by Jane | Aug 21, 2016 | Write Here Write Now
I recently found a book of stories entitled Twilight Zone, edited by Carol Serling, Rod Serling’s wife. I came out in 2009, the 50th anniversary of the television series, and purports to contain stories reminiscent of that show. Each story even has an introduction and epilogue similar to what Serling would say before and after each show.
I have mixed feelings about this book. Most of the stories don’t fill me with dread and horror the way the show did. Many of them are more whimsical than scary.
That said, there are a few exceptions. The first story in the collection to get under my skin was “The Street That Forgot Time” by Deborah Chester, the story of a neighborhood where something is very wrong, but only one man can see it — definitely in the Serling tradition. “The Wrong Room” by R. L. Stine about a salesman lost in the wrong convention has merit, as do others about a soldier with a good luck charm, a man who’s put up with all he can from his wife, a strange little shop, and a confused man in two realities.
The last story is not a story at all but rather, a previously unpublished treatment that was never produced. It’s entitled “El Moe” — a con man takes the role of a long-dead Mexican hero. It’s Serling, so it’s very good. I’m sorry it was never published.
Bottom line — there are some good stories here. If you don’t expect them all to be The Twilight Zone quality, you won’t be disappointed.
by Jane | Aug 11, 2016 | Write Here Write Now
Jeweled Fire is a fantasy novel by Sharon Shinn. It is described in the blurb as part of the Elemental Blessings series, but it also works as a stand-alone book.
Corene, a princess of Welce, hears that Empress Filomara is seeking wives for her three nephews, any one of which could be named her heir, and looking for an adventure, stows away aboard a ship bound for Malinqua. She is welcomed by the empress and given roms in the palace, where she makes friends with other potential brides and the nephews. Also on board are Steff, a newly discovered grandson of Filomara, and Corene’s bodyguard Foley.
But everything is not as it seems. Corene learns of several deaths that have occurred surrounding the royal family and begins to suspect that she and the other women are being held hostage. She wonders two things: Is my life in danger? How can I leave and return home?
A well-written book, Jeweled Fire keeps the reader’s attention from beginning to end. Shinn is a master, creating many memorable and distinct characters, some likeable, some not. Read this book and get to know Corene and her friends. It’s a good ride.
by Jane | Aug 3, 2016 | Write Here Write Now
Goldenland Past Dark by Chandler Klang Smith is categorized as fantasy by my public library. I’m not so sure. Although the book definitely has a weird feel throughout, the first indication of anything actually otherworldly is almost sixty pages into the book. It is a wooden doll named Wags that the protagonist Webern sees come to life as a boy and who visits him several times during the story.
Webern is a 16-year-old hump-backed boy with stunted growth who works as a clown in a second-rate circus in the 1960’s. He had some hard times as a child — the accident which caused his disfigurement, the untimely death of his mother, and mistreatment by his older, very weird twin sisters. The book tells the story of his curious life, his friendship with Lizard Girl Nepenthe and his mentor Dr. Show, the ringmaster, interspersed by flashbacks from his childhood.
This is less fantasy and more of a psychological journey for Webern as he travels with the circus and later has to confront his past. The reader is left wondering whether Wags is real or simply an imaginary friend Webern never gave up.
Goldenland Past Dark is an interesting book, although one I would probably not have picked up if it did not carry the label “fantasy.” That said, I would not recommend it as a fantasy book, but only if you’re interested of a view into a disturbed boy’s head.
by Jane | Jul 26, 2016 | Write Here Write Now
The Last Star by Rick Yancy completes The 5th Wave trilogy. Ringer has been enhanced and betrayed, a prisoner of Vosch, who wants to use her for his own purposes. He tells her more and more about the Others’ plans, but can he be trusted? Either way, it doesn’t look good for the remaining humans. Zombie (Ben) decides to go look for Ringer. Battling Silencers, he makes his way toward the caverns, which, unbeknownst to him, are no longer safe. Cassie is still around, and as always, has her own agenda.
How all these people meet up and interact is the crux of the final book. The questions to be answered are: Who will survive? How will the humans deal with the Others’ plans for humanity? Can humanity itself survive and what will it look like?
This book deals directly with courage, sacrifice, and the meaning of trust. It is a fitting end to the trilogy, though some questions are only partially answered and others perhaps not answered in the way the reader would like. But what is sure is that this book does not disappoint and neither does Rick Young. I hope to read more of his work in the future.
by Jane | Jul 15, 2016 | Write Here Write Now
When I picked up The Last Exodus by Paul Tassi and started reading, I was disappointed to learn that it was about yet another alien apocalypse. Having just finished The 5th Wave series, I wasn’t sure I wanted to delve into another similar tale. Fortunately, this book was set apart in two ways: (1) the apocalypse here was absolute — in a very short time after the beginning of the story, all life on Earth would cease to exist; and (2) the protagonist Lucas teams up with a rogue alien to escape their (almost) dead planet. The alien, a scientist calling himself Alpha, has deserted because he doesn’t believe in his people’s policies. He has a spaceship but no crew, so he enlists the aid of Lucas and a woman called Asha to fly the ship to a planet where he hopes to find sanctuary.
The Last Exodus is published by Talos Press, an imprint of independent publisher Skyhorse Publishing, and as such has many more mistakes in punctuation, spelling, and so forth than books published by the Big Five. That being said, it is well-written and a good story. The characters are complex and well-developed. Tassi tells a tale of desperation — three individuals thrown together by circumstance, who must work together to survive. Combined with much action, both on Earth and in space, it is very engaging. I had a slight problem with the ending, which is almost, but not quite a cliffhanger. I would have preferred a more satisfying conclusion. Still, it’s worth a read, and I will definitely pick up the next book in the series when it is available.
by Jane | Jul 7, 2016 | Write Here Write Now
In the second season of Daredevil, a new villain is introduced. Frank Castle, known as the Punisher and played brilliantly by Jon Bernthal, has been systematically killing off members of three gangs in the city. So, he is already a mass murderer with a twist — he only kills bad guys. But he is also a very complex character — a war veteran whose entire family was killed.
Another plot concerns the return of Matt’s old flame Electra — a woman who shares Matt’s fighting skills and is involved in a fight against the Yakuza, an international Japanese gang. Of course, she solicits Matt’s aid in this fight. Another blast from the past this season is Stick, Matt’s old mentor and trainer. He is also fighting the Yakuza, but he refers to the fight as an “ancient war.”
Matt’s involvement with Elektra and Stick takes him away from an important court case, getting his partner Foggy in a bunch, while Karen Page, his legal assistant, also upset with Matt, takes off investigating things on her own in her usual haphazard fashion.
But if Vincent D’Onofrio as Fisk stole the show in Season 1, Jon Bernthal, late of The Walking Dead, is the one to watch this time around. The range of emotions of this character go from maniacal to thoughtful to miserable over the loss of his family.
Watch this season of Daredevil. It has it all.
