Gary Starta's Blog, page 3

March 27, 2011

Twists and paranormal turns

Extreme Liquidation by Gary Starta REVIEWED BY BITTEN BY BOOKS
Posted by Brit Tuesday January 19, 2010

Infamous occultist Aleister Crowley, dead for over sixty years, is manipulating an FBI agent in hopes of hastening the end of mankind. Only when every human is dead and there is no chance of reincarnation can Crowley ascend to the heavens and take his place with the gods.
Caitlin Diggs, an FBI agent, has visions of the future. Crowley learns of her ability and realizes she is an integral part in his plan so he begins manipulating her visions.
Caitlin must reach deep inside herself to determine what is real before a madman exacts his plans of annihilating the human race.
Gary Starta writes in a style he prefers to call a science hybrid. He crosses many genres and includes elements from sci-fi, fantasy, occult, suspense and fringe science.
In Extreme Liquidation, he has developed a strong female heroine who will appeal to everyone. She has many struggles but remains strong throughout, even with the fate of the world resting on her shoulders. He also gives the same amount of attention and care in developing secondary characters.
This is a novel full of twist and turns, and you never know what will be waiting for you on the next page. The story sets a frenetic pace which can leave you feeling lost if you do not pay careful attention. There are many characters and the story is constantly evolving, so I would not classify this as a leisurely read.
Book Stats:
• e-book, digital format
• Publisher: Lyrical Press, Inc.
• Book Length: Novel
• Language: English ISBN: 978-1-61650-055-9 See more at www.garystarta.net

• ISBN: 978-1-61650-055-9

Extreme Liquidation
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Published on March 27, 2011 13:52

March 24, 2011

Robotic Romanticism - Gods of the Machines

My First Sci-fi Love: Gary Starta’s Gods of the Machines
December 17th, 2010 by Monique Muro
Based in a century when space travel and artificial intelligence are as common as catching a continental flight to Europe, science fiction writer Gary Starta fleshes out his futuristic tale, Gods of the Machines, with a kind of robot romanticism. When technology advances enough to populate a nearby planet called Ceres and create servant-like androids, a fresh parcel of problems arise between robots and humans with respect to the degree of humanity required for basic rights. It’s the civil war all over again, computerized.
It starts with the murder of Carol Walker, a woman who has an affair with researcher Dean Flavin as they are examining soil on planet Ceres. In a holograph engulfed world, detective Sam Benson and his medical examiner fiancée arrive on Ceres, an infantile planet with a population of 300, to investigate. After a suspicious decapitation in Walker’s murder leads Benson to point fingers at a man-turned android named James Starkman, and things begin to get hot and heavy with his partner, Sharon Laviolette, Benson quickly loses his credibility as an investigator in the eyes of both the Ceres population and his wife-to-be.
As mind-boggling events unfold, like robotic bees killing decision-makers and insect-alien entities blipping through walls to feed off humans, Benson suspects there’s much more going on than a fight to free androids from enslavement. Fending off obnoxious reporters and power-hungry earthlings looking to prod into the inner workings of robots for material benefit, Benson and his partner are later faced with something much deeper than they ever imagined, a clash between the ancestors of Ceres and its more recent, earthling inhabitants, culminating in a memorable end.
Gods of the Machines has to be the first science-fiction novel I’ve ever read and I absolutely loved it. The relationship between robots and humans, and their fight for basic rights to me seems like a precursor to our own future. With technology ever-advancing, it seems to me space travel and artificial beings will evolve sooner than most people think. That’s what I love about science-fiction writers. While I don’t read much of the genre, I’m familiar with the tall tales of alien beings and planet-hopping, and they always seem to have some secret idea of what how our world will evolve. Starta’s novel drew me in with both his ongoing dichotomy between robots and humans, and this subtle sexual tension between all of the male and female characters. It was like crime/science fiction, mixed with a little Katie Salidas. A fireside read indeed.
About Gary Starta
Gary Starta is a former journalist who studied English and Journalism at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst.His love for science fiction compelled him to write his first novel ‘What Are You Made Of?’ published in 2006. Inspired by Isaac Asimov, the science fiction novel focuses on intelligent artificial life and whether sentient androids should possess the same rights as humans. The androids in Starta’s novel are created as hybrids – part machine, part human – further blurring the line between human and machine. Starta foresees a near future where humans will be forced to decide if intelligent machinery is indeed a life form. Possibly, in this near future, some humans will possess computer enhancements to overcome disabilities becoming hybrids themselves. The line between biological life form and mechanical life form will continue to be examined in a follow up novel now being written.
Starta cites Stephen King and Dean Koontz as inspirations for his 2007 novel ‘Blood Web’ which is also reminiscent of the The X-files television/movie series. Contemporary authors Laurell K. Hamilton, Rachel Caine, Jim Butcher and Kelly Armstrong also fuel his aspiration to create paranormal suspense. The follow up novel to ‘Blood Web’ – ‘Extreme Liquidation’ explores Caitlin Diggs’ supernatural gifts including the ability to see the future in dreams and to read a person’s character through emotions.
Starta’s crime novella ‘Murder By Association’ blends mystery with forensic investigation. It is a departure from previous books because it contains no science fiction or paranormal elements. Additionally, Starta foresees his 2008 novella ‘Alzabreah’s Garden’ – a fantasy romance – as another out-of-the-box effort.
Short story “Growing Pains” now published in Silverlight robot anthology THANK YOU, DEATH ROBOT
See the website for all his books: http://www.garystarta.net including Extreme Liquidation, a follow up to Blood Web now available from Lyrical Press or go to Amazon.com for reviews and posts.
Gods of the Machines
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Published on March 24, 2011 17:39

