Joseph Baneth Allen's Blog, page 37
April 27, 2024
The Fellowship Of The Talisman
Just finished reading "The Fellowship Of The Talisman" by Clifford D. Simak, first published by Del Rey Books back in 1978.
Now while I had previously read and enjoyed "Way Station," "A Heritage Of Stars," by Clifford D. Simak, I deliberately choose not to read this novel because several of my teachers at Camp Lejeune High School and some of my fellow students aggressively tried to get me to read Simak's first foray into fantasy when it was released. Mrs. Johnson, my English teacher, even went as far as to buy me a hardcover copy of the book - back then it retailed for $8.95 - but I refused to accept it from her.
"The Fellowship Of The Talisman" is a Christian allegory novel that is sent in an alternative timeline of 1970, where humanity has not progressed much beyond the Dark Ages. The discovery of a parchment in the basement of Standish Castle that is believed to be an authentic telling of Christ's ministry. So Duncan Standish and his friend Conrad are sent off on a quest to have the parchment authenticated by the only person who can read the language on the test - Bishop Wise at Oxenford. The goal is to have the document authenticated as the true words of Christ and that will allow for the great Evil in the world to be defeated by the Light of Christ's words. Keep in mind that I am summarizing this novel that Simak wrote.
The reason why I did not read this novel back in 1978 is because of the belief that some Christians still have to this day is that all a Jew has to do is to actually read the New Testament and they'll become a believer and renounce their stiff-necked ways and beg for forgiveness for ever refusing to believe in the divinity of Jesus. These Christians are not above loudly proclaiming what I call "the magic phrase" from the New Testament which is supposed to magically convert a Jew when they hear it - which is any text from the New Testament which they think proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that Jesus is actually G_D and divine.
Christians tend to overlook that the messiah in Judaism is not divine, is merely a representative of G_D's laws on Earth, and oh, can be a woman or man who eventually dies and returns to dust.
I had read reviews of Simak's fantasy novel, so I knew the basic story line and I didn't want to deal with people who I thought of a stupid Christians trying to covertly convert me.
Sometimes I didn't charge deliberately into battle with my teachers and fellow classmates. And while I'm glad that my sister Selma Franz didn't encounter that same problems I did at Camp Lejeune High School over our faith, I still am a bit jealous of fact that she wasn't, at that time 8 years later, the only Jewish student at the high school.
Christian allegories are essentially Arthurian-style quest novels where the woman, in this instance, Diane, is more than what she seems. Simak hint's that Diane is as worthy as King Arthur and Christ, as she is given a jeweled-encrusted sword that protects her with a mind of it's own.
Yet Simak did something bold with "The Fellowship Of The Talisman" by showing that faith does not need proof or validation, but you must stand your ground in your faith and belief - making it oddly an ideal Hassadic novel of Jewish thought and tradition.
In his later novels, Simak did explore various Christian religious themes and always concluded that faith can never have a complete resolution - you just go on.
Strongly Recommended.
Five Stars.
https://www.amazon.com/Fellowship-Tal...
Now while I had previously read and enjoyed "Way Station," "A Heritage Of Stars," by Clifford D. Simak, I deliberately choose not to read this novel because several of my teachers at Camp Lejeune High School and some of my fellow students aggressively tried to get me to read Simak's first foray into fantasy when it was released. Mrs. Johnson, my English teacher, even went as far as to buy me a hardcover copy of the book - back then it retailed for $8.95 - but I refused to accept it from her.
"The Fellowship Of The Talisman" is a Christian allegory novel that is sent in an alternative timeline of 1970, where humanity has not progressed much beyond the Dark Ages. The discovery of a parchment in the basement of Standish Castle that is believed to be an authentic telling of Christ's ministry. So Duncan Standish and his friend Conrad are sent off on a quest to have the parchment authenticated by the only person who can read the language on the test - Bishop Wise at Oxenford. The goal is to have the document authenticated as the true words of Christ and that will allow for the great Evil in the world to be defeated by the Light of Christ's words. Keep in mind that I am summarizing this novel that Simak wrote.
The reason why I did not read this novel back in 1978 is because of the belief that some Christians still have to this day is that all a Jew has to do is to actually read the New Testament and they'll become a believer and renounce their stiff-necked ways and beg for forgiveness for ever refusing to believe in the divinity of Jesus. These Christians are not above loudly proclaiming what I call "the magic phrase" from the New Testament which is supposed to magically convert a Jew when they hear it - which is any text from the New Testament which they think proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that Jesus is actually G_D and divine.
Christians tend to overlook that the messiah in Judaism is not divine, is merely a representative of G_D's laws on Earth, and oh, can be a woman or man who eventually dies and returns to dust.
I had read reviews of Simak's fantasy novel, so I knew the basic story line and I didn't want to deal with people who I thought of a stupid Christians trying to covertly convert me.
Sometimes I didn't charge deliberately into battle with my teachers and fellow classmates. And while I'm glad that my sister Selma Franz didn't encounter that same problems I did at Camp Lejeune High School over our faith, I still am a bit jealous of fact that she wasn't, at that time 8 years later, the only Jewish student at the high school.
Christian allegories are essentially Arthurian-style quest novels where the woman, in this instance, Diane, is more than what she seems. Simak hint's that Diane is as worthy as King Arthur and Christ, as she is given a jeweled-encrusted sword that protects her with a mind of it's own.
Yet Simak did something bold with "The Fellowship Of The Talisman" by showing that faith does not need proof or validation, but you must stand your ground in your faith and belief - making it oddly an ideal Hassadic novel of Jewish thought and tradition.
In his later novels, Simak did explore various Christian religious themes and always concluded that faith can never have a complete resolution - you just go on.
Strongly Recommended.
Five Stars.
https://www.amazon.com/Fellowship-Tal...
April 21, 2024
First Action Bureau
Just finished listening to "First Action Bureau" released by Anderson Entertainment.
First Action Bureau is an Anderson spy-fi series created and written by Jamie Anderson and Nicholas Briggs. Series one of this new Anderverse full-cast audio drama was initially released as a 10 x 10-minute weekly podcast before being released on CD.
First Action Bureau is a new universe in the Andersonverse. The First Action Bureau a shadow organization in the near-Utopian future of 2068 that exists to protect the Earth and employs highly trained assassins to kill anyone they deem is a threat to the general public welfare.
Nero Jones is the bureau's best assassin. Only she is suffering from headaches and bizzare dreams after missions and it turns out that her reality is slowing being eroded away.
I don't know if there will be more audio releases in this series. A book has been released and the Gerry Anderson website is strangely silent on any future plans for this audio drama.
Not a great audio drama because it seems to lack the basic elements of a traditional Gerry Anderson series and has not likable and relatable characters, nor it is breaking any new grounds with an innovative and original story line. The notion of an assassin being programmed by someone who has taken over a spy agency has been done before.
Recommended of your a huge fan of Gerry Anderson Entertainment, but I think you're going to be disappointed this series.
Two-and-a-half Stars.
https://shop.gerryanderson.com/en-us/...
First Action Bureau is an Anderson spy-fi series created and written by Jamie Anderson and Nicholas Briggs. Series one of this new Anderverse full-cast audio drama was initially released as a 10 x 10-minute weekly podcast before being released on CD.
First Action Bureau is a new universe in the Andersonverse. The First Action Bureau a shadow organization in the near-Utopian future of 2068 that exists to protect the Earth and employs highly trained assassins to kill anyone they deem is a threat to the general public welfare.
Nero Jones is the bureau's best assassin. Only she is suffering from headaches and bizzare dreams after missions and it turns out that her reality is slowing being eroded away.
I don't know if there will be more audio releases in this series. A book has been released and the Gerry Anderson website is strangely silent on any future plans for this audio drama.
Not a great audio drama because it seems to lack the basic elements of a traditional Gerry Anderson series and has not likable and relatable characters, nor it is breaking any new grounds with an innovative and original story line. The notion of an assassin being programmed by someone who has taken over a spy agency has been done before.
Recommended of your a huge fan of Gerry Anderson Entertainment, but I think you're going to be disappointed this series.
Two-and-a-half Stars.
https://shop.gerryanderson.com/en-us/...
April 20, 2024
Colonyside
Just finished reading "Colonyside" by Michael Mammay, published by Harper Voyager.
Having survived the events of that helped him save the surviving Cappans from the machinations of the Omicron Corporation now retired Colonel Carl Butler is living alone on a backwoods planet of Ridia Two. He's developed a healthy interest in gardening and the quiet lifestyle has done wonders for him. Then General Serata, his former superior officer, shows up and ruins the idyllic setting by recruiting Carl for another job. It seems that a powerful CEO's daughter has died under some flaky circumstances and the grieving father wants do know why. Since Carl's own daughter died young, he feels an affinity for the guy and accepts the job - and that turns out to be his mistake.
Reunited with members of his former team, Carl tries to solve the mystery while dealing with shady defense contractors, stubborn military officials, crooked politicians, protesters, a toxic alien environment, and his own moral dilemmas which make him a compelling, flawed character.
I'm looking forward to the release of the fourth book in this series.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Colonyside-Pla...
Having survived the events of that helped him save the surviving Cappans from the machinations of the Omicron Corporation now retired Colonel Carl Butler is living alone on a backwoods planet of Ridia Two. He's developed a healthy interest in gardening and the quiet lifestyle has done wonders for him. Then General Serata, his former superior officer, shows up and ruins the idyllic setting by recruiting Carl for another job. It seems that a powerful CEO's daughter has died under some flaky circumstances and the grieving father wants do know why. Since Carl's own daughter died young, he feels an affinity for the guy and accepts the job - and that turns out to be his mistake.
Reunited with members of his former team, Carl tries to solve the mystery while dealing with shady defense contractors, stubborn military officials, crooked politicians, protesters, a toxic alien environment, and his own moral dilemmas which make him a compelling, flawed character.
I'm looking forward to the release of the fourth book in this series.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Colonyside-Pla...
"The Destroyer #98 - Target of Opportunity"
Just finished listening to "The Destroyer #98 - Target of Opportunity" released by GraphicAudio.
The Destroyer series was created by Warren Murphy and Richard Sapir back 1963, with the first book in the series being published in 1971.
Remo Williams, a Newark cop framed for a crime and sentenced to death. His death is faked by the government so he can be trained as an assassin for CURE, a secret organization set up by President Kennedy to defend the country by working outside the law. The head of CURE is Harold W. Smith, a man selected by the President not only for his brilliant mind but also because of his integrity. Smith is a former law instructor at Yale and served in the Office of Strategic Services during World War II.
Remo's trainer and father figure is Chiun, a deadly assassin and the last Master of Sinanju. It has also emerged that Remo is the Avatar of Shiva, as prophesied in the legends of Sinanju.
Will Murray, who is best known perhaps for continuing the Doc Savage adventures in the pulp tradition wrote some of the The Destroyer novels for about a decade from the late 1980s to the 1990s.
The Destroyer novels are tongue-firmly-in-cheek adventure novels that mixtures humor, satire, with heavy dozes of violence and death. Mom and Dad loved listening to these adaptations of the later books in the series released by GraphicAudo, and yes, this has been sitting in my tsundoku, my antilibrary of audio drama CDs that is sitting on top of the massive oak roll top accountant's desk in my sister's old bedroom - which is now my default storage space.
It does help to be aware of the story lines that run through The Destroyer series. In "Target of Opportunity," Remo has seemingly quit CURE and is on a one man mission to clean up the crime that is plaguing Florida's theme park industry, when he is called back into duty once more over the apparent assassination of the President of the United States by someone who is the spitting image of Lee Harvey Oswald.
With Smith still trying to rebuild's CURE's network after it was previously destroyed, and Remo and Chiun are running up against blind end after blind end as time is running out to uncover who is trying to kill the President and why.
GREAT FUN!
TEN STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Target-Opportu...
The Destroyer series was created by Warren Murphy and Richard Sapir back 1963, with the first book in the series being published in 1971.
Remo Williams, a Newark cop framed for a crime and sentenced to death. His death is faked by the government so he can be trained as an assassin for CURE, a secret organization set up by President Kennedy to defend the country by working outside the law. The head of CURE is Harold W. Smith, a man selected by the President not only for his brilliant mind but also because of his integrity. Smith is a former law instructor at Yale and served in the Office of Strategic Services during World War II.
Remo's trainer and father figure is Chiun, a deadly assassin and the last Master of Sinanju. It has also emerged that Remo is the Avatar of Shiva, as prophesied in the legends of Sinanju.
Will Murray, who is best known perhaps for continuing the Doc Savage adventures in the pulp tradition wrote some of the The Destroyer novels for about a decade from the late 1980s to the 1990s.
The Destroyer novels are tongue-firmly-in-cheek adventure novels that mixtures humor, satire, with heavy dozes of violence and death. Mom and Dad loved listening to these adaptations of the later books in the series released by GraphicAudo, and yes, this has been sitting in my tsundoku, my antilibrary of audio drama CDs that is sitting on top of the massive oak roll top accountant's desk in my sister's old bedroom - which is now my default storage space.
It does help to be aware of the story lines that run through The Destroyer series. In "Target of Opportunity," Remo has seemingly quit CURE and is on a one man mission to clean up the crime that is plaguing Florida's theme park industry, when he is called back into duty once more over the apparent assassination of the President of the United States by someone who is the spitting image of Lee Harvey Oswald.
With Smith still trying to rebuild's CURE's network after it was previously destroyed, and Remo and Chiun are running up against blind end after blind end as time is running out to uncover who is trying to kill the President and why.
GREAT FUN!
TEN STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Target-Opportu...
April 17, 2024
Meet Mr. Majimpsey
Just finished reading "Meet Mr. Majimpsey" by John Hosken, and illustrated by Dave Eastbury, published by Pavilion Books back in 1987.
Sometimes you can find great and unexpected treasures among the shelves at Chamblin's Bookmine off of Roosevelt Boulevard here in Jacksonville, Florida.
When I was wondering about the shelves of Chamblin's Bookmine nearly 15 years ago, I came upon "Meet Mr. Majimpsey" in the science fiction section of the bookstore. I was intrigued by it, but I hesitated a bit because the price written in light pencil was $25.00. Still I could more than well afford it, so I went ahead and bought it, and it sat waiting in my tsundoku, my antilibrary since I brought it home so long ago. I just finally gotten around to reading it.
I believe John Hosken was a journalist and broadcaster who lived in Essex. (I'd have to defer to Steve on this one.)
What makes "Meet Mr. Majimpsey" so endearing is that it's a story of a father's love for his daughter who was taken away by his wife who fell out of love with him. For over three decades, exactly at 6:30 p.m. Mr. Majimpsey has read various classic children's novel faithfully to an empty bed. All his attempts to find his daughter met in failure, yet he dreams of finding her and remains faithful to her and his dream of finding her again.
And because of his steadfast faithfulness, Mr. Majimpsey is rewarded with Incredible Dreams that point the way to his long lost daughter, who we eventually learn, has always believed that someone was reading to her every evening and who tried to find her father too.
"Meet Mr. Majimpsey" is a classic story of a father's unwavering love for his daughter and his faith that he will find her again and in the Incredible Dreams that point him in the right direction to reuniting with his heart's delight.
"Meet Mr. Majimpsey" would definitely make an incredible movie. It is in keeping with the best of British fantasy novels.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.ebay.com/itm/325835303662...
Sometimes you can find great and unexpected treasures among the shelves at Chamblin's Bookmine off of Roosevelt Boulevard here in Jacksonville, Florida.
When I was wondering about the shelves of Chamblin's Bookmine nearly 15 years ago, I came upon "Meet Mr. Majimpsey" in the science fiction section of the bookstore. I was intrigued by it, but I hesitated a bit because the price written in light pencil was $25.00. Still I could more than well afford it, so I went ahead and bought it, and it sat waiting in my tsundoku, my antilibrary since I brought it home so long ago. I just finally gotten around to reading it.
I believe John Hosken was a journalist and broadcaster who lived in Essex. (I'd have to defer to Steve on this one.)
What makes "Meet Mr. Majimpsey" so endearing is that it's a story of a father's love for his daughter who was taken away by his wife who fell out of love with him. For over three decades, exactly at 6:30 p.m. Mr. Majimpsey has read various classic children's novel faithfully to an empty bed. All his attempts to find his daughter met in failure, yet he dreams of finding her and remains faithful to her and his dream of finding her again.
And because of his steadfast faithfulness, Mr. Majimpsey is rewarded with Incredible Dreams that point the way to his long lost daughter, who we eventually learn, has always believed that someone was reading to her every evening and who tried to find her father too.
"Meet Mr. Majimpsey" is a classic story of a father's unwavering love for his daughter and his faith that he will find her again and in the Incredible Dreams that point him in the right direction to reuniting with his heart's delight.
"Meet Mr. Majimpsey" would definitely make an incredible movie. It is in keeping with the best of British fantasy novels.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.ebay.com/itm/325835303662...
April 14, 2024
The Iron Maiden - A Nate Ward Adventure
Just finished listening to "The Iron Maiden - A Nate Ward Adventure," released by the H.P. Lovecraft Historical Society.
While the H.P. Lovecraft Historical Society usually focuses on audio drama adaptations of the classic stories by H.P. Lovecraft for it's Dark Adventure Radio Theatre, this is the first time they adapted a story by Prosper Mérimée, who was not only a writer of novellas and short stories, but he was also himself an archeologist and pioneer in the preservation of historical sites. From 1830 to 1860 he was the Inspector-General of French historical monuments, and oversaw the restoration of the facade of Notre Dame cathedral. As a writer he is perhaps most famous for the novella Carmen, which was the basis for the famous opera by Georges Bizet, among other things. Lovecraft mentions him in "Supernatural Horror in Literature", but admits in letters that when he did that he had not yet actually read "The Venus of Ille" which is ironic, considering that "The Iron Maiden" is an adaptation of.
"The Iron Maiden" does incorporate elements of Lovecraft's Cthulhu Mythos - Professor Nae Ward teaches at Miskatonic University and Arkham, along with the legend of immortal fish people are also mentioned, but the story for the most part remains true to Mérimée's supernatural haunting tale of the discovery of a discovery of a deliberately buried statue of a woman whose beauty also reflects a great cruelty. Sometimes it is good to let buried items remain buried.
I would like to hear more of Professor Ward's remembrances.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.hplhs.org/darttim.php
While the H.P. Lovecraft Historical Society usually focuses on audio drama adaptations of the classic stories by H.P. Lovecraft for it's Dark Adventure Radio Theatre, this is the first time they adapted a story by Prosper Mérimée, who was not only a writer of novellas and short stories, but he was also himself an archeologist and pioneer in the preservation of historical sites. From 1830 to 1860 he was the Inspector-General of French historical monuments, and oversaw the restoration of the facade of Notre Dame cathedral. As a writer he is perhaps most famous for the novella Carmen, which was the basis for the famous opera by Georges Bizet, among other things. Lovecraft mentions him in "Supernatural Horror in Literature", but admits in letters that when he did that he had not yet actually read "The Venus of Ille" which is ironic, considering that "The Iron Maiden" is an adaptation of.
"The Iron Maiden" does incorporate elements of Lovecraft's Cthulhu Mythos - Professor Nae Ward teaches at Miskatonic University and Arkham, along with the legend of immortal fish people are also mentioned, but the story for the most part remains true to Mérimée's supernatural haunting tale of the discovery of a discovery of a deliberately buried statue of a woman whose beauty also reflects a great cruelty. Sometimes it is good to let buried items remain buried.
I would like to hear more of Professor Ward's remembrances.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.hplhs.org/darttim.php
April 13, 2024
The Phil Harris & Alice Faye Show - The First 20 Episodes
Just finished listening to "The Phil Harris & Alice Faye Show - The First 20 Episodes" released by Radio Spirits back in 2018.
Now I believe "The Phil Harris & Alice Faye Show - The First 20 Episodes"is no longer in print. It was sitting in my antilibrary, my tsundoku, of audio drama/comedy CDs for the past six years.
The Phil Harris & Alice Faye Show enjoyed an eight year run on the radio and belonged in the same universe of the Jack Benny Show from which it was originally spun off from. It should be noted the both Phil Harris and Alice Faye did not follow the trend of the time to make the transition from radio to television.
This collection contains the first 20 episodes from Rexall's sponsorship of the program.
My favorite episodes from this collection are: "First Show For Rexall," "Homework," "New Drug," "The Engagment Ring," "Truman's Inaugural," "Phil is Drafted," and "The Live Steer."
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Phil-Harris-Al...
Now I believe "The Phil Harris & Alice Faye Show - The First 20 Episodes"is no longer in print. It was sitting in my antilibrary, my tsundoku, of audio drama/comedy CDs for the past six years.
The Phil Harris & Alice Faye Show enjoyed an eight year run on the radio and belonged in the same universe of the Jack Benny Show from which it was originally spun off from. It should be noted the both Phil Harris and Alice Faye did not follow the trend of the time to make the transition from radio to television.
This collection contains the first 20 episodes from Rexall's sponsorship of the program.
My favorite episodes from this collection are: "First Show For Rexall," "Homework," "New Drug," "The Engagment Ring," "Truman's Inaugural," "Phil is Drafted," and "The Live Steer."
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Phil-Harris-Al...
A History Of Judaism
Just finished reading "A History Of Judaism" by Martin Goodman, released by Princeton University Press.
"A History Of Judaism" is another example of a book that was sitting in my tsundoku, my antilibrary, since I brought if from the Barnes & Noble near where I live back in 2018.
Goodman presents a sweeping history of Judaism for the past three millennia. In placing the development of Judaism in its various historical and geographical contexts from the fertile belt 2000 BCE via Rome and Europe 70-1500 CE, 1500-1800 CE and 1750-now, the book takes us on a grand historical sweep which incorporates discussions around deserts, tribes, Pharisees, Sadduces, Zealots, purity, Sabbath, magic, daemons, angels, Rabbinism, Hasidism, the State of Israel, and the raise of Reform Judaism.z
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/History-Judais...
"A History Of Judaism" is another example of a book that was sitting in my tsundoku, my antilibrary, since I brought if from the Barnes & Noble near where I live back in 2018.
Goodman presents a sweeping history of Judaism for the past three millennia. In placing the development of Judaism in its various historical and geographical contexts from the fertile belt 2000 BCE via Rome and Europe 70-1500 CE, 1500-1800 CE and 1750-now, the book takes us on a grand historical sweep which incorporates discussions around deserts, tribes, Pharisees, Sadduces, Zealots, purity, Sabbath, magic, daemons, angels, Rabbinism, Hasidism, the State of Israel, and the raise of Reform Judaism.z
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/History-Judais...
April 7, 2024
Spaceside
Just finished reading "Spaceside" by Michael Mammy, published by Harper Voyager.
Taking a chance on a novel by a new author is always a hit and/or miss affair since it's a 50/50 chance that you might not like the book you've purchased - and returns can be a hassle because you have a limited window of opportunity to return the book on Amazon.
I'm glad I took a chance on Mammy's first novel "Planetside" which introduced Colonel Carl Butler who was asked to look into the disappearance of a missing soldier. Butler's discovery of human soldiers augmented with Cappan biotechnology led to his decision to destroy Cappa.
In "Spaceside" Butler is not adjusting well to his forced retirement He is not adjusting very well at all. He's working for a corporation but he's not happy with his job. His wife divorced him because of the fallout from his actions at Cappa. He drinks way too much. He suffers night terrors and flashbacks, and he's in therapy. But his guilt over the Cappans has become debilitating. Then he starts to see Cappans. He doesn't know if it's reality or hallucinations.
About this time he's drawn into a mystery pertaining to a rival corporation. His CEO asks him to look into it in order to protect his own company. The CEO's self-interest, not Carl's. And that's when Carl starts to come back to the land of the living. The mystery takes some ominous turns, and he doesn't know who to trust.
Ganos, Butler's reliable computer-geek systems analyst who has never met a system she couldn't hack, is also back.
And as the mystery unravels before Butler he may find himself once again committing an act of planetary destruction as a means of atonement for the genocide he was responsible for on Cappa.
Mammy has been compared to the late Jerry Pournelle, and there are some stylistic elements that Mammy uses that are similiar to Pournelle's beloved Janasaries series of military science fiction.
Strongly Recommended!
Five Stars!
https://www.amazon.com/Spaceside-Plan...
Taking a chance on a novel by a new author is always a hit and/or miss affair since it's a 50/50 chance that you might not like the book you've purchased - and returns can be a hassle because you have a limited window of opportunity to return the book on Amazon.
I'm glad I took a chance on Mammy's first novel "Planetside" which introduced Colonel Carl Butler who was asked to look into the disappearance of a missing soldier. Butler's discovery of human soldiers augmented with Cappan biotechnology led to his decision to destroy Cappa.
In "Spaceside" Butler is not adjusting well to his forced retirement He is not adjusting very well at all. He's working for a corporation but he's not happy with his job. His wife divorced him because of the fallout from his actions at Cappa. He drinks way too much. He suffers night terrors and flashbacks, and he's in therapy. But his guilt over the Cappans has become debilitating. Then he starts to see Cappans. He doesn't know if it's reality or hallucinations.
About this time he's drawn into a mystery pertaining to a rival corporation. His CEO asks him to look into it in order to protect his own company. The CEO's self-interest, not Carl's. And that's when Carl starts to come back to the land of the living. The mystery takes some ominous turns, and he doesn't know who to trust.
Ganos, Butler's reliable computer-geek systems analyst who has never met a system she couldn't hack, is also back.
And as the mystery unravels before Butler he may find himself once again committing an act of planetary destruction as a means of atonement for the genocide he was responsible for on Cappa.
Mammy has been compared to the late Jerry Pournelle, and there are some stylistic elements that Mammy uses that are similiar to Pournelle's beloved Janasaries series of military science fiction.
Strongly Recommended!
Five Stars!
https://www.amazon.com/Spaceside-Plan...
Bioluminescence
Just finished listening to "Bioluminescence" by Divine Matrix, released by A.D. Music.
Divine Matrix is the pseudonym of electronic musician and producer, Steve Barnes, who is a veteran of the dance music scene and has worked under many different guises and names over the years.
While "Bioluminescence" isn’t a sequencer based album, it still harks back to the early days of electronic space music.
My favorite tracks on this CD are "Strange Creatures," "Waitomo Caves," "Fireflies," "Photophore," "Fungi," and "Moon Jellies.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.admusicshop.com/product/d...
Divine Matrix is the pseudonym of electronic musician and producer, Steve Barnes, who is a veteran of the dance music scene and has worked under many different guises and names over the years.
While "Bioluminescence" isn’t a sequencer based album, it still harks back to the early days of electronic space music.
My favorite tracks on this CD are "Strange Creatures," "Waitomo Caves," "Fireflies," "Photophore," "Fungi," and "Moon Jellies.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.admusicshop.com/product/d...
