Phil Giunta's Blog, page 77
January 20, 2015
Book Review: Protector by Larry Niven
By 2125 AD, the human race had spread across the cosmos and colonized worlds christened with such names as Wunderland, We Made It, Home, Jinx, and others. Within Known Space, there are two primary groups of humans. Flatlanders are those accustomed to living on Earth or other planets while Belters reside in the asteroid belt.
After traveling interstellar space for over 30,000 years, an alien named Phssthpok enters our solar system in search of others from his species, known as the Pak. Their physiology is comprised of three stages: childhood, breeder, and finally, genderless protector. Pak sustain themselves primarily on a root from the Tree of Life. Over 2.5 million years ago, a group of breeders left the Pak homeworld, after it had been ravaged by war. They were never heard from again, but after thorough study of Pak history and astronavigation, Phssthpok set out to find them.
As he entered Earth's solar system, Phssthpok encountered and captured a Belter named Jack Brennan. While in captivity, Brennan discovered and consumed a large quantity of Tree of Life root. As a result, Brennan mutated into a human-Pak hybrid complete with hardened skin, enlarged musculature, increased speed, and immense intelligence. Brennan's transformation had completed soon after Phssthpok landed on Mars to conceal himself from other humans.
However, telescopes both in the asteroid belt and on Earth had tracked the Pak’s ship. Nick Sohl, leader of the Belters, teams up with retired UN law enforcement officer Lucas Garner to track down the alien (or "Outsider"). By the time they reach Mars, they are greeted not by Phssthpok, but by Brennan--who murdered his Pak captor. Brennan explains to Sohl and Garner the purpose of Phssthpok's journey. Yet, when the Pak realized that there was no colony of breeders, he planned to create one in the same way as Brennan was transformed.
Shortly after meeting Sohl and Garner, Brennan escapes in Phssthpok's ship. Abandoning his supply of Tree of Life root, Brennan disappears into interstellar space.
Two centuries later, a human named Roy Truesdale is kidnapped for four months and returned with part of his memory erased. Roy is but one in a string of victims abducted by a mysterious strangers known only as Vandervecken. Soon after he awakens from his abduction, Roy encounters a lovely Belter named Alice Jordan and together, they set off to the edge of the solar system where Vandervecken supposedly lurks--and might somehow be connected to the legendary "Brennan-monster".
What awaits Roy and Alice near the solar system's tenth planet Persephone? Is it the human-alien hybrid that was once a Belter named Jack Brennan? If so, what is the reason behind the abductions and how is it connected to the pending war between humans and the Pak?
Protector is divided into two connected novellas, Phssthpok and Vandervecken, respectively. Of the four Niven books I've read over the past few months (the previous three being Tales from Known Space, Convergent Series, and A Gift from Earth), Protector was the most engaging. I enjoyed the development and exploration of the Pak species and the scenes that were written from Phssthpok's point of view, which made his off-camera death disappointing. Finally, the combination of science and storytelling surrounding the ship-to-ship combat near the end kept me turning pages. Next up, A World Out of Time.
After traveling interstellar space for over 30,000 years, an alien named Phssthpok enters our solar system in search of others from his species, known as the Pak. Their physiology is comprised of three stages: childhood, breeder, and finally, genderless protector. Pak sustain themselves primarily on a root from the Tree of Life. Over 2.5 million years ago, a group of breeders left the Pak homeworld, after it had been ravaged by war. They were never heard from again, but after thorough study of Pak history and astronavigation, Phssthpok set out to find them.
As he entered Earth's solar system, Phssthpok encountered and captured a Belter named Jack Brennan. While in captivity, Brennan discovered and consumed a large quantity of Tree of Life root. As a result, Brennan mutated into a human-Pak hybrid complete with hardened skin, enlarged musculature, increased speed, and immense intelligence. Brennan's transformation had completed soon after Phssthpok landed on Mars to conceal himself from other humans.
However, telescopes both in the asteroid belt and on Earth had tracked the Pak’s ship. Nick Sohl, leader of the Belters, teams up with retired UN law enforcement officer Lucas Garner to track down the alien (or "Outsider"). By the time they reach Mars, they are greeted not by Phssthpok, but by Brennan--who murdered his Pak captor. Brennan explains to Sohl and Garner the purpose of Phssthpok's journey. Yet, when the Pak realized that there was no colony of breeders, he planned to create one in the same way as Brennan was transformed.
