R.E. Bender (Author of Ranger 8)

R.E. Bender wrote a new blog post Battlestar Galactica’s Hidden War: How WWII Still Shapes Battles in Space "A battle-scarred battlestar drifts through the void, its steel hull echoing the war-torn decks of WWII aircraft carriers. Viper squadrons launch in Read more of this blog post »
Mar 10, 2025 06:35AM · like
R.E. Bender has read Childhood’s End by Arthur C. Clarke	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Childhood’s End and the Fear of the Alien: A silver city appeared in the sky. That’s how it always starts, doesn’t it? The impossible descends upon us, shattering every preconception of our world. History is filled with stories of visitations, both div ...more
Feb 25, 2025 08:00AM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Childhood’s End by Arthur C. Clarke. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Childhood’s End by Arthur C. Clarke <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
R.E. Bender has read The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
H. G. Wells’ War of the Worlds is a timeless journey into the heart of our collective dread—a tale that captures the raw terror of facing an enemy so utterly alien that it seems to come from another world entirely. Reading it feels a bit like standin ...more
Feb 24, 2025 08:38AM · like · see review
R.E. Bender has read Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi - Into the Void by Tim Lebbon (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
The Void is Not Your Friend: A Reflection on Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi – Into the Void Solitude is a funny thing. Some crave it, carving out slivers of silence in a world that never stops screaming. Others fear it, filling their lives with noise, w ...more
Feb 21, 2025 07:55AM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Star Wars by Tim Lebbon. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Star Wars by Tim Lebbon <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
R.E. Bender has read Old Man's War (Old Man's War, #1) by John Scalzi (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
The Folly of Immortal Soldiers: A Look at Old Man’s War and the Wasted Gift of Forever "They are coming back, and when they do, it won’t be like last time. They will have learned from their mistakes, but we won’t have. We never do." —John Scalzi, Old M ...more
Feb 20, 2025 10:56AM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Old Man's War by John Scalzi. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Old Man's War by John Scalzi <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
R.E. Bender has read The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress by Robert A. Heinlein	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
The Moon is a Harsh Mistress: A Masterclass in Hard Science and Revolutionary Storytelling: A cold calculus governs the harsh vacuum of space. In Robert A. Heinlein’s The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, the Moon—Luna—is no mere setting but a crucible, where ...more
Feb 18, 2025 08:46AM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress by Robert A. Heinlein. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress by Robert A. Heinlein <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
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R.E. Bender has read The Jedi Path: A Manual for Students of the Force by Daniel Wallace (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
I read this book when I was a boy—maybe twelve or thirteen. I didn’t have any reliable Christian role models in my immediate orbit. ( I had a few role models on the periphery) Without any knowledge or concept of biblical truth the only way God could ...more
Feb 17, 2025 09:49AM · like · see review
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Feb 17, 2025 05:48AM · like

R.E. Bender wrote a new blog post

Battlestar Galactica’s Hidden War: How WWII Still Shapes Battles in Space

"A battle-scarred battlestar drifts through the void, its steel hull echoing the war-torn decks of WWII aircraft carriers. Viper squadrons launch in Read more of this blog post »

R.E. Bender has read

Childhood’s End
by Arthur C. Clarke

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Childhood’s End and the Fear of the Alien:

A silver city appeared in the sky.

That’s how it always starts, doesn’t it? The impossible descends upon us, shattering every preconception of our world. History is filled with stories of visitations, both div ...more

R.E. Bender has read

The War of the Worlds
by H.G. Wells

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H. G. Wells’ War of the Worlds is a timeless journey into the heart of our collective dread—a tale that captures the raw terror of facing an enemy so utterly alien that it seems to come from another world entirely. Reading it feels a bit like standin H. G. Wells’ War of the Worlds is a timeless journey into the heart of our collective dread—a tale that captures the raw terror of facing an enemy so utterly alien that it seems to come from another world entirely. Reading it feels a bit like standing at the edge of a vast, unknown chasm; you sense that what lurks beneath defies reason, yet you’re compelled to peer into the darkness. In many ways, Wells’ narrative mirrors the way we grapple with the inexplicable—much like that quiet, enduring truth found in ancient wisdom, where even amid chaos and fear, hope perseveres.

I remember the first time I encountered War of the Worlds. There was a moment when Wells’ crisp prose, swept me up into a scene of otherworldly invasion. His Martians, described with a clinical detachment that belied the horror they wrought, seemed to embody everything both fascinating and repellent about the unknown. Their tripods, the advanced technologies they wielded, and the inexorable march of their destruction all built up a palpable sense of inevitability—a dread of the unknown that resonates deep within us. This dread is the modern echo of the age-old fear that has been explored in our most ancient texts: that even when darkness seems overwhelming, a greater light persists to guide us forward.

Wells’ work isn’t simply a chronicle of an extraterrestrial assault; it’s a mirror held up to our own civilization. In his stark portrayal of human vulnerability, there is an existential gravity—a reminder that we, for all our technological triumphs, remain fragile. The Martians arrive not with malice borne of human envy but as manifestations of nature’s indifference. They come, not to conquer because they desire power in the way we do, but because they are driven by a different order of existence, one that transcends our understanding. This reminds me of an age-old truth: that the forces of creation and destruction are often beyond our control, yet they serve a purpose in the larger tapestry of life—a purpose that, though hidden from our eyes, is as real and enduring as the promise of dawn after the darkest night.

There is an intimacy in Wells’ narrative that speaks directly to our most basic fears. His choice to let the story unfold through the eyes of the common man—an observer caught in the maelstrom of events—imbues the work with a sense of immediacy and raw vulnerability. In that sense, the terror of the alien invasion is not an abstract concept, but a living, breathing nightmare. The reader is made to feel the trembling of the earth under the relentless march of the Martian war machines, the unyielding heat of their disintegration rays, and the hopelessness that settles in like a shroud over a doomed city. Yet, amid this overwhelming despair, there is a subtle counterpoint—a quiet undercurrent of resilience, of human determination, and of the possibility of redemption.

