Books for Christmas

Since the Holiday Season is upon us again, I thought I'd make a list and recommend some books for possible gifting. So here's my Holiday Gift Guide for Book Lovers.

First up are two charity anthologies (disclaimer: this is a bit of self-promotion since I do have stories in these anthologies, but they're great books and worthy causes):

Christmas Lites III
Stories of the season, with strange and unusual twists.
Within these pages is a way you can help many people desperately in need of love, support, and goodness: the victims of domestic crime. By purchasing this anthology, you are sending every last dime made off this book to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. The NCADV is an amazing charity that saves these people and lets them know there is still hope, still goodness, and still a reason to carry on.
Twenty-one authors have joined in this year, giving their time and their stories to these people – and to you. We all hope you enjoy our holiday tales captured in bite-size pieces.

COFFIN HOP: DEATH BY DRIVE-IN
The first collection of stories from the ranks of the annual Coffin Hop online horror extravaganza. Brains from Space! Robot Squids Gone Wild! Radioactive Microwave Men! Monster Mash Massacres! Crotch Tentacles! Werewolf lovin’! Vengeful Gods! Hot-Rod Hauntings! Alaskan Apocalypse! Vampire Seduction! Man-eating Toilet! Robot Lincoln & Zombie Jackson! Featuring interior art by the legendary Nik Seizure and an introduction by B-Movie expert and cult classic Stink of Flesh director Scott S. Phillips!
Get your popcorn ready and dim those headlights.
The Dusk ‘til Dawn is about to begin, and it’s gonna be killer, baby!
All profits from the anthology will be donated to LitWorld.org, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization supporting child literacy and social improvement the world over.


Okay, the good folks at Xchyler Publishing have a nice variety of books for the sci-fi, YA and fantasy fan. Here's a list of some of their latest:

A Midsummer Night's Steampunk by Scott E. Tarbet:
Pauline Spiegel, a master artificer like her mother before her, wants just one thing: to wed the love of her life, Alexander MacIntyre, a lowly undersecretary of the Royal Household. However, a long-term pact between her parents, and a noble House, stands between her and her happily ever after. When a priceless mechanoid of unfathomable power is stolen, Pauline finds herself entangled in skullduggery and international intrigue, upon which the fate of nations rest. Only with the help of her friends, and a brilliant scientist with a swarm of micromechanical insects, can Pauline survive the dark forces determined to destroy her. But will her betrothed and his rag-tag band of semi-mechanical soldiers reveal Alexander’s secrets as well?
Immerse yourself in this Steampunk retelling of Shakespeare’s classic, replete with the newfound wizardry of alternative Victorian technology, mistaken identities, love triangles, and deadly peril, set against the backdrop of a world bracing itself for war, and Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee

Mr. Gunn and Dr. Bohemia by Pete Ford:
Victorian London . . . but not one in any history book. In an alternate 1858, England has entered a golden age of technology, of steam and electricity. Airships fill the skies, mechanical computers command the trains and trams, and a country-wide communication network reaches into every home and office.
Newspaperman Cornelius Gunn investigates a series of thefts across London. Someone is stealing inventions and designs—for what purpose, Gunn can’t even guess.

While attempting to identify the criminals, he and his feisty wife, Sophie, meet the enigmatic Dr. Bohemia. Before they know it, they're on the trail of a conspiracy, and swept into an adventure that carries them to Paris and back, and a fight against a mysterious and powerful enemy. The stakes are high. If they fail, all of Europe will be plunged into war.


Shades and Shadows:
In the dead of night, you sense something other beyond your sight, out there in the darkness. You feel a breath upon your neck, cold and clammy, fecund with mold and decay. Your hair stands on end from no random chill. The air is still. No one is there.
Travel with nine talented writers into their paranormal world, but don’t disregard that inkling that niggles somewhere in the pit of your stomach to leave the light on, to shun that dark room, and to pull the covers over your head.
Whatever you do, don't look under the bed.


A Dash of Madness:
One man’s crazy is another man’s norm.
Inside, eight bizarre stories explore twisted perceptions and challenge conceptions about right and wrong. With a fascinating dive into several unstable minds, the authors examine different avenues for exposing warped cognition and mutilated logic. Each delivers a disquieting glimpse of reality.

