of the dangers inherent in that worldview. While we all do it to some extent, trying to look beyond our own backyard could open our eyes to a new and wonderful world. I can hope.

Fantasy, Mystery, Short story/novella

Bertauski, Tony: Drayton (The Taker) (2010)

2013-02-27 humanitysdarkerside Leave a comment

Tony Bertauski writes a poignant tale of loss and love with his novella Drayton. Drayton is The Taker of the last breath/spirit/soul that leaves a person when they die. Of some people that is. He has to get to them first.

Drayton is lost. He is older than he remembers and has no idea of what he is. All alone he wanders upon the Earth trying to mingle with people so he can feed. Bertauski writes Drayton’s loneliness so well. The long life he has lived has brought him around from a monster without control to someone who helps out when he can. I got a sense of quietness even in the scenes that were violent.

I loved the contrast between Young and Hal at the end of the novella. How perfectly it illustrates the complexity of Drayton’s character.

Adventure, Science Fiction

Berry, Stephen Ames: The Biofab War (1984/2012)

2013-02-26 humanitysdarkerside Leave a comment

Cover illustration by Alan Gutierrez

I have the 2012 kindle edition. Stephen A Berry stated that It’s been rewritten to reflect present-day Earth and changes later in the series. The plot is unaltered and the heavy blaster fire unabated. I am always grateful when an author categorizes her/his own work (way to go Mr. Berry). The Biofab War is space opera.

A comment like that from an author is yet another reason to get me interested in reading their book. My curiosity is easily aroused.

The Biofab War is in some senses a believable future for humans – telling why would be a major spoiler. There are technological aspects that I could believe that we would allow ourselves to develop. Silly buggers is what we are. Biofab is a term Mr. Berry claims he originated through his Biofab Quartet. There is a whole biofab industry out there. The whole concept is fascinating.

The Biofab War is an excellent introduction to the Biofab Quartet. I like the whole idea of cousins and enemies and surprises and mistakes coming to kiss us on our behinds. There is plenty of action, lots and lots of it. Well-written fight scenes are fun. Mr. Berry writes well. Granted, he has cheated by re-writing the original, but who cares. Have fun.

Science Fiction, Thriller

Bernstein, David: Tears of No Return (2012)

2013-02-26 humanitysdarkerside Leave a comment

I have read loads of novels in this genre written by my gender, but none by the “aliens” (I think). So I kind of had to see if there was a difference in perspective. There could have been, you know. They are supposed to be different from us “normals”. After having read it, I had to check if David Bernstein was a pseudonym for some lady wanting to hide her gender. But it was not. David Bernstein is really a guy writing a book that is very similar in style to many gals.

What does this tell me? Hell if I know. I just found it incredibly interesting that David Bernstein as a guy might possibly write the same way as a gal. Those who know me will not be surprised at all that I would get hung up in something like this or even read a book for this reason – as if I would need an excuse to read. Hah.

Karen Lakemire is having a terrible day. First she gets kidnapped by someone who seems like a homeless, who turns out to be a mafia-seeming guy, who then turns out to be infected by an alien, who then infects Karen and finally kills himself. Woohoo! Just my kind of day. Of course the US government is involved, through a secret corporation called the Murphy Unit – a unit consisting of some very bad people out to further the US military power by any means possible.

Karen later meets up with another unfortunate victim of the Murphy Unit, Morgan Hughes. He has been turned into a vampire-vampire. That just means that he has to have vampire blood to survive and that he can handle sunlight and garlic and religious symbols. Together they fight the evil overlords.

I found the vampire cliches, well, cliches. The garlic was a bit over-kill.

Other than that Tears of No Return was a fairly good action/thriller/scifi/urban fantasy novel.

Music

Kaizer’s Orchestra: Violeta Violeta Volume III

2013-02-26 humanitysdarkerside Leave a comment

I belong to a huge group of people who enjoy the music by Kaizer’s Orchestra. This is a group that sings in Norwegian using the dialect they speak in Stavanger.