This duality—the simultaneous experience of profound fear and an underlying hope—is what renders War of the Worlds a masterpiece of speculative fiction. It captures the paradox of our existence: we are terrified of the unknown, yet we are compelled to explore it, to push beyond the safe confines of the familiar. It is as if the narrative is gently reminding us that fear, though potent, is not the end of the story. In the face of an unfathomable alien threat, there is a kind of grace that emerges—a grace that whispers of rebirth and renewal. This grace echoes the timeless notion that even when darkness falls, light endures. Though Wells’ Martians are not gods, their overwhelming power forces us to confront the limits of our control, and in doing so, we are nudged toward a deeper understanding of our own resilience.

In reading War of the Worlds, one cannot help but think of the many challenges that define the modern human experience. Our world is filled with uncertainties—the rapid advance of technology, the shifting dynamics of global power, the looming threats of environmental catastrophe—and yet, like the survivors in Wells’ narrative, we persist. There is a lesson here that is as old as time itself: in every crisis, no matter how insurmountable it may appear, lies the seed of transformation. It is the quiet assurance that, though we may be buffeted by forces beyond our control, there is a guiding light that has seen humanity through countless ages. This light is not always blindingly obvious; sometimes it is as subtle as the first glimmer of dawn, slowly dispelling the night.

Wells’ narrative style is both direct and lyrical, a quality that resonates with the cadence of our own lives. His descriptions are vivid and cinematic—each scene unfolds with a deliberate, almost measured pace that invites the reader to savor every moment of both terror and wonder. This style reminds me of the way stories were told around ancient campfires, where the line between myth and reality blurred and every tale carried a kernel of truth. It is in that space, between the known and the unknown, that War of the Worlds finds its power. And in that same space, we are reminded of another age-old truth: that our fears, as vast and impenetrable as they may seem, are often the very things that lead us to our greatest triumphs.

Perhaps one of the most striking aspects of War of the Worlds is its exploration of the limits of human knowledge. The Martians are depicted as beings of almost incomprehensible power and intellect, a stark contrast to our own limited understanding. Their technology is so advanced that it defies our current concepts of physics and engineering, forcing us to confront the reality that our scientific achievements are but a drop in the vast ocean of what is possible. This confrontation with the unknown can be unsettling, even destabilizing. Yet, it is precisely in this encounter with the unfamiliar that true progress is made. As we strive to understand these distant possibilities, we are also compelled to look within ourselves, to question our assumptions, and to seek a deeper, more nuanced understanding of our place in the cosmos.

There is a subtle parallel between the alien invasion in War of the Worlds and the human journey toward enlightenment. Just as the characters in the novel must confront the terrifying unknown, so too must each of us face our own inner darkness. The truth that even in our most desperate moments there is hope is woven into the fabric of this narrative. It is a reminder that no matter how overwhelming the forces arrayed against us may seem, there is always the possibility of renewal—a chance to rebuild, to learn, and ultimately, to transcend the limitations that bind us.
In the end, War of the Worlds is more than just a tale of alien conquest; it is a meditation on the nature of fear and the resilience of the human spirit. Its enduring relevance lies in its ability to speak to our deepest anxieties while simultaneously offering a glimmer of hope. Through the lens of an invasion by an unfathomable enemy, Wells challenges us to reconsider what it means to be truly human. He invites us to embrace the unknown, to find beauty in the struggle, and to trust that even in the darkest of nights, the promise of a new dawn is never far away.

As I close this review, I am left with a sense of quiet optimism. The terror of the unknown may be great, and the alien may seem insurmountable, but within that vast, unsettling darkness lies the potential for unimaginable growth. Like the enduring light that breaks through even the deepest night, there is a profound, almost sacred assurance that no matter how dire the circumstances, renewal is possible. In War of the Worlds, as in life, the encounter with the unknown is not the end—it is the beginning of a journey toward a brighter, more enlightened future. ...more

R.E. Bender has read

Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi - Into the Void
by Tim Lebbon (Goodreads Author)

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The Void is Not Your Friend: A Reflection on Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi – Into the Void

Solitude is a funny thing. Some crave it, carving out slivers of silence in a world that never stops screaming. Others fear it, filling their lives with noise, w ...more

R.E. Bender has read

Old Man's War (Old Man's War, #1)
by John Scalzi (Goodreads Author)

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The Folly of Immortal Soldiers: A Look at Old Man’s War and the Wasted Gift of Forever

"They are coming back, and when they do, it won’t be like last time. They will have learned from their mistakes, but we won’t have. We never do."
—John Scalzi, Old M ...more

R.E. Bender has read

The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress
by Robert A. Heinlein

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The Moon is a Harsh Mistress: A Masterclass in Hard Science and Revolutionary Storytelling:

A cold calculus governs the harsh vacuum of space. In Robert A. Heinlein’s The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, the Moon—Luna—is no mere setting but a crucible, where ...more

R.E. Bender started reading

Hyperion (Hyperion Cantos, #1)
by Dan Simmons

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R.E. Bender finished reading

The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress
by Robert A. Heinlein

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R.E. Bender has read

The Jedi Path: A Manual for Students of the Force
by Daniel Wallace (Goodreads Author)

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I read this book when I was a boy—maybe twelve or thirteen. I didn’t have any reliable Christian role models in my immediate orbit. ( I had a few role models on the periphery) Without any knowledge or concept of biblical truth the only way God could ...more

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Book of Sith: Secrets from the Dark Side
by Daniel Wallace (Goodreads Author)

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