Shortly after meeting Sohl and Garner, Brennan escapes in Phssthpok's ship. Abandoning his supply of Tree of Life root, Brennan disappears into interstellar space.
Two centuries later, a human named Roy Truesdale is kidnapped for four months and returned with part of his memory erased. Roy is but one in a string of victims abducted by a mysterious strangers known only as Vandervecken. Soon after he awakens from his abduction, Roy encounters a lovely Belter named Alice Jordan and together, they set off to the edge of the solar system where Vandervecken supposedly lurks--and might somehow be connected to the legendary "Brennan-monster".
What awaits Roy and Alice near the solar system's tenth planet Persephone? Is it the human-alien hybrid that was once a Belter named Jack Brennan? If so, what is the reason behind the abductions and how is it connected to the pending war between humans and the Pak?
Protector is divided into two connected novellas, Phssthpok and Vandervecken, respectively. Of the four Niven books I've read over the past few months (the previous three being Tales from Known Space, Convergent Series, and A Gift from Earth), Protector was the most engaging. I enjoyed the development and exploration of the Pak species and the scenes that were written from Phssthpok's point of view, which made his off-camera death disappointing. Finally, the combination of science and storytelling surrounding the ship-to-ship combat near the end kept me turning pages. Next up, A World Out of Time.
January 12, 2015
About This Writing Stuff...
Happy New Year! This week, internet kerfuffles are kerfuffling as YA author Stacey Jay cancels her Kickstarter campaign to fund her second novel amidst vitriol from the online community regarding where some of the money was going. Among others, Chuck Wendig and Laura Lam respond.
Smashwords CEO Mark Coker presents his publishing industry predictions for 2015 while James Scott Bell assures us that self-publishing will actually remain alive and well. Victoria Strauss reflects on the best of Writer Beware from 2014, while Marcy McKay successfuly examines failure.
On the convention scene, Farpoint is a mere four weeks away and brings a distinguished cadre of speculative fiction writers with special guest Timothy Zahn. Actor guests Colin Ferguson (Eureka, Haven) and Tim Russ (Star Trek: Voyager) will also join us for a weekend of fun and fandom!
In March, the Write Stuff writers conference will be led by keynote speaker, writer, and social media Jedi, Kristen Lamb, along with a variety of industry professionals including writers, agents, and editors. Three days of sessions on the craft of writing, editing, publishing, marketing, audio book recording, podcasting, writing children's books, writing memoir, writing for business, and much more.
Enjoy!
Kickstarter Tag Team Post: What's Asking Too Much? by Chuck Wendig and Laura Lam
Kickstarter Kerfuffle, Part Two: Thoughts and Clarifications by Chuck Wendig
2015 Book Publishing Industry Predictions: Slow Growth Presents Challenges and Opportunities for Authors by Mark Coker
Don't Muddle Your Message by Jodie Renner
The Self-Publishing Sky is Not Falling by James Scott Bell
Character Driven or Plot Driven? by Veronica Sicoe
We We Write, Why We Stop, and How We Can Possibly Restart and Keep Going by Julianna Baggott
The Two BEST Reasons to Fail as a Writer by Marcy McKay
2014 in Review: The Best of Writer Beware by Victoria Strauss
Ray Bradbury's House, Sold for $1.76M, Being Torn Down by Carolyn Kellogg
Farpoint SF Media and Literature Convention coming to Timonium, MD in February 2015!
Write Stuff Conference coming to Bethlehem, PA in March 2015!
Smashwords CEO Mark Coker presents his publishing industry predictions for 2015 while James Scott Bell assures us that self-publishing will actually remain alive and well. Victoria Strauss reflects on the best of Writer Beware from 2014, while Marcy McKay successfuly examines failure.
On the convention scene, Farpoint is a mere four weeks away and brings a distinguished cadre of speculative fiction writers with special guest Timothy Zahn. Actor guests Colin Ferguson (Eureka, Haven) and Tim Russ (Star Trek: Voyager) will also join us for a weekend of fun and fandom!
In March, the Write Stuff writers conference will be led by keynote speaker, writer, and social media Jedi, Kristen Lamb, along with a variety of industry professionals including writers, agents, and editors. Three days of sessions on the craft of writing, editing, publishing, marketing, audio book recording, podcasting, writing children's books, writing memoir, writing for business, and much more.