March 5, 2011

A novel full of twists and turns

Extreme Liquidation by Gary Starta REVIEWED BY BITTEN BY BOOKS
Posted by Brit Tuesday January 19, 2010

Infamous occultist Aleister Crowley, dead for over sixty years, is manipulating an FBI agent in hopes of hastening the end of mankind. Only when every human is dead and there is no chance of reincarnation can Crowley ascend to the heavens and take his place with the gods.
Caitlin Diggs, an FBI agent, has visions of the future. Crowley learns of her ability and realizes she is an integral part in his plan so he begins manipulating her visions.
Caitlin must reach deep inside herself to determine what is real before a madman exacts his plans of annihilating the human race.
Gary Starta writes in a style he prefers to call a science hybrid. He crosses many genres and includes elements from sci-fi, fantasy, occult, suspense and fringe science.
In Extreme Liquidation, he has developed a strong female heroine who will appeal to everyone. She has many struggles but remains strong throughout, even with the fate of the world resting on her shoulders. He also gives the same amount of attention and care in developing secondary characters.
This is a novel full of twist and turns, and you never know what will be waiting for you on the next page. The story sets a frenetic pace which can leave you feeling lost if you do not pay careful attention. There are many characters and the story is constantly evolving, so I would not classify this as a leisurely read.
Book Stats:
• e-book, digital format
• Publisher: Lyrical Press, Inc.
• Book Length: Novel
• Language: English ISBN: 978-1-61650-055-9 See more at www.garystarta.net

• ISBN: 978-1-61650-055-9

Extreme Liquidation
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Published on March 05, 2011 16:36

What Humans are reading...

What Humans are Saying
About Gods of the Machines

“Gary Starta has his own style, and he is destined to be among the greatest names in science-fiction literature…his description of the characters and the environment of the new planet is so rich that he make us cheer for our heroes and participate in his fiction as if we were there, living the moment.”
- Roberto Mattos - Books and Movie Reviews
“Gary Starta fleshes out his futuristic tale, Gods of the Machines, with a kind of robot romanticism. Starta's novel drew me in with both his ongoing dichotomy between robots and humans, and this subtle sexual tension between all of the male and female characters. It was like crime/science fiction…”
- Monique Muro – Bookbum.com
“This novel explores the relationship between man and machine as it sends chills up your spine, while introducing sizzling romance.”
- Geraldine Ahearn – Geri’s Reviews
“Gods of Machines offers readers something from almost every popular genre. Characters that you love, hate, or really make you think. Sexual tension, romance, heroics, adventure, creatures, and science keep you turning the pages. The descriptive prose Starta pens is entertaining and wonderfully imaginative.”
- Jennifer Chase – Award Winning Crime Author

“Occam's razor should never be accepted so quickly. ‘Gods of the Machines’ is a fun and hard to put down science fiction thriller, recommended.”