Now for some books recommended at random:

Grave Situation by Alex MacLean:
Halifax cop Allan Stanton is a troubled homicide detective who has lost everything, including his family and his sense of justice. When he finally decides to leave the force and start over, he's assigned a string of murders that all bear the signs of a serial killer collecting trophies. As Stanton unravels each grisly crime scene, the mounting evidence points uncomfortably close to him, forcing him to confront a past he'd rather forget--and a dangerous future when the killer targets Stanton himself.

And the sequel to Grave Situation, One Kill Away, will be out soon.



The Chosen Chronicles by Karen Dales:
This excellent vampire series includes the award winning books, Changeling, Angel of Death, and Shadow of Death.

The Seacrest by Aaron Paul Lazar:
They say it’s better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.
Finn McGraw disagrees.
He was just seventeen when he had a torrid summer affair with the girl who stole his heart—and then inexplicably turned on him. Finn may have moved on with his life, but he’s never forgotten her.
Now, ten years later, he’s got more than his lost love to worry about. A horrific accident turns his life upside down, resurrecting the ghosts of his long-dead family and taking the lives of the few people he has left.
Finn always believed his estranged brother was responsible for the fire that killed their family—but an unexpected inheritance with a mystery attached throws everything he knows into doubt.
And on top of that, the beguiling daughter of his wealthy employer has secrets of her own. But the closer he gets, the harder she pushes him away.
The Seacrest is a story of intrigue and betrayal, of secrets and second chances—and above all, of a love that never dies.

Five Classic Sci-Fi Novels Worth Rediscovering

We have a guest today, writer Aniya Wells, who stops by with some recomendations for scifi reading:

5 Sci-Fi Classics Worth Rediscovering

Though my reading has been concentrated in other genres lately, science fiction was truly my first love, and I retain the same affection for it today that I had when I was a teenager. I made my way through most of the attested classics of the medium, hungrily poring through lists of the most critically adored novels, and this process set me on a journey of mind expansion that taught me how to think, how to question, and how to wonder. Here are my five personal favorites within the speculative canon:

1. Ubik by Philip K. Dick

Naturally, I could as easily have chosen any number of other Dick masterworks. A Scanner Darkly and Flow My Tears, the Policeman Said are not far behind. And The Man in the High Castle may be an even better book, but I feel its alternate-history framework doesn’t fit as comfortably into the quintessential ‘sci-fi’ rubric. Ubik, on the other hand, best embodies all the queasy, paranoid, wildly imaginative glory of Dick while setting out from a recognizable sci-fi starting point. A mind-boggling and unsettling dissection of the unreality of reality, like all the master’s best, soaked with the particular kind of existential fear and sadness that made him more than a cerebral trickster.

2. The Demolished Man by Alfred Bester

Again, I like this one about equally with The Stars My Destination, but The Demolished Man wins the tiebreaker with its virtuoso mystery ending. This tale of telepathy, conspiracy, and murder in an apparently crime-free society must have been dog-eared by Dick back in the 50s; it contains many of the seeds of the work discussed above.

3. Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson

The hype is all true. This one is simply the most fun book I’ve ever read. Stephenson employs a postmodern kitchen-sink approach, throwing in enough good, funny, crazy ideas for 10 sci-fi novels and somehow making it all work. Hiro Protagonist, hacker and pizza boy for the Mafia in a Balkanized America of corporate city-states, meets...oh, you’re just going to have to read it (or re-read it) yourself.

4. A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess

One of the most formally perfect novels ever written (minus the controversial and, in my opinion, regrettable final chapter). Many are scared off from reading this by the narrator’s use of an invented slang called Nadsat, but it’s all part of the total aesthetic package of the book and is music to my ears, as much as Alex’s beloved Ludwig Van is to his.

5. To Your Scattered Bodies Go by Philip Jose Farmer

Unlike many sci-fi fans, I don’t go in much for series: I want a different thing every time and am always suspicious of the motivations behind stretching out a “franchise.” The point being, I haven’t read the rest of the Riverworld series but I hear they’re good. This first one certainly was. It portrays a strange kind of afterlife on another planet where people from different times on Earth wake up and try to figure out what is going on. Peculiar and intriguing...perhaps I ought to read the rest after all.

Aniya Wells is a freelance writer and blogger. In an age in which consumers have access to unprecedented amounts of information, Aniya hopes to help her readers decode this information to make better decisions about personal finance, parenting, health, and more. She can be reached at aniyawells@gmail.com.

Of Farce and Fantasy: A Review of Magnus Opum

My Book Review of Magnus Opum by Jonathan Gould:

Magnus Opum by Jonathan Gould is whimsical fantasy novel, that trips along the path fantastic. It takes a quiet approach to its storytelling, but also regales the reader with a frothy sprinkling of satire and wit.