Enjoy!
Kickstarter Tag Team Post: What's Asking Too Much? by Chuck Wendig and Laura Lam
Kickstarter Kerfuffle, Part Two: Thoughts and Clarifications by Chuck Wendig
2015 Book Publishing Industry Predictions: Slow Growth Presents Challenges and Opportunities for Authors by Mark Coker
Don't Muddle Your Message by Jodie Renner
The Self-Publishing Sky is Not Falling by James Scott Bell
Character Driven or Plot Driven? by Veronica Sicoe
We We Write, Why We Stop, and How We Can Possibly Restart and Keep Going by Julianna Baggott
The Two BEST Reasons to Fail as a Writer by Marcy McKay
2014 in Review: The Best of Writer Beware by Victoria Strauss
Ray Bradbury's House, Sold for $1.76M, Being Torn Down by Carolyn Kellogg
Farpoint SF Media and Literature Convention coming to Timonium, MD in February 2015!
Write Stuff Conference coming to Bethlehem, PA in March 2015!
January 11, 2015
The Write Stuff Conference is LIVE!
Registration for the Write Stuff Conference opens tomorrow, January 12!
I am proud to announce Kristen Lamb as our keynote speaker and workshop leader for the Write Stuff conference to be held March 26-28, 2015 at the Best Western Inn, 300 Gateway Drive, Bethlehem, PA.
This conference is sponsored by the Greater Lehigh Valley Writers Group. Our august cadre of writers include Becky Bartlett, Michael Jan Friedman, Donna Galanti, Tina Gallagher, Geoff Gehman, Pattie Giordano, Bart Palamaro, Aaron Rosenberg, Curtis J. Smith, Richard White, and Steven H. Wilson.
We will also be joined by editors Christine Richards with Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas and Katherine Ernst of Jasper Ridge Press.
Agents include Claire Anderson-Wheeler of Regal-Hoffman and Associates, Patricia Nelson of Marsal Lyon Literary Agency, David E. Fessenden of WordWise Media Services, and Alex Slater with Trident Media Group.
I am proud to announce Kristen Lamb as our keynote speaker and workshop leader for the Write Stuff conference to be held March 26-28, 2015 at the Best Western Inn, 300 Gateway Drive, Bethlehem, PA.
This conference is sponsored by the Greater Lehigh Valley Writers Group. Our august cadre of writers include Becky Bartlett, Michael Jan Friedman, Donna Galanti, Tina Gallagher, Geoff Gehman, Pattie Giordano, Bart Palamaro, Aaron Rosenberg, Curtis J. Smith, Richard White, and Steven H. Wilson.
We will also be joined by editors Christine Richards with Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas and Katherine Ernst of Jasper Ridge Press.
Agents include Claire Anderson-Wheeler of Regal-Hoffman and Associates, Patricia Nelson of Marsal Lyon Literary Agency, David E. Fessenden of WordWise Media Services, and Alex Slater with Trident Media Group.
January 1, 2015
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season. Here's hoping for a happy, healthy, and prosperous year for everyone. What resolutions or plans have you made?
Looking ahead, 2015 certainly seems replete with challenges and potential. For the rest of January, this blog will see sparse updates as I have a deadline to meet for a short story this month and preparations for March's Write Stuff conference are becoming increasingly time intensive.
Every February, I'm excited to attend Farpoint convention in Timonium, MD. This year, celebrity guests include Colin Ferguson (Eureka, Haven) and Tim Russ (Star Trek: Voyager). Writer guest of honor is Timothy Zahn. Other writer guests include Peter David, Bob Greenberger, Michael Jan Friedman, Aaron Rosenberg, Howard Weinstein, Richard White, Don Sakers, Danielle Ackley-McPhail, Allyn Gibson, Kelly Meding, Steven H. Wilson, Phil Giunta, Lance Woods, Kelly Meding, and more!
In March, the Lehigh Valley's annual writers conference will celebrate it's 22nd year! The Write Stuff will bring in keynote speaker Kristen Lamb and presenters Michael Jan Friedman, Richard White, Steven H. Wilson, Aaron Rosenberg, Geoff Gehman, Donna Galanti, Becky Bartlett, Curtis J. Smith, Bart Palamaro, Pattie Giordano, Tina Gallagher, Chris Richards, and Gabriela Pereira.