They started out in 2001 with their hit Ompa til du dør and are on their last tour right now. From the inception this has been a group for the fans. The critics have wanted to place them in some kind of category, but these guys have refused to stick to the script set for them by the know-it-alls. Now in 2013 their final Violeta Violeta album has come on the market with songs like Aldri Vodka Violeta.

Well worth a listen.

Humour, Science Fiction, Short story/novella

Anderson, Lorraine J.: Aboard the Quaker City: A Tour Aspace (2011)

2013-02-26 humanitysdarkerside Leave a comment

I am finding myself having quite a bit of fun with Lorraine Anderson’s short stories. Aboard the Quaker City is another addition to my enjoyment.

Aboard the Quaker City is basically about a guy who meets an ex while stuck on a cruise in space. It is completely absurd yet sweet. Anderson manages to compress imperialism and prejudice into 22 pages of unbelievability. Yet this is all stuff that I observe in pople almost every day. Granted, we do not have gills nor do we go on cruises around the galaxy (unless you count the Earth as a space ship), but we really are silly.

Enjoy.

Adventure, Science Fiction

Anderson, Tim: The Flowery War (2012)

2013-02-26 humanitysdarkerside Leave a comment

Cover art Luca Oleastri

The Flowery War by Tim Andersen is an odd novel. Not weird just odd. Yes! I know I am talking about science fiction.

Putting my finger on its oddness is a difficult task. Part of it could be that I get this “old” feeling from it. It is as if it has been written in a different era, yet the copyright page does say 2012. There is this Asimovian or Herbertian feeling about it without the feeling of any copying going on.

I love the protagonist. Unlike a great deal of “heroes” of fiction, Goshan Fenn is this awkward guy who is trying to carve a name for himself rather than live off his mother and grandfather’s fame. Going into the same area (alien contact) kind of complicates that for him, but he is determined to make a go of it. His new boss is the kind who could care less who a person has for parents. Either you do things Mr. Smith’s way or you can expect a ton of trouble.

I love the intelligence that is expected of me as a reader. I tend to be offended when an author seems to equate fantasy/science fiction with dumbing down stuff. I also hate it when authors have to show off just how incredibly smart they are. Tim Anderson treads that line perfectly.

Adventure, Fantasy, Humour

Parkhurst, Bodie: Redeeming Stanley (2009)

2013-02-21 humanitysdarkerside 2 Comments

Cover art by Sherry Wachter

Redeeming Stanley is a treat of a novel. It is lighthearted, raunchy and adventurous. Most of all Redeeming Stanley is well written and thought out.

Meet Weldon Frame, self-diagnosed shrewd businessman, babe magnet, and mail room clerk extraordinaire. Meet Annie, Weldon’s ex-girlfriend, mother of his unexpected child, and recently-identified gold-digging stone-cold bitch. Meet Stan and Babe, Prince of Demons and Whore of Babylon. Meet Angela, born-again Christian with a jones for Stan. Meet Grandma, a ghost who liked the family dog a little too well. Meet the Freak…well, maybe not. Meet the Coppess, a gum-snapping state trooper who has Weldon’s sterling piece of American automotive engineering towed, leaving him afoot and furious in the middle of the Southern California desert night.

Clearly, Payback is in order. The rest is inevitable.

You can tell Redeeming Stanley is meant to be humorous. But there is a serious side to it – kind of. There are plenty of guys out there like Weldon and plenty of gals like Annie. Sometimes accepting responsibility for our choices can be difficult. We can’t do anything about what has gone but our choices for the future can be different from the ones we have gotten into the habit of making. Redeeming Stanley illustrates how difficult that is, but it also shows us that it is doable.

I loved it. There were enough crazy moments in Redeeming Stanley to make me happy for having read it. I left it with a smile on my face.

First-place winner, Best of the Best E-books Award, 2009

Fantasy, Mystery, Romance, Thriller

Bevill, C.L.: Veiled Eyes (Lake People) (2010)

2013-02-21 humanitysdarkerside 2 Comments

Cover art by C.L. Bevill

C.L. Bevill describes Veiled Eyes as a paranormal romance/suspense novel. This time I agree completely with the label.

