Joseph Baneth Allen's Blog, page 99
February 17, 2020
John Finnemore's Souvenir Programme - Series 8
Just finished listening to "John Finnemore's Souvenir Programme - Series 8" released by BBC Audio.
John Finnemore is a pure comic genius whose ability to create laughter out of the most unlikeliest of situations makes for enjoyable and delightful listening.
In Series 8 we learn what exactly happened to the dinosaurs and why they didn't survive the Great Flood; we're also treated to a song about Leda and Zeus, how John fudges on his bet not to eat cake for an entire year, a song about all the capitals in Europe, an amusing sketch about a young girl who wants to be a police dog handler when she grows up and the hysterically funny reason why she can't be, and why you should really listen to what a genie is telling you about the unexpected consequences of wishes. Oh, yes, and since you've asked for a story....Fans of John FInnemore's Souvenir Programme knows what this segue-ways into to.
GREAT FUN!
HIGH RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/John-Finnemore...
John Finnemore is a pure comic genius whose ability to create laughter out of the most unlikeliest of situations makes for enjoyable and delightful listening.
In Series 8 we learn what exactly happened to the dinosaurs and why they didn't survive the Great Flood; we're also treated to a song about Leda and Zeus, how John fudges on his bet not to eat cake for an entire year, a song about all the capitals in Europe, an amusing sketch about a young girl who wants to be a police dog handler when she grows up and the hysterically funny reason why she can't be, and why you should really listen to what a genie is telling you about the unexpected consequences of wishes. Oh, yes, and since you've asked for a story....Fans of John FInnemore's Souvenir Programme knows what this segue-ways into to.
GREAT FUN!
HIGH RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/John-Finnemore...
Space:1999 - Breakaway
Just finished listening to "Space: 1999 - Breakaway" released by Big FInish Productions.
"Space:1999" first came on the broadcast airwaves back in 1975 and was a syndicated science fiction show produced and created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson.
I do remember Isaac Asimov writing a review of "Space:1999" where he railed against the notion of a large nuclear explosion of any type being capable of hurtling the moon out of Earth's orbit and sending it an interstellar odyssey at faster-than-light speeds.
I also remember the seven minute series conclusion "Message From Moonbase Alpha" which revealed that the META signal, which was humanity's first detection of intelligence outside of the Solar System on the planet Meta, five light years away from Earth, was actually a message from Moonbase Alpha at an undisclosed time in the future where the Alphans are forced to abandon the moon for an uncertain future on a planet they dubbed Terra Alpha and that Maya had built a device capable of sending a message to back to Earth. Which turns out to be the META signal.
SPOILER ALERT: In Big Finish's audio adaption of Space:1999, the META signal causes the production of exotic matter particles which interact with the nuclear waste material stored on the moon, which creates a transversable worm-hole which sends the Moon on it's journey through space and time. Which begs the question - Series Two of the original television show established the fact that the destruction of Psychon caused the remaining survivors to go insane and that Maya only escaped that fate because of the friendships she established on Moonbase Alpha. In one compelling moment in the episode "Dorzak" Maya angrily confronts the Psychon poet when she learns of his crimes against the Croton Federation: "Is there something in Psychon nature that turns us all into monsters?"
Depending on how far Nicholas Briggs and his writers at Big Finish go, Maya is responsible for untold deaths on Earth with the META signal in this series re-imagining. She is also responsible for the deaths which occurred on Moonbase Alpha prior to the moon being ripped from orbit by the worm hole. Yet she may have had no choice in the matter, or didn't know what the effects of the META signal would be.
I greatly enjoyed listening to "Space:1999 - Breakaway" which was a thrilling and convincing audio drama adaption of the original series, and it was able to humanize all the characters more.
I look forward to future releases in this series.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
FIVE STARS
https://www.bigfinish.com/releases/v/...
"Space:1999" first came on the broadcast airwaves back in 1975 and was a syndicated science fiction show produced and created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson.
I do remember Isaac Asimov writing a review of "Space:1999" where he railed against the notion of a large nuclear explosion of any type being capable of hurtling the moon out of Earth's orbit and sending it an interstellar odyssey at faster-than-light speeds.