Agents include Claire Anderson-Wheeler of Regal Hoffman & Associates, David E. Fessenden with WordWise Media Service, Cassie Hanjian with Waxman Leavell, Patricia Nelson with Marsal Lyon Literary Agency. We will also have editors Katherine Ernst of Jasper Ridge Press and J. Christine Richards of Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas.
The Write Stuff is sponsored by the Greater Lehigh Valley Writers Group (GLVWG). At the conference, we will launch GLVWG Writes Stuff, an anthology of short stories and essays written by the group's members including my story "My New Shiny" and essay, "Write or Die."
This year, I'm eager to edit a second anthology for Firebringer Press called Elsewhere in the MIddle of Eternity, due out in 2016. It will contain stories from returning contributors Stuart Roth, Amanda Headlee, Susanna Reilly, Michael Critzer, Steven H. Wilson, Michael Critzer, Lance Woods, Daniel Patrick Corcoran, and myself. There will be new writers involved as well. Phenomenal artist Michael Riehl will once again create our cover and interior art. More info as the project progresses.
I also await feedback from the publisher on my paranormal thriller novella, Like Mother, Like Daughters, which was submitted in September, and I'm still developing a SF novel that's been simmering for years.
Once the Write Stuff is over, it will be time to turn my attention to my IT career and renew my MCSE (Microsoft Certified Solutions Engineer) certification. Studying for this, and taking all of the requisite exams, will likely consume my spring and summer. Unfortunately, this will defer my fiction writing until such time as I complete this goal.
Of course, I look forward to attending Balticon and Shore Leave as a writer guest later this year.
For now, I hope you achieve all of your plans and goals in the coming year and wish you nothing but success and joy!
Looking ahead, 2015 certainly seems replete with challenges and potential. For the rest of January, this blog will see sparse updates as I have a deadline to meet for a short story this month and preparations for March's Write Stuff conference are becoming increasingly time intensive.
Every February, I'm excited to attend Farpoint convention in Timonium, MD. This year, celebrity guests include Colin Ferguson (Eureka, Haven) and Tim Russ (Star Trek: Voyager). Writer guest of honor is Timothy Zahn. Other writer guests include Peter David, Bob Greenberger, Michael Jan Friedman, Aaron Rosenberg, Howard Weinstein, Richard White, Don Sakers, Danielle Ackley-McPhail, Allyn Gibson, Kelly Meding, Steven H. Wilson, Phil Giunta, Lance Woods, Kelly Meding, and more!
In March, the Lehigh Valley's annual writers conference will celebrate it's 22nd year! The Write Stuff will bring in keynote speaker Kristen Lamb and presenters Michael Jan Friedman, Richard White, Steven H. Wilson, Aaron Rosenberg, Geoff Gehman, Donna Galanti, Becky Bartlett, Curtis J. Smith, Bart Palamaro, Pattie Giordano, Tina Gallagher, Chris Richards, and Gabriela Pereira.
Agents include Claire Anderson-Wheeler of Regal Hoffman & Associates, David E. Fessenden with WordWise Media Service, Cassie Hanjian with Waxman Leavell, Patricia Nelson with Marsal Lyon Literary Agency. We will also have editors Katherine Ernst of Jasper Ridge Press and J. Christine Richards of Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas.
The Write Stuff is sponsored by the Greater Lehigh Valley Writers Group (GLVWG). At the conference, we will launch GLVWG Writes Stuff, an anthology of short stories and essays written by the group's members including my story "My New Shiny" and essay, "Write or Die."
This year, I'm eager to edit a second anthology for Firebringer Press called Elsewhere in the MIddle of Eternity, due out in 2016. It will contain stories from returning contributors Stuart Roth, Amanda Headlee, Susanna Reilly, Michael Critzer, Steven H. Wilson, Michael Critzer, Lance Woods, Daniel Patrick Corcoran, and myself. There will be new writers involved as well. Phenomenal artist Michael Riehl will once again create our cover and interior art. More info as the project progresses.
I also await feedback from the publisher on my paranormal thriller novella, Like Mother, Like Daughters, which was submitted in September, and I'm still developing a SF novel that's been simmering for years.
Once the Write Stuff is over, it will be time to turn my attention to my IT career and renew my MCSE (Microsoft Certified Solutions Engineer) certification. Studying for this, and taking all of the requisite exams, will likely consume my spring and summer. Unfortunately, this will defer my fiction writing until such time as I complete this goal.