- Midwest Book Review

Find more at www.garystarta.netGods of the Machines
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Published on March 05, 2011 15:31

January 12, 2011

Support Gods of the Machines with your vote

Voting is open for best 2010
Science fiction and fantasy novels
At Preditors and Editors…
My latest novel Gods of the Machines – which has been described by critics as “robot romanticism” and “a futuristic cult classic” is nominated in the sci fi/fantasy poll at Preditors and Editors.
If you would like to vote for this novel which blends a mix of mystery, sci fi and romance, please visit this link:

http://critters.org/predpoll/novelsf....

I appreciate your interest in my novels and in fiction…
Best,
Gary Starta
www.garystarta.net

Gods of the Machines
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Published on January 12, 2011 10:58

January 9, 2011

5 star review Gods of the Machines

Sci-Fi drama at its best
Posted by Tamela Quijas - Romance Author on January 8, 2011
As I promised, I am reviewing a vast amount of books from all different genres this year, which I will highlight on Thursdays. I’m beginning my week a bit early (or late, as it may be) with a review from Gary Starta’s Gods of the Machines!
Recently, I had the chance to highlight Gary Starta’s sci-fi novel, Gods of the Machines, which I couldn’t wait to read. The futuristic quality of the novel, as well as the drama that was involved, drew me from page one. Starta writes a captivating tale of life in the future, where Detective Sam Benson’s newest assignment on Earth’s first colonized planet starts out as mundane, until murder begins to fill the pages. Thrown into the middle of believable politics and corruption, Benson comes across an android who appears to be a primary murder suspect. In this grueling tale of intrigue, filled with fascinating detective work, the newly forged planet of Ceres becomes a world of mesmerizing excitement.
Gods of The Machines exhibits Starta’s finesse for blending mystery, murder, romance, and adventure. His writing demonstrates a quality previously only exemplified by my favorite author, Jules Verne, where the reader is sucked into a mythical world that leaps from the pages. Starta’s spellbinding imagination is magnificent and his dynamic character of Sam Benson offers a page turning read that draws the reader into the pages of this fantastic tale.
5 stars and a must read for any sci-fi fan!

Author website: www.garystarta.net
Available in e-book and print at B&N.com and Amazon.com
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Published on January 09, 2011 11:50

December 20, 2010

Humans comment on Gods of the Machines

What Humans are Saying
About Gods of the Machines

“Gary Starta has his own style, and he is destined to be among the greatest names in science-fiction literature…his description of the characters and the environment of the new planet is so rich that he make us cheer for our heroes and participate in his fiction as if we were there, living the moment.”
- Roberto Mattos - Books and Movie Reviews
“Gary Starta fleshes out his futuristic tale, Gods of the Machines, with a kind of robot romanticism. Starta's novel drew me in with both his ongoing dichotomy between robots and humans, and this subtle sexual tension between all of the male and female characters. It was like crime/science fiction…”
- Monique Muro – Bookbum.com
“This novel explores the relationship between man and machine as it sends chills up your spine, while introducing sizzling romance.”
- Geraldine Ahearn – Geri’s Reviews
“Gods of Machines offers readers something from almost every popular genre. Characters that you love, hate, or really make you think. Sexual tension, romance, heroics, adventure, creatures, and science keep you turning the pages. The descriptive prose Starta pens is entertaining and wonderfully imaginative.”
- Jennifer Chase – Award Winning Crime Author

“Occam's razor should never be accepted so quickly. ‘Gods of the Machines’ is a fun and hard to put down science fiction thriller, recommended.”

- Midwest Book Review

Gary Starta writes fiction on the fringe of genre and imagination…
Gods of the Machines and all his books can be found in e-book and paperback at

BarnesandNoble.com and Amazon.com
http://productsearch.barnesandnoble
http://www.amazon.com/Gods-Machines-G...