I also remember the seven minute series conclusion "Message From Moonbase Alpha" which revealed that the META signal, which was humanity's first detection of intelligence outside of the Solar System on the planet Meta, five light years away from Earth, was actually a message from Moonbase Alpha at an undisclosed time in the future where the Alphans are forced to abandon the moon for an uncertain future on a planet they dubbed Terra Alpha and that Maya had built a device capable of sending a message to back to Earth. Which turns out to be the META signal.
SPOILER ALERT: In Big Finish's audio adaption of Space:1999, the META signal causes the production of exotic matter particles which interact with the nuclear waste material stored on the moon, which creates a transversable worm-hole which sends the Moon on it's journey through space and time. Which begs the question - Series Two of the original television show established the fact that the destruction of Psychon caused the remaining survivors to go insane and that Maya only escaped that fate because of the friendships she established on Moonbase Alpha. In one compelling moment in the episode "Dorzak" Maya angrily confronts the Psychon poet when she learns of his crimes against the Croton Federation: "Is there something in Psychon nature that turns us all into monsters?"
Depending on how far Nicholas Briggs and his writers at Big Finish go, Maya is responsible for untold deaths on Earth with the META signal in this series re-imagining. She is also responsible for the deaths which occurred on Moonbase Alpha prior to the moon being ripped from orbit by the worm hole. Yet she may have had no choice in the matter, or didn't know what the effects of the META signal would be.
I greatly enjoyed listening to "Space:1999 - Breakaway" which was a thrilling and convincing audio drama adaption of the original series, and it was able to humanize all the characters more.
I look forward to future releases in this series.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
FIVE STARS
https://www.bigfinish.com/releases/v/...
January 18, 2020
"The Last Astronaut" by David Wellington released by Orbit Book
Just finished reading "The Last Astronaut" by David Wellington released by Orbit Books.
Unfortunately "The Last Astronaut" doesn't break any new ground or present any intriguing science fiction concepts - unless you're willing to give it credit for not resolving the mystery - SPOILER ALERT - of how a race of hungry semi-intelligent carnivorous worms were able to build an interstellar craft and surviving in a sort of stasis for billions of years.
Commander Sally Jansen was NASA's best and brightest, but she took the blame professionally and personally when a mechanical failure on the first and last NASA Mars Mission ended in the mission being aborted and the horrific death of one of her crew. Now Jansen is offered a chance at redemption - an alien spacecraft has entered the Solar System and has changed it's course so that it will end up in Earth orbit.
"The Last Astronaut" is a check mark book - main character with a haunted past with intense personal issues and guilt that causes her to make irrational decisions - check. Main character admits she's bi-sexual just out of the blue - check. White military man is sexist and bad - check. The ending, when one astronaut returns to Earth despite being a Bio-Hazard that could cause the extinction of all life on the planet, is totally unbelievable.
Not an enjoyable read.
Definitely Not Recommended.
Zero Stars.
https://www.amazon.com/Last-Astronaut...
Unfortunately "The Last Astronaut" doesn't break any new ground or present any intriguing science fiction concepts - unless you're willing to give it credit for not resolving the mystery - SPOILER ALERT - of how a race of hungry semi-intelligent carnivorous worms were able to build an interstellar craft and surviving in a sort of stasis for billions of years.
Commander Sally Jansen was NASA's best and brightest, but she took the blame professionally and personally when a mechanical failure on the first and last NASA Mars Mission ended in the mission being aborted and the horrific death of one of her crew. Now Jansen is offered a chance at redemption - an alien spacecraft has entered the Solar System and has changed it's course so that it will end up in Earth orbit.
"The Last Astronaut" is a check mark book - main character with a haunted past with intense personal issues and guilt that causes her to make irrational decisions - check. Main character admits she's bi-sexual just out of the blue - check. White military man is sexist and bad - check. The ending, when one astronaut returns to Earth despite being a Bio-Hazard that could cause the extinction of all life on the planet, is totally unbelievable.
Not an enjoyable read.
Definitely Not Recommended.
Zero Stars.
https://www.amazon.com/Last-Astronaut...
January 6, 2020
"An Irish Country Family" by Patrick Taylor
Just finished reading "An Irish Country Family" by Patrick Taylor, released by Forge Books.