Of course, I look forward to attending Balticon and Shore Leave as a writer guest later this year.
For now, I hope you achieve all of your plans and goals in the coming year and wish you nothing but success and joy!
November 28, 2014
About This Writing Stuff...
This week, science proves that reading fiction increases one's empathy and loyalty. Philip Maughan questions the apparent increase in religious themes in fiction. Writer Beware's Victoria Strauss offers advice on how to properly rid yourself of a deadbeat publisher while Kristen Lamb proposes that fatigue might make us better writers.
From Writer Unboxed, Donald Maass offers suggestions on plotting the unplottable (is that even a word?) while Elizabeth Craig examines the pros and cons of outlining.
I also have an update on the Write Stuff conference coming in March to Bethlehem, PA! All that a little more...enjoy!
Arthur C. Clarke Describes the Future of the Internet in 1974 via You Tube
Science Shows Something Surprising About Those Who Still Read Fiction by Gabe Bergado
The Books of Revelations: Why Are Novelists Turning Back to Religion? by Philip Maughan
Outlining: Why I Made the Switch and Tips for Trying It by Elizabeth S. Craig
Jodi Picoult Says Fuck You to Lit World Sexism (and Nicholas Sparks) by Madeleine Davies
Don't Do This: The Wrong Ways to Try and Escape Your Deadbeat Publisher by Victoria Strauss
Paul Kupperberg: Life with Archie and Beyond by Robert J. Sodaro
Can Being Tired Make Us Better Writers? by Kristen Lamb
10 Things Successful Authors Do by Writers Write
Plotting the Non-Plot Driven Novel by Donald Maass
Click here for a preview of the Write Stuff Conference coming March 26-28, 2015 to Bethelehem, PA! Keynote speaker and conference presenter: Kristen Lamb.
Additional presenters include Chris Richards, Bart Palamaro, Becky Bartlett, Donna Galanti, Michael Jan Friedman, Geoff Gehman, Gabriela Pereira, Aaron Rosenberg, Curtis J. Smith, Richard White, and Steven H. Wilson. Critique sessions, agent/pitch sessions, book fair, and more! Registration opens in January!
Happy Holidays!!!
From Writer Unboxed, Donald Maass offers suggestions on plotting the unplottable (is that even a word?) while Elizabeth Craig examines the pros and cons of outlining.
I also have an update on the Write Stuff conference coming in March to Bethlehem, PA! All that a little more...enjoy!
Arthur C. Clarke Describes the Future of the Internet in 1974 via You Tube
Science Shows Something Surprising About Those Who Still Read Fiction by Gabe Bergado
The Books of Revelations: Why Are Novelists Turning Back to Religion? by Philip Maughan
Outlining: Why I Made the Switch and Tips for Trying It by Elizabeth S. Craig
Jodi Picoult Says Fuck You to Lit World Sexism (and Nicholas Sparks) by Madeleine Davies
Don't Do This: The Wrong Ways to Try and Escape Your Deadbeat Publisher by Victoria Strauss
Paul Kupperberg: Life with Archie and Beyond by Robert J. Sodaro
Can Being Tired Make Us Better Writers? by Kristen Lamb
10 Things Successful Authors Do by Writers Write
Plotting the Non-Plot Driven Novel by Donald Maass
Click here for a preview of the Write Stuff Conference coming March 26-28, 2015 to Bethelehem, PA! Keynote speaker and conference presenter: Kristen Lamb.
Additional presenters include Chris Richards, Bart Palamaro, Becky Bartlett, Donna Galanti, Michael Jan Friedman, Geoff Gehman, Gabriela Pereira, Aaron Rosenberg, Curtis J. Smith, Richard White, and Steven H. Wilson. Critique sessions, agent/pitch sessions, book fair, and more! Registration opens in January!
Happy Holidays!!!
November 26, 2014
Somewhere in the Middle of Eternity in now available on Kindle!
Our new anthology,
Somewhere in the Middle of Eternity, is now available for Kindle
! Thirteen stories of science fiction, fantasy, and the paranormal for the affordable price of $2.99!
In eternity, all stories are timeless.
Devastated by war, a young couple finds healing through the intervention of a magical fox...