Veiled Eyes is the first novel in the Lake People series. It is a stand-alone novel.

In Veiled Eyes we get to meet Anna St. Thais hitchhiking her way to her friend in New Orleans. You know the advice not to hitchhike? Well, Anna should have listened.

So, Anna gets kidnapped by a man with sadistic intentions and Anna is desperate to get away. Mr. Bad keeps Anna sedated in his semi. When she starts hearing someone calling her name she figures it is the result of the sedative she has been given.

Since this is a paranormal romance/suspense story, you know Anna is going to live. But her way from her kidnapper to there is a bit more uncertain seeing she ends up with a really closed group that does not like outsiders.

It is in this closed group that Anne meets Mr. Right. Of course, her relationship with Gabriel (mr right) is going to be rocky to begin with. Meeting Mr. Right does not mean that Anna’s mystery is solved/over. Weird things come her way adding to the suspense.

Bevill writes a really good mystery with plenty of crazy and questions that need answering. A good light read.

Adventure, Fantasy, Short story/novella

Bellet, Annie: Winter’s Bite (2011)

2013-02-21 humanitysdarkerside Leave a comment

Cover designed by Greg Jensen (with images from Jabney Hastings and Albion Europe ApS)

Annie Bellet describes Winter’s Bite:

Many years ago, Ysabon made her living by the sword as a skilled mercenary. Now she lives in Westedge with her brother’s children, tending to the animals and afraid of dying old and useless. Then a horrible winter storm drives monsters down from the mountains and Ysabon can save her family and her village only if she finds the strength to take up the sword for a final battle.

Winter’s Bite is a lovely story 25 pages long. I am often amazed at how much an author manages to pack into a short story. Annie Bellet is no exception. I love Ysabon. She is the kind of fierce that I would like to be. Female warriors have always been a favorite of mine especially when they have the courage and love that Ysabon shows.

Adventure, Fantasy, Reading together, Romance, Young Adult

Britain, Kristen: First Rider’s Call (Green Rider) (2003)

2013-02-19 humanitysdarkerside 2 Comments

Behind the Wall by Special-Sari

Deviant Art has tons of fan-art for Kristen Britain. I found this gem depicting Alton’s struggle.

I just finished reading First Rider’s Call out loud to my son. Like Green Rider, First Rider’s Call is audio-friendly. Kristen Britain writes in a manner that makes it a delight to read aloud.

First Rider’s Call begins with the Journal of Hadriax el Fex. My son felt it would be more appropriate for him to save that story until its natural place in the book. It worked out well for him.

Leaving Hadriax el Fex’s journal for later had us starting the tale at chapter two. Karigan gets her call to return to the Green Riders, a call she has been resisting for a year. The manner in which she responds is well-thought out by Ms. Britain. From there on Karigan is thrown into one life-threatening situation after the other. I am so glad I am not Karigan. Along the way she is helped by Lil Ambriodhe – the First Rider. In Green Rider we saw Karigan interacting with ghosts and matters have not changed much in First Rider’s Call.

Blackveil wakes and sends its tendrils of magic into Sacoridia through the breach waking creatures better left sleeping. With this awakening we find the abilities of the Green Riders becoming unreliable. In Captain Mapstone’s case that causes trouble for the whole of the Green Riders. What will they do????

Like Green Rider, First Rider’s Call deals with a lot of loss and grief, but also with hope and friendship. Having to face their fears makes a difference in who various characters become. Realizing how far loved ones will go and deciding how to deal with them leads to difficult choices.

Life is like that. Yet, like many of the characters in First Rider’s Call, all we have to do is dare see ourselves for who we are. We might not be pleased with the result, but it does open up doors to new worlds.

My reviews of books 1 (Green Rider), 2 (First Rider’s Call), 3 (The High King’s Tomb) and 4 (Blackveil)

Animals, Reblogged

Dolphins are victims of Australia’s most environmentally controversial project at Gladstone

Link 2013-02-18 humanitysdarkerside Leave a comment

Flipper is in trouble yet again. Will their rights be able to survive this time? Unlikely, when it is big corporations against environment. Once again it seems corruption is rearing its ugly head. I wonder if humans are genetically unable to plan for long-term consequences.