The book begins with an unlikely hero, Magnus Mandalora, an unassuming character from Lower Kertoob. An unexpected event turns his life askew and sends him off into the world. He embarks on a spy mission of sorts, finds friends and unlikely allies, and uncovers enemies, danger and escapades galore.

The narrative style follows the traditional epic quest, but folds in an absurdist quality, balancing the plot on a decidedly quirky edge. The characters are both amusing and appealing, and carry the reader blithely along on the adventure. On the surface the story portrays itself as a conventional, if fanciful, fantasy, with a touch of light farce, but by its end has flipped a few fantasy traditions on their head.

I enjoyed reading this book very much with its clever turn of phrase and endearing characters. It never renders too much idiosyncrasy, or becomes overburdened with cuteness. It strikes a perfect balance of odd and sincere and I give it an enthusiastic recommend.


The book is available from Amazon Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/Magnus-Opum-ebook/dp/B007QGNO1I

Adventures in Sci-fi: A Review of The Immune

My Book Review of The Immune by Doc Lucky Meisenheimer:

The Immune by Doc Lucky Meisenheimer is a vastly entertaining book, a cross between a political sci-fi thriller and a pulp fiction adventure novel. It’s a stylish, clever novel that delivers a fast-paced, rousing story, and deftly rides the fine line between camp and satire without falling flat on its face.

The book tells the tale of a world in crisis, where genetically-altered creatures, the airwars, have spread across the earth, attacking and killing humans. This crisis changes the political landscape, creating a central government that controls all. The only hope may rest with the “immunes” -who are not affected by the stings of the airwars- and their leader, John Long.

The Immune was a nice surprise, a book that takes a unique premise and some traditional science fiction ideas and melds them together with the trappings of a political thriller into a wonderful novel. It presents a reliable, intricate plot with appealing characters, and dispenses a nice exciting page-turner. There are a few touches where the plot details veer towards the overblown, but it always stops short of outlandish.

The book starts out on a rapid step, reels the reader in, and it keeps that speedy pace going for the most part. It did lag a touch in the middle, getting a bit bogged down in the explanatory where I think it could have used a touch of action, but it picks up again quickly to a brisk pace towards the finish. The plot took a turn here, where I thought the book was headed for inevitable cliché, but the story zagged, then zigged and then zagged again, until it swirled to a suspenseful, satisfying conclusion.

The Immune is a fun, exciting, and cheeky sci-fi thriller that maintains an old-fashioned action sensibility.

Sharp, Clever Science Fiction: A Review of Ebocloud

My Book Review of Ebocloud by Rick Moss:

I’m not certain whether Ebocloud is science fiction, social commentary, a literary novel or a wonderful amalgamation of all. Some of my favourite things are in the book: art, jazz, subversive, satirical and philosophical thought on science, science fiction and family. Throw in a little society altering technology, a mysterious arsonist and you have a superbly fascinating novel.

The book begins with Ellison Luber, a successful artist and his girlfriend, Charlotte. His life changes radically after an unexplained fire destroys his home and Charlotte goes missing. In his search for answers he finds Charlotte’s secretive family, the enigmatic Radu, (the genius behind the social network revolution, ebocloud), and more questions. Slowly the threads of the mystery unravel and threaten to topple everything.

The author of Ebocloud, Rick Moss, has built multiple layers and delights with each turn of the page, and immerses the reader in world both cerebral and gripping. The characters and the underlying narrative of collective techno-culture are the best parts of this novel, but the style, told with an innovative and juxtaposed form, lends the book an intelligent tone. This author uses several plot devices, including imparting the story of a fictional sci-fi novel, to deftly propel the tale to its conclusion.

There was some minor discontent, as I sometimes found the “novel within the novel” slightly less interesting than the main plotline -although it made an intriguing contrast and parallel- and I’m not certain I agreed with the well-written ending. But on the whole I loved the book and highly recommend it.

For more on the book and author check out my spotlight: http://afstewartpromotion.blogspot.com/2011/01/book-spotlight-ebocloud.html

Take An Emotional Journey: A Review of Restored Hope

My review of the book, Restored Hope by Brenda Youngerman:

Restored Hope by Brenda Youngerman is engrossing, charming and a strong novel about family, heartbreak and emotional repercussions. It is unabashedly sentimental, dramatic and it tugs at your heartstrings, skilfully entwining the reader into the prose.