A man obsessed with a burlesque dancer discovers she may not be the beauty she seemed from afar...
Desperate to save his dying wife, an exiled scientist makes a discovery that could change the fate of a galaxy...
An Irishman finally confronts the specter of death that has tormented him since childhood...
An ex-con's hearing aid picks up a vintage radio show that never aired, leading her to a confrontation with the unexpected...
These are but a few of the imaginative tales awaiting you within these pages as chronicled by Daniel Patrick Corcoran, Michael Critzer, Phil Giunta, Amanda Headlee, Susanna Reilly, Stuart S. Roth, Steven H. Wilson and Lance Woods.
In eternity, all stories are timeless.
Devastated by war, a young couple finds healing through the intervention of a magical fox...
A man obsessed with a burlesque dancer discovers she may not be the beauty she seemed from afar...
Desperate to save his dying wife, an exiled scientist makes a discovery that could change the fate of a galaxy...
An Irishman finally confronts the specter of death that has tormented him since childhood...
An ex-con's hearing aid picks up a vintage radio show that never aired, leading her to a confrontation with the unexpected...
These are but a few of the imaginative tales awaiting you within these pages as chronicled by Daniel Patrick Corcoran, Michael Critzer, Phil Giunta, Amanda Headlee, Susanna Reilly, Stuart S. Roth, Steven H. Wilson and Lance Woods.
November 21, 2014
About This Writing Stuff...
This week, Jami Gold presents two helpful articles on research while Nancy Cohen exorcises those vexing gerunds. James Scott Bell examines whether self-publishing is suitable for literary fiction. The Sarcastic Muse takes us back to basics on conflict and punctuation. Digital Book World's Beth Bacon offers a three-part series on book promotion techniques.
All that and a bit more. Enjoy!
Nook Launches Audiobook App for Android by Digital Book World
Burying the Hachette: eBook Pricing Feud Finished by Danny O. Snow
6 Steps to Researching a Story by Tracy L. Ward via Jami Gold
Diversity in Writing: Researching Characters by Melinda Primrose via Jami Gold
Gerunds be Gone by Nancy J. Cohen
Literary Fiction and Self-Publishing by James Scott Bell
Writing 101: Conflict by Chris Musgrave
Phonetic Punctuation: How Do You Hear Punctuation Marks in Your Writing? by Michelle Mueller
Beth Bacon's "Book Marketing That Works Today" Series
Part One: Book Reviews
Part Two: Email Promotions
Part Three: Ignore the Expensive Launch
All that and a bit more. Enjoy!
Nook Launches Audiobook App for Android by Digital Book World
Burying the Hachette: eBook Pricing Feud Finished by Danny O. Snow
6 Steps to Researching a Story by Tracy L. Ward via Jami Gold
Diversity in Writing: Researching Characters by Melinda Primrose via Jami Gold
Gerunds be Gone by Nancy J. Cohen
Literary Fiction and Self-Publishing by James Scott Bell
Writing 101: Conflict by Chris Musgrave
Phonetic Punctuation: How Do You Hear Punctuation Marks in Your Writing? by Michelle Mueller
Beth Bacon's "Book Marketing That Works Today" Series
Part One: Book Reviews
Part Two: Email Promotions
Part Three: Ignore the Expensive Launch
November 19, 2014
Book Review: A Gift from Earth by Larry Niven
Centuries ago, a series of ramrobot probes had been launched from Earth. One happened to land on a world that would soon become known as Mount Lookitthat. By sheer luck, the probe touched down on the Plateau, a mountain that loomed above the toxic gases that permeate the entire planet. After receiving the probe's telemetry, two slowboats arrived carrying colonists. To their dismay, the Plateau was the only habitable landmass on the planet. Worse, it was smaller than anticipated, roughly half the size of California, but the slowboats had been designed for a one-way trip. Thus, the humans had little choice but to settle there.
At the time, it had been agreed upon that the crews of the Planck and Arthur Clarke would become the rulers of the colony. The Plateau was then divided into territories with the crew residing on Alpha Plateau and the colonists on Beta, Delta, Gamma, and Iota. Both slowboats had been refitted as additional space for the enormous Hospital constructed on Alpha Plateau. It was from the Hospital that the crew governed Mount Lookitthat. The slowboats had also been converted for use as power plants for the entire colony.
