Masterpieces edited by Orson Scott Card

This is a collection of works by well known science fiction writers.   They are all short stories. Apparently, Card, if he made the collection, wanted to focus on darkness instead of light.   Too many of the stories dealt with a lack of hope.   The search for intelligent life that was unsuccessful.  The frustration of looking for home.  Frankly I’ve found scifi more hopeful than these stories illustrated.  The one light side was the aggressive invasion of our planet by beings that found themselves grossly out classed in aggression.

The stories were interesting but I prefer more hope in my scifi.

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

Dragon Storm (Heritage of Power Book 1) by Lindsay Buroker

Buroker is impressively prolific!  I have not read a single one of her books that I didn’t enjoy.  This book was no exception.   Young pilot meets young warrior scholar or scholar warrior and sparks well spark.   They are part of a B team sent to recover magic hating swords created by magic to battle predatory dragons.

Buroker does character interplay very well.  She shows the emotions and allows the reader to experience them.   She explores prejudice and acceptance, class clashes and loyalty.   Her inanimate objects have plenty of personality.

I really enjoyed the book and look forward to the rest of the series. 

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

The Edge of Elsewhere by Sam Stea

This book is quite timely as it is a message of hope and in 2020 we sure could use some hope.   The three protagonists, Abbey, Paul and Max are living in a dystopian future that bleak barely describes.   They uncover Albert Einstein’s journal and Paul is able to decipher a secret that will change their lives.

The sadly realistic projection of our future is off set by the message of hope.  Music is powerful and those of us who are lucky to be carried to a different time and place when we hear music from our past are blessed.  The feeling of recapturing a moment that is triggered by a tune is powerful.   The hopeful music of the hippie era should not be forgotten particularly if we are faced by a future of wild fires, racial tension, pandemics and fear.   We, as a society, need to feel there is hope!  Hope for a better future, a vaccine, an understanding between diverse groups, hope, we need hope.  This book provides hope.

The author did a great job including historic figures without losing authenticity.

I enjoyed the book and it does give me hope!

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

Hawksbill Station by Robert Silverberg

The United States is rocked by a revolution.  The revolutionaries become the establishment and so it goes on.   This is story of counter-revolutionaries and their isolation at Hawksbill Station, in the remote past.   Remote being prior to any life but rudimentary sea life.

The story follows Barrett from his teen years to and through his incarceration at Hawksbill Station.

The story was not fast paced nor would I think it would rank high in the ranks of Silverberg works.   It plodded.

Sadly too much of the totalitarian aspects of the book smack of current Portland Oregon. 

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

In the Stormy Red Sky by David Drake

Drake can be somewhat annoying with the ease that he sucks you into his series.   This is another Daniel Leary RCN book.  Daniel is accompanied on his adventures by Adele Mundy, Hogg and Torvera as recurring and while not lovable

characters, certainly memorable.

The entire series is predictable.  Leary gets into trouble, the Republic of Cinabar gets into trouble and against insurmountable odds, Leary gets the job done.  

Regardless of being predicable, I love these books and consistently are impressed by Drakes ability to highlight camaraderie, honor and loyalty.

RCN Forever!!

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

The Dragon Hour by Connie Flynn

Luke is drawn into an unwanted adventure when his cousin Kevin is pulled into a supposed harmless robbery.   The adventure takes them out of NYC and puts them in an unexpected time and place.

Lochlorriane is a Scottish town of the 1600s.   It has been pulled into some type of alternate universe along with a predatory dragon.  Luke, Kevin and some thugs find themselves joining this bubble universe much to their dismay. 

Luke and Kevin meet the loves of their lives and yet need to return home.   Caryn, meets her hero but finds he isn’t what she expected.

This is an entertaining book that I recommend. 

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