Gods of the Machines by Gary Starta
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Published on December 20, 2010 16:19

December 17, 2010

Robotic Romanticism - Gods of the Machines

My First Sci-fi Love: Gary Starta’s Gods of the Machines
December 17th, 2010 by Monique Muro
Based in a century when space travel and artificial intelligence are as common as catching a continental flight to Europe, science fiction writer Gary Starta fleshes out his futuristic tale, Gods of the Machines, with a kind of robot romanticism. When technology advances enough to populate a nearby planet called Ceres and create servant-like androids, a fresh parcel of problems arise between robots and humans with respect to the degree of humanity required for basic rights. It’s the civil war all over again, computerized.
It starts with the murder of Carol Walker, a woman who has an affair with researcher Dean Flavin as they are examining soil on planet Ceres. In a holograph engulfed world, detective Sam Benson and his medical examiner fiancée arrive on Ceres, an infantile planet with a population of 300, to investigate. After a suspicious decapitation in Walker’s murder leads Benson to point fingers at a man-turned android named James Starkman, and things begin to get hot and heavy with his partner, Sharon Laviolette, Benson quickly loses his credibility as an investigator in the eyes of both the Ceres population and his wife-to-be.
As mind-boggling events unfold, like robotic bees killing decision-makers and insect-alien entities blipping through walls to feed off humans, Benson suspects there’s much more going on than a fight to free androids from enslavement. Fending off obnoxious reporters and power-hungry earthlings looking to prod into the inner workings of robots for material benefit, Benson and his partner are later faced with something much deeper than they ever imagined, a clash between the ancestors of Ceres and its more recent, earthling inhabitants, culminating in a memorable end.
Gods of the Machines has to be the first science-fiction novel I’ve ever read and I absolutely loved it. The relationship between robots and humans, and their fight for basic rights to me seems like a precursor to our own future. With technology ever-advancing, it seems to me space travel and artificial beings will evolve sooner than most people think. That’s what I love about science-fiction writers. While I don’t read much of the genre, I’m familiar with the tall tales of alien beings and planet-hopping, and they always seem to have some secret idea of what how our world will evolve. Starta’s novel drew me in with both his ongoing dichotomy between robots and humans, and this subtle sexual tension between all of the male and female characters. It was like crime/science fiction, mixed with a little Katie Salidas. A fireside read indeed.
About Gary Starta
Gary Starta is a former journalist who studied English and Journalism at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst.His love for science fiction compelled him to write his first novel ‘What Are You Made Of?’ published in 2006. Inspired by Isaac Asimov, the science fiction novel focuses on intelligent artificial life and whether sentient androids should possess the same rights as humans. The androids in Starta’s novel are created as hybrids – part machine, part human – further blurring the line between human and machine. Starta foresees a near future where humans will be forced to decide if intelligent machinery is indeed a life form. Possibly, in this near future, some humans will possess computer enhancements to overcome disabilities becoming hybrids themselves. The line between biological life form and mechanical life form will continue to be examined in a follow up novel now being written.
Starta cites Stephen King and Dean Koontz as inspirations for his 2007 novel ‘Blood Web’ which is also reminiscent of the The X-files television/movie series. Contemporary authors Laurell K. Hamilton, Rachel Caine, Jim Butcher and Kelly Armstrong also fuel his aspiration to create paranormal suspense. The follow up novel to ‘Blood Web’ – ‘Extreme Liquidation’ explores Caitlin Diggs’ supernatural gifts including the ability to see the future in dreams and to read a person’s character through emotions.
Starta’s crime novella ‘Murder By Association’ blends mystery with forensic investigation. It is a departure from previous books because it contains no science fiction or paranormal elements. Additionally, Starta foresees his 2008 novella ‘Alzabreah’s Garden’ – a fantasy romance – as another out-of-the-box effort.
Short story “Growing Pains” now published in Silverlight robot anthology THANK YOU, DEATH ROBOT
See the website for all his books: http://www.garystarta.net including Extreme Liquidation, a follow up to Blood Web now available from Lyrical Press or go to Amazon.com for reviews and posts.
Gods of the Machines
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Published on December 17, 2010 19:26

December 8, 2010

Blog about robots, mixing tech with pleasure

Name: Gary Starta

Name of Book: Gods of the Machines

Guest Post for The Story Behind the Book:

My inspiration to write the novel, Gods of the Machines, basically comes down to one word of inspiration: sentient. Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines sentient as ‘feeling or sensation as distinguished from perception or thought.” The ability to feel defines our consciousness as humans. It is what distinguishes us from other devices capable of thought or calculation i.e. computers. And although that line of separation, the inability of your laptop to feel emotion, is pretty thick at the moment, there may come a time when that line will either be blurred or crossed. Maybe you are skeptical that robots or perhaps, androids – beings that resemble humans – will ever exist in the way we see them in movies such as I Robot. But there are signs that technology is advancing and that robotics is becoming more and integrated into our everyday life.