Over the course of three centuries, a caste system evolved. Descendants of the crew (the upper-class) looked at the colonists with disdain. Few colonists ever stepped foot on Alpha Plateau unless they required medical treatment--or were sentenced to death. Capital punishment on Mount Lookitthat entailed the harvesting the accused's vital organs. The rest of the body was cremated. There was simply no space for burials on Mount Lookitthat.
The organ banks quickly became an instrument of fear and allowed a dictatorship to form, as well as a resistance group called the Sons of Earth led by Harry Kane and Jayhawk Hood. For years, they had tried and failed to form a revolution against the government...until Matthew Keller entered the scene. A miner from Delta Plateau, Keller never quite understood the usual psychic ability he possessed that made people suddenly forget he was right in front of them.
When Keller is invited to a party at Jay Hood's house, he finds himself thrust into the middle of chaos when the home is raided by the special police force known as Implementation under the leadership of the ruthless Jesus Pietro Castro. Several members of the Sons of Earth are captured and taken to the Hospital to be executed. With fear triggering his mental ability, Keller manages to escape unnoticed, but finds himself hunted by Castro. Will Keller be able to rescue his friends from the Hospital and assist them in a revolution against Castro and the crew?
I found A Gift from Earth to be a fun read in a unique milieu, but awkward sentence structures and occasional clumsy wording made it seem like an early draft rather than a final, polished work. Matthew Keller's character arc was strong, and Castro was refreshingly well-developed as the antagonist with internal monologues, foibles, and fears. The supporting characters of Kane, Hood, and others were mostly two-dimensional and changed little from beginning to end.
Next up, one of Larry Niven's most critically acclaimed novels, Protector.
At the time, it had been agreed upon that the crews of the Planck and Arthur Clarke would become the rulers of the colony. The Plateau was then divided into territories with the crew residing on Alpha Plateau and the colonists on Beta, Delta, Gamma, and Iota. Both slowboats had been refitted as additional space for the enormous Hospital constructed on Alpha Plateau. It was from the Hospital that the crew governed Mount Lookitthat. The slowboats had also been converted for use as power plants for the entire colony.
Over the course of three centuries, a caste system evolved. Descendants of the crew (the upper-class) looked at the colonists with disdain. Few colonists ever stepped foot on Alpha Plateau unless they required medical treatment--or were sentenced to death. Capital punishment on Mount Lookitthat entailed the harvesting the accused's vital organs. The rest of the body was cremated. There was simply no space for burials on Mount Lookitthat.
The organ banks quickly became an instrument of fear and allowed a dictatorship to form, as well as a resistance group called the Sons of Earth led by Harry Kane and Jayhawk Hood. For years, they had tried and failed to form a revolution against the government...until Matthew Keller entered the scene. A miner from Delta Plateau, Keller never quite understood the usual psychic ability he possessed that made people suddenly forget he was right in front of them.
When Keller is invited to a party at Jay Hood's house, he finds himself thrust into the middle of chaos when the home is raided by the special police force known as Implementation under the leadership of the ruthless Jesus Pietro Castro. Several members of the Sons of Earth are captured and taken to the Hospital to be executed. With fear triggering his mental ability, Keller manages to escape unnoticed, but finds himself hunted by Castro. Will Keller be able to rescue his friends from the Hospital and assist them in a revolution against Castro and the crew?
I found A Gift from Earth to be a fun read in a unique milieu, but awkward sentence structures and occasional clumsy wording made it seem like an early draft rather than a final, polished work. Matthew Keller's character arc was strong, and Castro was refreshingly well-developed as the antagonist with internal monologues, foibles, and fears. The supporting characters of Kane, Hood, and others were mostly two-dimensional and changed little from beginning to end.
Next up, one of Larry Niven's most critically acclaimed novels, Protector.
November 11, 2014
Bucks County Writers Showcase - December 6
I will be joined by fellow writers Kathryn Craft, Amanda Headlee, and Sue Reilly for this fantastic event!
Bucks County Writers Showcase
IQnection is pleased to support local Bucks County writers. On December 6th from 10am-2pm we will be hosting a Bucks County Writers Showcase event at our office on Ferry Road. Over 25 local authors will be on hand with their books to help you finish your holiday shopping.
10:00am - 2:00pm we will be open for you to meet local authors and purchase books for gifts or for your own enjoyment.
Shop for your holiday gifts and support local authors!