The book is Samantha’s story, a girl who seems to have the perfect family. It becomes obvious after a terrible tragedy she does not. She suffers loss, and from a lack of trust all her life, until she meets Tim and becomes a part of his family.

The characters are the best part of this novel, with all the empathy and plot flowing through their genuine portrayal. The individual renderings are gently and beautifully crafted to form the nucleus of the novel. I thought the author did a wonderful job with the central character of Samantha, and conveyed just enough sadness with her strength to engage the reader and bridge the connection.

Sometimes the pace of the novel was a bit uneven, occasionally drifting faintly in its course, with parts of the book crammed with information lending the narrative a slight passive feel at times. However, none of that slowed the flow of the book terribly or detracted overly from the story.

I enjoyed Restored Hope, and found it a satisfying read that easily kept my interest from beginning to end.  It is very much recommended.

You can also check out this book's spotlight for more information:  http://afstewartpromotion.blogspot.com/2010/10/book-spotlight-restored-hope.html

Paranormal Fun: A Review of Jump

My  review of the short ebook Jump by Jen Wylie:

Jump by Jen Wylie is a witty, even slightly satirical, paranormal short story, with a charming spunky heroine. It starts with our heroine in peril after being kidnapped and having her life threatened. And things go from bad to strange when nefarious supernatural forces and other more beneficial (and fetching) assistance enters the picture.

Jump was a delight to read; my only complaint is that it ended too soon. It has a clear concise voice and a charming sense of humour, with decent tension and suspense, plus a slender hint of romance at the conclusion. It is a lovely taste of what this author has to offer readers.

Moreover you just have to like a story that clearly demonstrates the fallacy of wearing high heels to escape pursuing villains.

The author's website:  http://www.jenniferwylie.ca/

Jump is available at:    http://www.omnilit.com/product-jump-493574-234.html

and at Amazon:

Romancing a Mystery: Old-Fashioned Romantic Fun

A Review of Romancing a Mystery:

Romancing a Mystery by Evelyn Cullet is a slightly wacky, screwball romance wrapped in the flavour of a mystery novel. It’s charming, light and a breezy read.

The novel tells the misadventures of Charlotte, Jane and Erin as the three embark on a vacation in the English countryside. A few wrong turns land them at an Earl’s manor house, where they become unexpected houseguests when Erin becomes ill. Sparks fly between Charlotte and the somewhat older Earl of Bredon, while Jane pursues the Earl's son, Peter. Add in a backdrop of an unsolved murder mystery with some minor mayhem, and romantic amusement ensues.

Romancing a Mystery is a solid, entertaining book, giving you just what you would want from a romantic novel. You get handsome men, plucky (if somewhat nutty) heroines and an appealing setting. The plot is fluffy, but straightforward, delivering the right notes where needed, pulling you into the story.

The characters are nicely rendered, generally coming across as real people, although there are one or two places where common sense -and manners- are stretched a tad. You do feel as if you might know these people and I have to say I loved the characters. However, considering some of the antics they indulge in the novel, I don’t think I would invite them to be my houseguests.

Now, the ending might not suit some, but I thought it matched the novel. The book doesn’t wrap things with a happily ever after, tied in a pink bow, but instead leaves the romance open with a promise of more to come.

I can cheerfully recommend Romancing a Mystery; it is a nice, fun book, suitable for that day at the beach or a rainy afternoon.

The book is available at Amazon.com, Amazon.ca and Barnes and Noble

A Substantial Sci-fi Novel: Post-Human

 My Review of Post-Human by David Simpson:

Post-Human by David Simpson is a solid, engaging sci-fi novel.  It’s not flashy or groundbreaking, but it has a nice subtle touch that blends the futuristic elements effortlessly with the more human aspects of the narrative.

"With a 600 degree Celsius surface, Venus might have been hell, and James wouldn’t have had it any other way. His favorite part of the day was his approach to the planet and subsequent descent into the atmosphere."

Post-Human is set some time in the future, in the world of James Keats.  Humans have shaped machines to their own ends, making great advancements, becoming themselves partly machine, with nanobots streaming through their bodies.  Earth seems flawless, until a worldwide catastrophe terminates their idyllic existence.  James and his friends must deal with the aftermath, and the shocking truth of what happened.

"When the clouds began to break, he caught a glimpse of something strange. It was only a momentary glimpse, and he told himself it couldn’t be right. It had looked like flames.  He kept dropping. A moment or two later the clouds abated completely and he saw where he was, over the east side of Vancouver and facing south. His mouth fell open and his eyes widened as he looked at his city. It was on fire."

