Zylan's Messengers

About the book:
Not your run-of-the-mill sci-fi novel.

Three civilizations separated by billions of years in time and millions of light years in distance, come to life as their disparate histories converge to help the human race survive in 2408, when all of their bad decisions come back to haunt them.

Ecological disasters, resource depletion and pollution have finally overcome technology’s ability to cope, as a last minute technological reprieve is offered from one of the alien races … but with a cost.

Zylan’s Messengers reveals how one alien race was the proximate cause of the most destructive event in recorded human history; one that has never been fully explained, and how it forever altered the course of human development.

Zylan’s Messengers is a story of the human condition, and humanity’s unique ability in the animal kingdom to make conscious choices that were bad for their own survival as a species.

Review:
I received a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

After trying a couple of "space" books and finding them fascinating, I jumped at the chance to read Sid Goodman's book, Zylan's Messengers. I was also interested to see how he would describe the various alien species and how the people of Earth would react.

Goodman takes readers billions of years into the past and thousands of years into the future. Trying to grasp this enormous span of time had me feeling small and insignificant. Hundreds and thousands of years are skipped at a time to propel the storyline. One character is alive more than 100,000 years before the Earth characters come into the storyline. If that doesn't make you seem small and insignificant, I don't know what would. 

Because of the vast timespan and the distance between the characters, the story is told through multiple points of view. Readers begin with the Zylan, Aaldn, then we get to see the story through Tydon from Pracma, then finally Jason of Earth.

I love the depiction of the various alien races. Although all are humanoid, each race has its own distinction about it. The Zylans are extremely different from humans. I love how their emotions are projected. The Pracmas are closer in appearance to humans than the Zylans are, but have the forehead dimple that the Zylans have too. I only wished the messengers would have picked up a few more alien races in the galaxy. It would have been interesting to see more aliens come out of Gooman's imagination!

By the end of the book, readers will be frustrated with how lazy and selfish the human race is. When conflict arises between the people of Earth and Pracma, you might just be pulling for the Pracmas to win. I know I was. Sadly, I could easily see this being a possible future--if humans were ever put in that situation with a peaceful alien race. The solution to Pracma's water dilemma was brilliant. I should have seen that coming!

After finishing the story, I noticed that the alien races never actually "meet". They easily communicated, and could see each other in their dream spaces, but they weren't ever in the same physical location. Yet, the bonds created between them were strong--thousands of years communicating can form that kind of bond. The ending resolves this situation, sort of, and lets you feel good about leaving the characters behind.

The big takeaway I received from this story is that the human life is over in a blink of an eye. Our decisions have major consequences down the line into our future. Don't be selfish. Put your own comforts aside for the benefit of others.

I'd recommend this book to older teens and adults. There is some mature content with murder, and a sex scene that's done tastefully. The mix of science and fantasy along with drama and just a smidge of romance creates an interesting story that both males and females can enjoy.

About author Sid Goodman:

Born in Cleveland, Ohio and graduated with a BS in Accounting from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.  Became a CPA and converted to being an entrepreneur where I was awarded numerous patents and founded several companies.  Moved to San Diego, CA in 1986.  I am divorced with three great children and four great grandchildren.  In 2007 I moved to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico where I now live with my new husband (get it?).

This is my first novel. I’ve always been creative and have been fascinated with science ever since an early age.  I read about the Tunguska Event a few decades ago and was fascinated by it.  I began to write Zylan’s Messengers late in 2011,  When a similar but much smaller explosion occurred in Russia in 2013, the comparison to Tunguska was stark.  The 2013 incident left a trail of debris sixty miles long.  There has never been a speck of debris found from the Tunguska Event.  I felt compelled to incorporate that into the novel making it all the more relevant.

I am an activist for the conservation of Earth’s resources.  They are finite and we are in trouble. 

 

It began as a short story and then became a screenplay.  My hope was to get the movie made. Relatives in the movie industry told me that the only way to get recognition was to write the novel. Two years and 85,000 words later it was born.

Find Sid:   Website   Twitter   Facebook

Earthman Jack vs. The Ghost Planet (The Earthman Jack Space Saga #1)

About the book (from Goodreads):
Jack Finnegan only has to worry about dealing with school bullies, suffering through detention with his homeroom teacher, and getting noticed by the girl of his dreams... at least until an army of evil aliens invade Earth. Suddenly, this teenage slacker finds himself at the center of a galaxy-spanning conflict - where the lives of everyone on the planet are in jeopardy, soldiers use Quantum Physics to become superheroes, and the enemy uses some mysterious form of magic to make themselves practically unstoppable.

The secret to ending the conflict and saving the universe may lie in a powerful ancient spaceship, which it seems can only be flown by Earthmen. Now, Jack and a rag-tag group of allies must overcome impossible odds, defeat an unkillable enemy, rescue the princess of the galaxy, and save the universe from a threat more terrifying than any it has ever faced.