Craig Hill

Australia’s most environmentally controversial project, the $33 billion expansion of Gladstone port in Queensland, is under investigation after being accused of breaching strict federal government audit conditions on harbour dredging and dumping of spoils in a World Heritage area.

Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke confirmed a review was under way into whether the project had breached its conditions by failing to get an independent assessment of its work.

The Gladstone port expansion has been plagued by controversy since the discovery of widespread fish disease in the harbour in 2011, which has been blamed both on record floods and the impact of dredging.

Allegations of audit failure, raised by environmental group Australians for Animals, came as long-term monitoring of humpback dolphins in Gladstone Harbour showed a population reduction of 40 per cent since dredging began. Researcher Daniele Cagnazzi said he would undertake a new survey in April to establish whether…

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Fiction, History, Humour

Flagg, Fannie: Daisy Fay and the Miracle Man (1992)

2013-02-18 humanitysdarkerside 2 Comments

Cover photo: Corbis

Daisy Fay and the Miracle Man was first published as Coming Attractions in 1981. I just had to add the cover for Coming Attractions because it represents coming of age so perfectly. That is in part what Daisy Fay and the Miracle Man is about – coming of age. Daisy Fay gets a typewriter from her grandmother. For those of you who are too young to understand the concept, this is what a typewriter looks like:

I learned to type on one of these and I imagine Fannie Flagg did too. That was what we had to work with in 1981.

What Fannie Flagg does this time is take us into the life of Daisy Fay. Idyllic is not exactly the word I would use for it. Instead we are shown a resilient girl that grows up in a troubled family. Her way of coping with the realities of her life bring us hilarious and sad situations. She gets into trouble time and again. Sometimes with good cause and sometimes due to the idiocy of the adults around her.

Daisy Fay and the Miracle Man is yet another example of the quality of Fannie Flagg’s writing. I think this is the one that my dad liked the most, probably because of the similarities to his own life. Reading Fannie Flag leaves me with hope for a better future and love for the characters I have just said goodbye to.

Fiction, History, Humour

Flagg, Fannie: Standing in the Rainbow (2002)

2013-02-18 humanitysdarkerside Leave a comment

Cover photo: Corbis.

As a character in this book I can tell you that everything in it really did happen, so I can highly recommend it without any qualms whatsoever. With this quote from Mrs. Tot Whooten we are once again brought into the universe that one of my favorite authors has created for my and your pleasure.

Fannie Flagg has the gift, the gift I tend to on and on about without being able to define exactly what it is. Most of us have probably experienced the Author Gift at least once. You know those times when you are dragged into a piece of writing while struggling to keep yourself IRL at the same time. What a wonderful time to be a Reader.

Me, I love Aunt Dorothy, our radio-host, and source of information about the happenings in Southern Missouri. She is as complex and well-rounded as a written character can be. Finding her own way around her experiences has made her into the loving and straight-forward (Southern style) person that she is. There is something about the Southern style that is appealing even to this Viking-hearted Norwegian.

“The winner!” screamed Ward McIntire and the audience was on its feet applauding. What glory. What a triumph. Five minutes later Bobby ran into the Trolley Car Diner with gum still sticking to his eyelashes and ears, waving his free-pass book in the air, yelling, “JIMMY … I WON … I DIDN’T GET RATTLED. I WON!” But before Jimmy had a chance to congratulate him he had to run out the door, headed for the drugstore to tell his father. When he got home his mother had to use kerosene to get all the gum out of his hair, and he used up all twenty-five passes in less than a week taking everybody to the movies but he didn’t care. He had blown the biggest bubble in the history of the contest, people said. Maybe the biggest in the entire state. From that day on he felt special.

How can you not love characters like that. Tot, Bobby, Aunt Dorothy, the Oatman Family, Hamm, Charlie and Anna Lee are all characters that interact and add to the quality of Standing in the Rainbow. I hope you get as much pleasure out of reading Standing in the Rainbow as I did.