The latest cutting edge cell phone operating system is called Android or Droid for short. Although a phone is a long way from a walking, talking android, it seems to show the very idea of such technology is seeping into the consumer consciousness. In Japan, actual android/robots have been created! They have skin made of silicon, and sensors allow them to react. They appear to blink and even breathe! But what they don’t possess is sentience. And because they don’t, I believe these creations will be ripe for exploitation. Robots are already in use in battlefields. Androids such as the life-like creations in Japan may be used for servitude as well, perhaps as nursing aides.

So the idea of robots is really not that extreme or fantastical. For the most part, they are here. Will it be all right to use them for servitude? Most every science fiction story of the last half century portrays them in that manner. Think of Bicentennial Man. But in that movie, there is a difference because that robot evolves, so much, that it actually becomes human. Still, the robot is portrayed as a servant, although its owner treats it with respect.

Will humanity treat robots with respect once they grow in number? People who perceive them as mere machines such as a computer will probably dismiss the idea of expending emotion on objects. But others may feel compelled to interact with androids as if they were human, even if they don’t possess self awareness or are unable to feel genuine emotion.

Kismet is a prime example of such a situation. A robot, Kismet was manufactured by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the late 1990’s. It possesses the ability to simulate human emotion. It can waggle its ears, move its eyes, lift its eyebrows and move its jaw. Its ability to mimic human facial expressions has given it the ability to engage humans in a limited conversational manner. Because its’ physical mannerisms show it to perceive or understand human emotion – even though it does not – humans nonetheless will gravitate to a being like Kismet which resembles themselves. Just as they do to a newborn child or baby animal. Humans can’t really talk to human or animal babies, but they can share facial expressions with one another. People may incorrectly posit an animal understands them because of the creature’s facial expression. They also might think their human baby understands them simply because of a facial expression. So in cases such as these, understanding between the human and the baby becomes a moot point because the human in enraptured by the toddler or kitten based on visual perception.

Author Anne Foerst says she has had emotional reactions in her interactions with Kismet. She deems them spiritual. She believes she had bonded with Kismet. Other people might find this ludicrous. But those who have interacted with Kismet and still feel they haven’t bonded might feel the same way when they react with a human being they feel is inferior to them. There will be prejudice against robots and androids. That is a certainty.

In my novel, Gods of the Machines, a detective finds himself investigating a murder where the victim was brutally killed. He deems only an android capable of such strength to kill her. Yet there is no physical evidence to support his theory. He has reacted based on his prejudice towards artificial beings. The suspect in question – James Starkman – possesses feelings because of his special programming. He is sentient. However, humans have been slow to bestow him with the same rights as biological citizens. And because Starkman exists as a thing or not a citizen, the detective finds he is unable to bring charges against it. This idea intrigued me to write the novel. The possibility that one day, when sentient androids do indeed exist, will they be embraced as citizens or regulated to servitude? Or will they become classified in some gray area which will ultimately benefit their biological makers? It makes me wonder if our constitution will need an amendment. Will the definition of people need to be broadened? And ultimately, who will become the gods of these machines?

Gods of the Machines
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Published on December 08, 2010 12:29

November 11, 2010

Midwest Library Review (Bookwatch) of Gods of the Machines

Occam's razor should never be accepted so quickly. "Gods of the Machines" tells the story of humanity's expansion onto a new planet. Sam Benson, a New Yorker working on the new colony, is faced with murders popping up throughout. Fingering an android responsible, Sam may soon realize that humanity wasn't on this new planet first. "Gods of the Machines" is a fun and hard to put down science fiction thriller, recommended.

Find it here at Goodreads or at www.garystarta.net

John Burroughs
Reviewer
Bookwatch Gods of the Machines
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Published on November 11, 2010 14:05

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