Can this underachiever rise to the occasion and become the hero Earth needs? The fate of all life in the galaxy may rest in his hands.

Review:
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I'll be honest, after reading the blurb, I was interested in the story, but reading the author bio, I knew I had to read this book (see bio below).  I mean, if you're that creative in you bio, then I know you should have loads of goodies in your book. In Earthman Jack vs the Ghost Planet, author Mathew Kadish didn't disappoint. It is an original story and is edited very well.

The story is told through multiple points of views. Thank goodness because many characters are split up from each other. They must overcome their own obstacles then meet back up as a group. I loved the multiple points of views-- especially the deathlord supreme's. The multiple points of views add depth to Kadish's story and really move the plot along.

The plot is well thought out. It is loaded with impossible situations that characters must overcome. As you read, you are constantly wondering how Kadish will allow his characters to escape. Many of his solutions are imaginative. They are not obvious solutions. (I mean, is there an obvious solution to escaping an alien death pit with no doors?) It is interesting to read.

The story reminds me of Men in Black meets Star Wars, but a different plot of course.  There's no "force" and there isn't much space fighting (although there is some space fighting). A lot of the story takes place on Earth, on the deathlord mothership or Ghost Planet.

This is basically a space opera, so it has lots of melodramatic adventure, while travelling (or jumping) through space. There are a lot of elements, so make sure you have plenty of time to sit down and read. The chapters are long, and it's about 564 pages. I thought I could read it in a few days, but it took me much longer than anticipated. It's worth the time, but just be prepared.

This is the first book in a series, so although this main story is resolved, there are still elements left unfinished. I think Kadish is holding Earth hostage. We have to read the rest of the series to get our planet back!

Wise advice in Earthman Jack (quotes from the book):
Kadish gives readers (and his character's) useful advice. Here are some that are noteworthy...

"Family is what you make of it. You don't have to be related to people for them to be family. They just need to love you, and you just need to love them back. It's that simple."

"There are people out there that believe life is just something that happens to them. That they have no control over the events and circumstances they find themselves in. But the truth is, we are the ones who shape the lives we live. We are the ones that allow good things and bad things happen to us. By taking responsibility for our actions, we are able to make our lives better. When we play the victim, we allow out lives to be miserable. If you can take responsibility for yourself, decide to make your life better - and take action to that effect - then you are the master of your own destiny. And when that happens, you are capable of great things."

"...Live life in fear, running away- or live fighting for something greater than self."

About author Matthew Kadish:
Matthew Kadish is an independent author and world-recognized evil genius. When he isn't writing or being evil, he enjoys relaxing at the beach and videos of puppies. Much like Scottish cuisine, most of his literary works have been based on dares. He currently lives in Las Vegas and always bets on black, because Westley Snipes has yet to steer him wrong in life. He is the most talented author ever. His mother tells him so every day.

Find Matthew  Website   Twitter  Facebook

Invisible Sun

By David Macinnis Gill

About Invisible Sun (from Goodreads):
Obsessed with MUSE, the clandestine project that created the AI in his brain, mercenary chief Durango draws the ire of the government when he steals part of the secret project data and hightails it with his lieutenant, Vienne, to an ancient monastery. There, he meets the monks who raised Vienne from an orphan and also encounters soldiers working for his old nemesis, the crime lord Mr. Lyme. Lyme controls the territory surrounding the monastery, as well as the datacenters housing the rest of MUSE. 

Undeterred, Durango and Vienne pull off an ill-advised raid on Lyme’s complex. During the ensuing battle, however, Vienne is captured, and Durango is beaten and left for dead. Now, wounded and shaken, Durango must overcome bounty hunters, treacherous terrain, a full scale civil war, and a warrior monk with an eye for vengeance (not to mention his own guilt, self-doubt, and broken arm) to find Vienne and free her from Archibald, a brain-washing pyromaniac with a Napoleon complex who wants to rule Mars--and kill Durango in the process.

Review:
Invisible Sun is the sequel to David Macinnis Gill's Black Hole Sun.  Although Black Hole Sun was an enjoyable story, (you can read my original review here) I enjoyed Invisible Sun even more.

The story picks up shortly after Black Hole Sun left off.  Durango and Vienne are on the run from everyone because there's a bounty on their heads.  To hide, the duo goes to Vienne's childhood home  at an ancient monastery.  There Gill introduces us to the monks who raised Vienne who was orphaned.  But where these two go, trouble is never far behind. Soldiers who work for Durango’s old foe, Mr. Lyme, attack and the duo fight them off. Then they try to raid Lyme’s outpost to steal information, but Vienne gets captured, tortured and brainwashed to be a killing machine. Meanwhile Durango is beaten and left for dead. This sets the rest of the story up for Durango, along with the help of some of Vienne's monk family, to rescue her. The result is a fast-paced, edge of your seat thrill ride that mixed action, humor, sorrow, and a hint of romance.