What I enjoyed most about this book was the matter-of-fact way the author handled the science aspects of the plot.  There were no long-winded, technical explanations; he plunked you right in the middle of the society and whipped you along for the ride.  It was artfully done, creating a complete science fiction backdrop for the novel’s authentic characters.  The book also has some excellent character interactions and nicely written, restrained commentaries on tolerance, humanity and the nature of religion.  The author lets these observations flow naturally from the plot and dialogue and does not thump the reader over the head with his opinions.

I was hoping for a slightly darker ending; things were wrapped up a bit too happily ever after for my tastes, but that is simply a personal quibble.  Post-Human is a great sci-fi novel and a very satisfying read; I definitely recommend it.

You can find David and his book on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Post-Human-by-David-Simpson/75192853532

Post-Human is available at Amazon.ca:
http://www.amazon.ca/Post-Human-David-Simpson/dp/1440136874

And Amazon.com:
http://www.amazon.com/Post-Human-David-Simpson/dp/1440136874


You can read my spolight of the author and the book here:
http://www.examiner.com/x-37362-Canada-Sci-Fi-Examiner~y2010m2d11-A-new-Canadian-scifi-novel

A Book of Bittersweet, Sublime Creation: A Review of Keeper of Secrets...Translations of an Incident

My review of Keeper of Secrets...Translations of an Incident by Anjuelle Floyd

The stories in Keeper of Secrets...Translations of an Incident, are about what goes unspoken in relationships as much as they are about communication.  The author, Anjuelle Floyd, plays with delightful phrasing, spinning the reader into an enigmatic world of guarded implication, daring the reader to discover the deeper meaning veiled in the words.

"She closed her eyes, saw them flickering green, and herself, Raven, dancing in a ring of fire."

Keeper of Secrets is a collection of eight stories, all connected in some way by an incident that occurs in the first story.  Every story flows along certain themes of inner conflict and resolution, melding into an entirety, while still maintaining each story as a stand-alone narrative.

I found some of the stories worked slightly better than others, but they were all engaging and compelling.  The book plays out as a mosaic, each story a section of a beautiful picture, yet enjoyable on its own merit.  The book explores sadness, regret, secrets and poignant struggles as each character tries to cope with or solve an emotional dilemma that plagues their lives.

"The omnipresence of Jack’s love was imposing.  It had taken everything within Ariane to accept the bracelet and Jack’s accompanying affection."

I enjoyed this book. I liked the lyrical, spiritual quality that trickled from the pages and the complicated, yet hopeful attributes of the characters.  It’s the type of book that you sink into and swirls around your senses.  I can easily recommend it.

Keeper of Secrets...Translations of an Incident is available on Amazon.com

About the Author:

Anjuelle Floyd is a wife of twenty-seven years, mother of three, licensed Marriage and Family Therapist specializing in mother-daughter relations and dream work.  A graduate of Duke University, she received her MA in Counseling Psychology from The California Institute of Integral Studies, San Francisco. She has attended the Dominican Institute of Philosophy and Theology, Berkeley, California, and received her MFA in Creative Writing from Goddard College, Port Townsend, Washington. She has received certificates of participation from The Hurston-Wright Writers’ Week and The Voices of Our Nations Writing Workshops. She teaches online fiction classes at Perelandra College.

Author website:  http://www.anjuellefloyd.com/

A Little Sunshine (Award) in February

My friend and fellow Canadian, Joylene Nowell Butler, bestowed on me this last week the Sunshine Award.
A big thanks to Joylene for thinking of me.

Here are the rules for accepting the Sunshine Award:

•   Put the logo on your blog or within your post.
•   Pass the award onto 12 bloggers.
•   Link the nominees within your post.
•   Let the nominees know they have received this award by commenting on their blog.
•   Share the love and link to the person from whom you received this award.

Here's my picks (in no particular order) for classy people and their engaging blogs:

1. Minnette's  Worlds- Real or Imagined 
2. Rhetta's Blog
3. Dark Phantom Review 
4. The Pen and Muse  
5. Authors Promoting Authors 
6. Curiously Twisted (this blog has just started, but is run by a deserving person, Dara England)
7. Author's Studio 
8. Sheila Deeth
9. Random Musings 
10. Deb's Book Reviews
11. Robin Cain 
12. Beth Groundwater 

A great bunch all.