When an author has to make an apology for accurately portraying how people used to smoke in restaurants in the forward of his book in order to forewarn readers that people actually didn't know about the link between smoking and lung cancer and there was a time when woman drank while pregnant is a rather curious snapshot of how people are literally terrified of SJWs and Cancel Culture. Patrick Taylor spent more wordage on explaining why he choose to accurately portray cigarette smoking and drinking then he did in stating why he was accurately portraying the strife between Catholics and Protestants in the 1960s. [I wonder if SJWs and Cancel Culture fanatics have actually read "Gone With The Wind."]
Barry's and Sue's struggles to become pregnant are at the heart of Taylor's latest outing in Ballybucklebo and there is a new mysterious retired military man who threatens to bring strife to the village. There is also a surprise elopement and a new business partnership that develops as life goes on in the Irish Country Village of Ballybucklebo. Taylor also gives us flashbacks to Barry's house year - his final year as a medical intern and how portable defibrillators were developed.
A Great Next Chapter in the ongoing saga of the village of Ballybucklebo!
Strongly Recommended!
Five Stars!
https://www.amazon.com/Irish-Country-...
When an author has to make an apology for accurately portraying how people used to smoke in restaurants in the forward of his book in order to forewarn readers that people actually didn't know about the link between smoking and lung cancer and there was a time when woman drank while pregnant is a rather curious snapshot of how people are literally terrified of SJWs and Cancel Culture. Patrick Taylor spent more wordage on explaining why he choose to accurately portray cigarette smoking and drinking then he did in stating why he was accurately portraying the strife between Catholics and Protestants in the 1960s. [I wonder if SJWs and Cancel Culture fanatics have actually read "Gone With The Wind."]
Barry's and Sue's struggles to become pregnant are at the heart of Taylor's latest outing in Ballybucklebo and there is a new mysterious retired military man who threatens to bring strife to the village. There is also a surprise elopement and a new business partnership that develops as life goes on in the Irish Country Village of Ballybucklebo. Taylor also gives us flashbacks to Barry's house year - his final year as a medical intern and how portable defibrillators were developed.
A Great Next Chapter in the ongoing saga of the village of Ballybucklebo!
Strongly Recommended!
Five Stars!
https://www.amazon.com/Irish-Country-...
January 3, 2020
"The Starless Sea" by Erin Morgenstern
Just finished reading, published by Doubleday, 2019.
I was really looking forward to reading Erin Morgenstern's latest novel, "The Starless Sea" because I thoroughly enjoyed her first novel, "The Night Circus," which was a lyrical fantasy about the triumph of love over impossible odds overseen by two puppet master magicians.
"The Starless Sea" is also a novel about love and the patient sacrifices people are willing to make in order to have some chance at happiness - yet it lacks the whimsy and fantastical sense of awe that made "The Nigh Circus" so captivating.
While "The Starless Sea" does follow in the tradition of Hasidic tales of stories-within-stories, it doesn't fully ensnare and entice readers because it's characters lack a full three dimensional roundness that would make them more believable and sympathetic. "The Starless Sea" lacks the breath-taking story telling that made the "The Night Circus" such a compelling, joyful read. [I did get Zack Newsome a copy of "The Night Circus" for his birthday a few years back because it was a great story.]
Sadly, can not fully recommend.
Three Stars.
.
https://www.amazon.com/Starless-Sea-N...
I was really looking forward to reading Erin Morgenstern's latest novel, "The Starless Sea" because I thoroughly enjoyed her first novel, "The Night Circus," which was a lyrical fantasy about the triumph of love over impossible odds overseen by two puppet master magicians.
"The Starless Sea" is also a novel about love and the patient sacrifices people are willing to make in order to have some chance at happiness - yet it lacks the whimsy and fantastical sense of awe that made "The Nigh Circus" so captivating.
While "The Starless Sea" does follow in the tradition of Hasidic tales of stories-within-stories, it doesn't fully ensnare and entice readers because it's characters lack a full three dimensional roundness that would make them more believable and sympathetic. "The Starless Sea" lacks the breath-taking story telling that made the "The Night Circus" such a compelling, joyful read. [I did get Zack Newsome a copy of "The Night Circus" for his birthday a few years back because it was a great story.]
Sadly, can not fully recommend.
Three Stars.
.
https://www.amazon.com/Starless-Sea-N...
December 30, 2019
"Forest Wars" by Graham Diamond,
Just finished reading "Forest Wars" by Graham Diamond, first published in hardcover by Lion Press back in 1995.
Readers and devoted of Graham Diamond's popular and cult classic Adventures of the Empire Princess novels were only treated to snippets of the sometimes mentioned Forest Wars where Nigel - Stacy's father - and his best friend Hector - the grey wolf first met and became fast friends in a desperate battle for survival against a mad canine messiah bent an exterminating humanity from not only The Haven, but the rest of the Earth as well.
I'm tempted to say that Lion Press was, perhaps still is, known as a vanity publisher. It would explain some of the glaring typos in this otherwise excellent prequel novel to the Empire Princess novels. It's also possible that "Forest Wars" was also known as a subscription novel - written by the author who had a commitment from a certain number of fans to purchase the book once it was written and self-published.
"Forest Wars" gives a breathtaking story of adventure of danger, heart-ache, and new hope when the opportunity arises to push back the self-imposed frontiers in the hopes of gaining knowledge that could provide humanity the chance to win a war against a fanatic canine messiah who wants to rule over the entirety of creation. Haven fans also learn the story behind the romance between Nigel and Gwen - Stacy's parents and who perhaps was the original owner of Stacy's pure silver knife - her "tooth" as she and others called it.
A well rounded prequel novel to the Empire Princess novels that not only answers some questions, but raises a few more that Diamond may have been planning to answer at another time.
Strongly Recommended.
Four-and-a-half stars.
https://www.amazon.com/Forest-Wars-Gr...
Readers and devoted of Graham Diamond's popular and cult classic Adventures of the Empire Princess novels were only treated to snippets of the sometimes mentioned Forest Wars where Nigel - Stacy's father - and his best friend Hector - the grey wolf first met and became fast friends in a desperate battle for survival against a mad canine messiah bent an exterminating humanity from not only The Haven, but the rest of the Earth as well.
I'm tempted to say that Lion Press was, perhaps still is, known as a vanity publisher. It would explain some of the glaring typos in this otherwise excellent prequel novel to the Empire Princess novels. It's also possible that "Forest Wars" was also known as a subscription novel - written by the author who had a commitment from a certain number of fans to purchase the book once it was written and self-published.
"Forest Wars" gives a breathtaking story of adventure of danger, heart-ache, and new hope when the opportunity arises to push back the self-imposed frontiers in the hopes of gaining knowledge that could provide humanity the chance to win a war against a fanatic canine messiah who wants to rule over the entirety of creation. Haven fans also learn the story behind the romance between Nigel and Gwen - Stacy's parents and who perhaps was the original owner of Stacy's pure silver knife - her "tooth" as she and others called it.
A well rounded prequel novel to the Empire Princess novels that not only answers some questions, but raises a few more that Diamond may have been planning to answer at another time.
Strongly Recommended.
Four-and-a-half stars.
https://www.amazon.com/Forest-Wars-Gr...
December 25, 2019
"The Beasts Of Hades" by Graham Diamond
Just finished "The Beasts Of Hades" by Graham Diamond, first released by Playboy Press back in May 1981.
I'm not exactly when I first saw "The Beasts Of Hades" - it was either at Michelle's Bookstore in Jacksonville, North Carolina, or at the bookstore - whose name I can't remember - on the Strip near the University of Tennessee. I got my reading copy about seven years ago at Chamblin's Bookmine - the greatest bookstore in Northeast Florida.
"The Beasts Of Hades" is the fourth and final novel chronicling the adventures of Stacy - the Empire Princess.
While it takes place somewhere between the first two novels, it's an independent tale, mirroring Stacy's increasing dissatisfaction over how restrictive her life has become ever since she took on the challenge of being a uniting symbol of hope for humanity, the creatures of the forest, and the rest of the world.
It's exactly why that she's a symbol of hope that Cinna - a messenger for the Rabbit King, brings the wolves and Stacy a dire warning about an invasion from the Underworld that threatens all life.
Sidestepping the rigid rules of her court and her loyal and faithful advisers, Stacy and her wolf brother Casca embark on a perilous journey down to the Underworld in order to take the war to the enemy's front doorstep If they, all life will end/
A tense excursion which sees Stacy actually stepping down from her role as Empire Princess in order to do what she must.
Highly recommended.
Five Stars.
https://www.amazon.com/Beast-Hades-1S...
I'm not exactly when I first saw "The Beasts Of Hades" - it was either at Michelle's Bookstore in Jacksonville, North Carolina, or at the bookstore - whose name I can't remember - on the Strip near the University of Tennessee. I got my reading copy about seven years ago at Chamblin's Bookmine - the greatest bookstore in Northeast Florida.
"The Beasts Of Hades" is the fourth and final novel chronicling the adventures of Stacy - the Empire Princess.
While it takes place somewhere between the first two novels, it's an independent tale, mirroring Stacy's increasing dissatisfaction over how restrictive her life has become ever since she took on the challenge of being a uniting symbol of hope for humanity, the creatures of the forest, and the rest of the world.
It's exactly why that she's a symbol of hope that Cinna - a messenger for the Rabbit King, brings the wolves and Stacy a dire warning about an invasion from the Underworld that threatens all life.
Sidestepping the rigid rules of her court and her loyal and faithful advisers, Stacy and her wolf brother Casca embark on a perilous journey down to the Underworld in order to take the war to the enemy's front doorstep If they, all life will end/
A tense excursion which sees Stacy actually stepping down from her role as Empire Princess in order to do what she must.
Highly recommended.
Five Stars.
https://www.amazon.com/Beast-Hades-1S...
The Falcon Of Eden" by Graham Diamond
Just finished reading "The Falcon Of Eden" by Graham Diamond, published by Playboy Press, first released back in Septeber 1980,
When the third novel in the Adventures of The Empire Princess series was released, I was just starting my first semester at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville as a Physics Major back in September 1980. It would be another year before I would meet and become friends with Carter Perry, T.K. Bertram, Rick Chaffin, and a few others.
I believe that I first saw "The Falcon Of Eden" in the new release section of a bookstore that was on the Strip - a row of stores near UTK. Unfortunately I can not remember the name of the bookstore. I did find my copy of "The Falcon Of Eden" at Chamblin's Bookmine, the greatest bookstore in Northeast Florida.
"The Falcon of Eden" is essentially a stand-alone novel that does make some mention of the events in "Lady Of The Haven," and sees Stacy embarking on a quest with her friends to the top of the world in order to recover a legendary quasi-religious statue that would help cement the Empire's ties with Russak. If Russak pledges its allegiance to the Empire, than Stacy will be one step closer in her dream of uniting the world in peace. How far humanity has fallen from it's technological glories ten centuries ago.
Stacy's adventure quest is a bit reminiscent of Edgar Rice Burrough's novels.
Great Fun!
Highly Recommended!
Five Stars!
https://www.amazon.com/Falcon-Eden-Ad...
When the third novel in the Adventures of The Empire Princess series was released, I was just starting my first semester at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville as a Physics Major back in September 1980. It would be another year before I would meet and become friends with Carter Perry, T.K. Bertram, Rick Chaffin, and a few others.
I believe that I first saw "The Falcon Of Eden" in the new release section of a bookstore that was on the Strip - a row of stores near UTK. Unfortunately I can not remember the name of the bookstore. I did find my copy of "The Falcon Of Eden" at Chamblin's Bookmine, the greatest bookstore in Northeast Florida.
"The Falcon of Eden" is essentially a stand-alone novel that does make some mention of the events in "Lady Of The Haven," and sees Stacy embarking on a quest with her friends to the top of the world in order to recover a legendary quasi-religious statue that would help cement the Empire's ties with Russak. If Russak pledges its allegiance to the Empire, than Stacy will be one step closer in her dream of uniting the world in peace. How far humanity has fallen from it's technological glories ten centuries ago.
Stacy's adventure quest is a bit reminiscent of Edgar Rice Burrough's novels.
Great Fun!
Highly Recommended!
Five Stars!
https://www.amazon.com/Falcon-Eden-Ad...
December 24, 2019
"Dungeons of Kuba - Adventures Of The Empire Princess #2" by Graham Diamond
Just finished reading "Dungeons of Kuba - Adventures Of The Empire Princess #2" by Graham Diamond, released by Playboy Press Books back in 1979.
Again, I first saw "Dungeons of Kuba" on the shelves in the new release section of Michele's Bookstore in Jacksonville, North Carolina when it was first released back in 1979; and I picked up my reading copy at Chamblin's Bookmine - the greatest bookstore in Northeast Florida about six-or-so years ago. Both Zack Newsome and Jeff H. can attest that I probably have about a thousand books I haven't gotten around to reading and thousands more books that I have read scattered in many bookcases in my office, bedroom, and various other places in my house. [Did you ever finish that book on Judaism that I lent you Zack nearly 10 years ago?]
"Dungeons of Kuba" is an odd sort of sequel to the first book in the series which kicked off with "Lady of The Haven." I say odd - SPOILERS AHEAD - because it's actually the conclusion of the series, despite the fact that two more books follow after this one.
About seven years have passed since Stacy's original adventure that pushed back the boundaries of The Haven, and opened up the entire world, which Stacy, in her role of the Empire Princess has been working hard to unite. While her ultimate goal is to relinquish her throne and retire back to a cabin in the forest with her seafaring captain Elias and have children and just be a wife and mother; she can't do that while Rani - her arch nemesis - sits on the throne of Kuba and plots her downfall.
So when Rani launches a plan to kidnap Mara - Stacy's orphaned niece and heir to the Empire and Haven - Stacy and her loyal companions must find a way to sneak into Kuba, rescue Mara, and put an end to Rani's ambitious plotting once and for all.
I suspect that Graham Diamond only envisioned a duology in the Adventures of The Empire Princess series, but the popularity of Stacy and her adventures resulted in two separate, and stand alone adventures that are set somewhere inbetween the first two books.
A Great, Fun read.
Five Stars.
Highly Recommended!
https://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Kuba-...
Again, I first saw "Dungeons of Kuba" on the shelves in the new release section of Michele's Bookstore in Jacksonville, North Carolina when it was first released back in 1979; and I picked up my reading copy at Chamblin's Bookmine - the greatest bookstore in Northeast Florida about six-or-so years ago. Both Zack Newsome and Jeff H. can attest that I probably have about a thousand books I haven't gotten around to reading and thousands more books that I have read scattered in many bookcases in my office, bedroom, and various other places in my house. [Did you ever finish that book on Judaism that I lent you Zack nearly 10 years ago?]
"Dungeons of Kuba" is an odd sort of sequel to the first book in the series which kicked off with "Lady of The Haven." I say odd - SPOILERS AHEAD - because it's actually the conclusion of the series, despite the fact that two more books follow after this one.
About seven years have passed since Stacy's original adventure that pushed back the boundaries of The Haven, and opened up the entire world, which Stacy, in her role of the Empire Princess has been working hard to unite. While her ultimate goal is to relinquish her throne and retire back to a cabin in the forest with her seafaring captain Elias and have children and just be a wife and mother; she can't do that while Rani - her arch nemesis - sits on the throne of Kuba and plots her downfall.
So when Rani launches a plan to kidnap Mara - Stacy's orphaned niece and heir to the Empire and Haven - Stacy and her loyal companions must find a way to sneak into Kuba, rescue Mara, and put an end to Rani's ambitious plotting once and for all.
I suspect that Graham Diamond only envisioned a duology in the Adventures of The Empire Princess series, but the popularity of Stacy and her adventures resulted in two separate, and stand alone adventures that are set somewhere inbetween the first two books.
A Great, Fun read.
Five Stars.
Highly Recommended!
https://www.amazon.com/Dungeons-Kuba-...
December 18, 2019
"Lady Of The Haven" by Graham Diamond - the first novel in "The Adventures of The Empire Princess"
has finished reading "Lady Of The Haven" by Graham Diamond - the first novel in "The Adventures of The Empire Princess" published by Playboy Press Books back in 1978.
I first discovered "Lady Of The Haven" on the shelves in the New Release section of Michele's Bookstore in Jacksonville, North Carolina when it was first release. The primary reason why I did not buy and read it back then was; yes, I hate to say it, it was published by Playboy Press, and it wasn't that I was a 15-year-old prude who didn't know about S-E-X and who had already read sex scenes in some of the books I had previously read. I always took my books to school to read in-between classes, lunch time, and when I had finished my work and was BORED in class. Mr. Schmuck, I'm sorry - not really, Mr. Branch was the Assistant Principal at Camp Lejeune High School when I attended complained about the types of books I was reading to Mom and Dad on numerous occasions and they told him to suck air. Mr. Branch was one of those "educators" who though fantasy and science fiction novels were as bad as comic books The cover alone would have probably would have sent him on one of his tirades.
It would go something like this: Mr. Branch would call Mom or Dad to complain about a book I was reading - his anger over me reading "Lavender Green Magic" by Andre Norton was one of his more classic moments. Mom kept hanging up on him and he kept calling her back until she finally told him off. It was quicker to walk home than ride the bus and I usually was present when Mr. Schmuck called to complain about the latest book I was reading. [He had also called Mom and Dad to complain that I was setting a bad example by walking to school and back home and they told him to pound sand - actually, I'm cleaning up what they told him.]
As frequent readers of my reviews know, sometimes I delve into my personal history and what influenced me to read a particular book at a time. Dad would have wholeheartedly approved of me reading this book because he thought I was "too innocent/virginal" and that it would provide proper "encouragement." Dad would have been deeply disappointed - there's no sex in this novel - GASP!
So when I found all four novels chronicling the adventures of Stacy - the Empire Princess in Chamblin's Bookmine - my FAVORITE bookstore in Northeast Florida, I snapped them up. This was nearly 10 years ago. What can I say, Selma Franz - my sister, and Zack Newsome - my number one minion can attest that I literally have hundreds of books I haven't read yet.
"Lady Of The Haven" is a coming-of-age story where Stacy returns home after being taught by wolves on how to survive and live in the forest that surrounds her kingdom of Haven and who learns of unknown continent that could reawaken humanity's spirit to explore and conquer the unknown.This is a future world where humanity and animals live together and cooperate in a post apocalyptic world.
A great, fun read. Stacy is a fully rounded character and is a great role model. I would even go as far to say that "The Haven" series would make for great television. And for people who want to read this series, it is being re-released.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
FIVE STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Lady-Haven-Adv...
I first discovered "Lady Of The Haven" on the shelves in the New Release section of Michele's Bookstore in Jacksonville, North Carolina when it was first release. The primary reason why I did not buy and read it back then was; yes, I hate to say it, it was published by Playboy Press, and it wasn't that I was a 15-year-old prude who didn't know about S-E-X and who had already read sex scenes in some of the books I had previously read. I always took my books to school to read in-between classes, lunch time, and when I had finished my work and was BORED in class. Mr. Schmuck, I'm sorry - not really, Mr. Branch was the Assistant Principal at Camp Lejeune High School when I attended complained about the types of books I was reading to Mom and Dad on numerous occasions and they told him to suck air. Mr. Branch was one of those "educators" who though fantasy and science fiction novels were as bad as comic books The cover alone would have probably would have sent him on one of his tirades.
It would go something like this: Mr. Branch would call Mom or Dad to complain about a book I was reading - his anger over me reading "Lavender Green Magic" by Andre Norton was one of his more classic moments. Mom kept hanging up on him and he kept calling her back until she finally told him off. It was quicker to walk home than ride the bus and I usually was present when Mr. Schmuck called to complain about the latest book I was reading. [He had also called Mom and Dad to complain that I was setting a bad example by walking to school and back home and they told him to pound sand - actually, I'm cleaning up what they told him.]
As frequent readers of my reviews know, sometimes I delve into my personal history and what influenced me to read a particular book at a time. Dad would have wholeheartedly approved of me reading this book because he thought I was "too innocent/virginal" and that it would provide proper "encouragement." Dad would have been deeply disappointed - there's no sex in this novel - GASP!
So when I found all four novels chronicling the adventures of Stacy - the Empire Princess in Chamblin's Bookmine - my FAVORITE bookstore in Northeast Florida, I snapped them up. This was nearly 10 years ago. What can I say, Selma Franz - my sister, and Zack Newsome - my number one minion can attest that I literally have hundreds of books I haven't read yet.
"Lady Of The Haven" is a coming-of-age story where Stacy returns home after being taught by wolves on how to survive and live in the forest that surrounds her kingdom of Haven and who learns of unknown continent that could reawaken humanity's spirit to explore and conquer the unknown.This is a future world where humanity and animals live together and cooperate in a post apocalyptic world.
A great, fun read. Stacy is a fully rounded character and is a great role model. I would even go as far to say that "The Haven" series would make for great television. And for people who want to read this series, it is being re-released.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
FIVE STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Lady-Haven-Adv...