As in Gill's previous book, Invisible Sun also incorporates a mix of foreign jargon and phrases. However, it seemed as if there were fewer phrases, and some of the meanings were more self-evident. Gill also translates the meaning of at least one phrase for readers--thank goodness for supporting characters asking!

This story is a must read for both girls and guys, and will have readers wanting another installment of Durango's story. Gill has definitely wins readers over with his writing style that grips readers and makes the book difficult to put down. If you are interested in trying the sci-fi genre for the first time, I highly recommend Gill's books to help whet your appetite. I generally don't read books set in space--or in this case, Mars--but Gill has made me a fan!

About author David Macinnis Gill:

David Macinnis Gill is the author of the award-winning novels Black Hole Sun and Soul Enchilada, both from Greenwillow/Harper Collins. His short stories have appeared in several magazines, including The Crescent Review and Writer’s Forum. His critical biography of young adult author Graham Salisbury, Graham Salisbury: Island Boy, was published by Scarecrow Press. He holds a bachelor’s degree in English/creative writing and a doctorate in education, both from the University of Tennessee.

He is the Past-President of ALAN (The Assembly on Literature for Adolescents) and an Associate Professor at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. His non-fiction, book reviews, essays, and academic work have appeared in a variety of publications, including The English Journal, Teacher-Librarian, and many others.

David’s teaching career began in Chattanooga, Tennessee, where he was a high school teacher at Brainerd High School and briefly at the Chattanooga School for the Arts and Sciences. He later joined the English Department at Ohio University as an assistant professor. Currently, he is an associate professor of English education at the University of North Carolina Wilmington.

David has been a house painter, cafeteria manager, bookstore schleper, high school teacher, and college professor. He now lives on the Carolina coast with his family, plus fourteen fish, two rescued dogs--an airebeagle and a border setter--and a nocturnal marsupial. 

Across the Universe

By Beth Revis

About Across the Universe (from Goodreads):
A love out of time. A spaceship built of secrets and murder. 

Seventeen-year-old Amy joins her parents as frozen cargo aboard the vast spaceship Godspeed and expects to awaken on a new planet, three hundred years in the future. Never could she have known that her frozen slumber would come to an end fifty years too soon and that she would be thrust into the brave new world of a spaceship that lives by its own rules.

Amy quickly realizes that her awakening was no mere computer malfunction. Someone-one of the few thousand inhabitants of the spaceship-tried to kill her. And if Amy doesn't do something soon, her parents will be next.

Now Amy must race to unlock Godspeed's hidden secrets. But out of her list of murder suspects, there's only one who matters: Elder, the future leader of the ship and the love she could never have seen coming.

Review:
Covers of books can quickly attract—or deter—readers to an author’s work. Across the Universe has an amazing cover that readers will gravitate toward.  And lucky for readers, Beth Revis backs up the beautiful cover with a brilliant story that will have readers glad they gave the book a chance.

In order to travel and awaken on a new planet 300+ years in the future, Amy Martin is frozen along with her parents, and loaded on the spaceship Godspeed. However, she is prematurely awakened decades before the ship is scheduled to land.  Now she and future ship leader, Elder, must figure out who “unplugged” her, and who keeps unplugging and killing other frozens before more end up dying. Together they will discover the many secrets the ship holds and make tough decisions that will affect their lives and the lives of everyone on board Godspeed.

Since the story is set on board a spaceship, the book made me very appreciative of the world around me. People on board Godspeed never experience the little things such as open blue skies, rain, stars, or a summer breeze.  As Amy realizes what she misses while trapped on the ship, readers can become thankful of the world around them.

Revis’ stream of consciousness style of writing takes a bit to get used to, but helps readers to better connect with Amy and Elder.  Readers fully understand what the duo feels and the reasoning behind most of their actions. You can feel their frustration at being lied to and the weight of their decisions to do the right thing. The style of prose fully complements the story and genre.

Revis does a good job giving readers the whole picture. Eldest tries to do what is best for the ship and its people—even if it means deceiving them.  Readers can see that Eldest’s intent is not evil, but only to maintain order.  But as they say, the road to hell is paved with good intentions.

The story is a pleasant mix of plot twists and turns that keep readers on the edge of their seats.  With a setting built on lies, finding out what’s real and what’s not is part of the excitement.  Advanced readers might be able to guess who the real killer is, but Revis carefully crafts her story to hide that identity until everything comes to a head.

I am eager to pick up the second book, A Million Suns, to find out how Elder and Amy handle the fallout from this book, and what happens when the people of Godspeed discover the many lies they dealt with.

Readers who enjoy a serious toned story with a good mystery and hint of romance should give Across the Universe a chance.  After all, a cover like that deserves to be given a chance!

Want to know more? Check out the book trailer: