Required Reading

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Saturday, January 26, 2019

Spotlight on NEO-G BY K.B. Wagers

HARPER VOYAGER U.S. and AUTHOR K.B. WAGERS
JOIN FORCES TO LAUNCH NEO-G,
AN ORIGINAL “SOLAR GUARD” MILITARY SFF SERIES
 
New York, NY (January 24, 2019) – Harper Voyager is proud to announce a unique science fiction publication featuring a military force that patrols and protects space, that is inspired by the real-life terrestrial ideas and missions of the Coast Guard. Called NEO-G, the idea originated in the Harper Voyager offices as a conversation between Editorial Director David Pomerico and his then-colleague, Kelly O’Connor, and was developed in collaboration with author K.B. Wagers, known for her critically-acclaimed Indranan space opera series. 

Pomerico knew Wagers had the voice and talent to develop a world in which Earth’s military expanded beyond its atmosphere, and together they conceived the Near-Earth Orbital Guard, or Neo-G.  The book centers on the rivalry between military branches, which plays out through the Boarding Games—a competition pitting service members against each other to see just who is best in events like tactical problem is solving, piloting, fencing and martial arts, and, of course, boarding actions. And while other military science fiction features the exploration and defense of far-flung reaches of space, the Neo-G protects the area closer to home—a force we could very well see in our own lifetime. Made up of a band of retired veterans and raw recruits with sub-par equipment and the scorn of the military establishment, the NEO-G are the ultimate underdogs.

Said Pomerico: “While there has been near-Earth military science fiction, no one has focused on a unit that functions like the Coast Guard.  We knew that this was something we wanted to read about. So, we approached Ms. Wagers to partner with us on creating a publishing plan to make the world of NEO-G a fictional ‘reality’ and explore space in a way that hasn’t been done before.

“Swords might be involved.”

Said Wagers: “When David approached me with the idea, I was very intrigued. Military science fiction stories often are grand adventures about alien invasions and fate of humanity and all that. However, the scope for this is so—amusingly—down to earth. The NEO-G books are going to be a departure from the grimdark futures and instead focusing on a moment in time when humanity is at its best. This will be accessible science fiction with interesting characters and exciting action. Plus, we’re going to have all the things I know I love reading about: found family, snarky siblings, explosions, and triumphant celebrations.”

“We are proud that Ms. Wagers agreed to develop NEO-G: our visions for the direction of the books are perfectly aligned; her creativity will bring life beyond our atmosphere, with characters and adventures you’re going to connect with immediately,” said Pomerico.

The first book in the NEO-G series comes out in hardcover in Spring 2020 from Harper Voyager, starting with A PALE LIGHT IN THE BLACK.  There are currently two books planned in the series, with the option to continue.

ABOUT K.B. WAGERS
K.B. Wagers is the author of the Indranan War trilogy as well as There Before the Chaos, the start of the Farian War trilogy with Orbit Books. They hold a bachelor's degree in Russian Studies and a second-degree blackbelt in Shaolin Kung Fu. A native of Colorado, K.B. lives at the base of the Rocky Mountains with their partner and a crew of recalcitrant cats. In between books, they can be found attempting to learn Spanish, dying in video games, dancing to music, and scribbling new ideas in their bullet journal.  They are represented by Andrew Zack of The Zack Company.

ABOUT HARPERCOLLINS PUBLISHERS
HarperCollins Publishers is the second largest consumer book publisher in the world, with operations in 18 countries. With two hundred years of history and more than 120 branded imprints around the world, HarperCollins publishes approximately 10,000 new books every year in 17 languages, and has a print and digital catalog of more than 200,000 titles. Writing across dozens of genres, HarperCollins authors include winners of the Nobel Prize, the Pulitzer Prize, the National Book Award, the Newbery and Caldecott Medals and the Man Booker Prize. HarperCollins, headquartered in New York, is a subsidiary of News Corp and can be visited online at corporate.HC.com.

Friday, January 18, 2019

Spotlight on O'Brian Gunn's Furies Thus Spoke




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O’Brian Gunn assembles a new generation of complex, misfits champions in a diverse, dynamic superhero story for the 21st Century.

The heralds of the new age are here...in all their furious glory!

Alpha-Omegas: Humans blessed/cursed with abnormal abilities that manifest in anyone at any time.

A scientist discovers an unexplained force emitting from his hands.

A disturbed woman's personality and sanity split between an actual angel and a demon.

A vigilante copies Alpha-Omega abilities by injecting stolen blood.

A socialite wakes up...dead...in the arms of a necrophile.

A parole officer burns with platinum flames and becomes the Sovereign of God.

A detective finds himself unable to protect his city against superpowered criminals.

They didn't ask to be part of the world of Alpha-Omegas. They only wanted to live normal lives. But there’s no arguing with biology.

When a celebrity family of Alpha-Omegas is murdered under suspicious circumstances, all six become accidental heroes when they’re tasked with uncovering the truth—but what if the truth is being redefined along with what it means to be human?

Meet your (reluctant) champions…   

ISBN978-0-9997862-5-3  | Price: $14.95 (6 x 9 paperback) $2.99 (Kindle ebook) | Release date: 3/19/19 | Fiction |
370 pages | Cover Art available | Distribution: Ingram

Publicity Contact: Nate Ragolia / Publisher nate@readspaceboy.com

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A world weaver and word wrangler, O'Brian Gunn was born and raised in Alabama and now lives in Denver where he writes about geek culture for Westword, Pop Culture Classroom and NerdTeam30. His writing sirens often lull him to the expansive shores of the speculative, the supernatural, and the superhuman. While he’s had short stories published on Fiction on the Web and The Society of Misfit Stories, FURIES: Thus Spoke is his first published novel...and hopefully not his last. You can find him on Twitter at @OBrianGunn. 

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

Friday, January 11, 2019

The Human Edge by Gordon R. Dickson



I’m not normally interested in short stories but for Dickson, I will make an exception.

The stories have an overall theme of humankind’s ferocity and superiority.   They were entertaining and it is refreshing to see the optimism that surrounded earlier Scifi.

I enjoyed it 

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

Sunday, January 6, 2019

Silence Fallen By Patricia Briggs.


Once again Briggs captivated me.  Mercy is once again a perceived victim. I say perceived as she often is seen as a victim and the predators often find they bit off far more than they expected.   A vampire erroneously kidnaps Mercy and finds what it is like to stick your hand into a wasp nest.  

Mercy is a nearly ordinary person if you ignore her shape shifting and ability to talk to ghosts.  Compared to the more powerful beings she is in constantly falling afoul, Mercy is weak however….   Strength isn’t always strength of arms or teeth.

A misunderstanding may lead to a devastating war.  Adam must accept some strange allies in his quest to find his love.   Larry adds a very amusing counterpoint to the tension.

Once again Mercy shows that violence and mayhem may be trumped by thoughtfulness and relationships with others.

Again, I enjoyed her writing and recommend the book.

  
This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

Wednesday, January 2, 2019

Winds of Marque by Bennett R. Coles











This is a strange mix of technology and antiquated terminology.   The mode of transportation is interstellar but cutlasses and four shot pistols appear to be the hand weapons of choice.  The overall feel is Horatio Hornblower meets Hans Solo. 

This was an entertaining book regardless of the mixed messages sent by language and technology.   Liam is an accomplished XO who is wondering why he isn’t yet a captain.   Saddled with aristocratic officers, himself a minor noble, Liam chafes at their incompetence.  


Tasked with a secret mission and a new captain, Liam and crew become privateers.
Fun read.


This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.