Nathaniel Turner's Blog, page 9

July 30, 2014

What One Has Begun…

… one must finish.


Spoilers follow!


513198Wedge’s Gamble by Michael A. Stackpole


My rating: 4 of 5 stars


The downgrade of a rating here may seem not in keeping with my practice, especially as regards Star Wars novels and some of my favorite authors–but I assure you, I had good cause.


Wedge’s Gamble is a great second installment–but it reads like a second installment, as part of a larger whole. Much of the book is laying the groundwork for the two novels to follow. Yes, it’s true, the target of the book...

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Published on July 30, 2014 20:06

July 27, 2014

Nostalgia Wins

513176Rogue Squadron by Michael A. Stackpole


My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I recently had a disagreement with a few acquaintances of mine. They said that the Expanded Universe–I mean, “Legends” (thanks, Disney, for invalidating my childhood)*–was full of subpar novels and that they were glad it was all being wiped away. I responded that, considering the terms they were using to describe a library full of New York Times bestsellers, they seemed a little harsh, especially given their lack of specific objecti...

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Published on July 27, 2014 22:28

June 18, 2014

On Traditional Publishing

I had not planned on writing about this, but a recent read got my hackles up, and I couldn’t quite help myself. It was recently mentioned that Amazon is not a self-published author’s best friend, because they’re a retailer, and retailers are inevitably opposed to publishers (a group which includes self-publishers). Ms Miller’s statement includes an analysis of economic principles–most notably, that the self-published author’s ability to charge less for a book means a greater possibility of re...

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Published on June 18, 2014 13:22

June 17, 2014

Effective or Fallacious?

87665Orthodoxy by G.K. Chesterton


My rating: 5 of 5 stars


A re-read is sometimes a wonderful thing. It’s especially useful when I have attained a greater depth of understanding for the work that I am re-reading. This book is one such case.


Chesterton’s work is rightly praised by Christian readers everywhere. His honest approach to the agnostic and atheistic arguments of his day is compelling and persuasive. His prose is entertaining, his thoughts illuminating, and his conclusions reasonable.


All of th...

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Published on June 17, 2014 04:49

April 17, 2014

The Chimaera Regiment Is Now Available!

The book is now for sale! After far, far, far too long in production, The Chimaera Regiment is for sale!


You can get it in print or for your Kindle (or Kindle app or other device).


Enjoy!


The Original Post is Located Here: The Chimaera Regiment Is Now Available!

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Published on April 17, 2014 22:04

April 13, 2014

The Chimaera Regiment Trailer

Check out the trailer for The Chimaera Regiment, due to be released this Friday, April 18!



You may recognize the images of the book cover and the map, as well as another that has not yet made an appearance (but when you’ve read the book, it will make sense). The music in the book is an original composition by Art Turner, and I’m sure you’ll agree that it’s excellent.


Please share this video with your friends in anticipation of the release on Friday!


The Original Post is Located Here: The Chimaer...

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Published on April 13, 2014 19:33

April 12, 2014

The Hint of Fiction in the Non-Fiction

21996The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America by Erik Larson


My rating: 4 of 5 stars


In reading this book, I found that my imagination was taken away, not only with the story of Herman W. Mudgett, but especially with the whole of Chicago during the Gilded Age. This tale of the White City juxtaposed with the Black is not only compelling, but enthralling.


The length of time I have taken to read this book is far more a fault of my own time management than...

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Published on April 12, 2014 20:57

March 28, 2014

Giveaway & Preparation

It’s almost time to release The Chimaera Regiment. I will be releasing the print and e-book versions in the near future (mid-April; exact dates are difficult to establish, given the process), and when that time comes, you will be able to purchase the book from Amazon.com. In the meantime, there are a few things you can do to prepare:



Request a review copy. I am giving away e-books to anyone who will review the book and post it on Amazon when the book becomes available. You are, of course, alwa...
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Published on March 28, 2014 10:25

January 15, 2014

Han Solo Trilogy, Part 3

111019Rebel Dawn by A.C. Crispin


My rating: 3 of 5 stars


NOTE: Many spoilers follow.


There were a lot of things I really liked about this book, so my rating it lower may be a direct result of the ending.


First, let me discuss what I liked. I liked the characters; Han, Lando, Chewbacca, and Boba Fett were all true to form, and I enjoyed the other characters, as well. I liked the interweaving of the other “Han Solo” trilogy. I liked how events in the first and second novels were tied into events in the t...

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Published on January 15, 2014 15:59

Han Solo Trilogy, Part 2

598938The Hutt Gambit by A.C. Crispin


My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I have few to no problems with this book. It was well-written, engaging, and tied in very nicely both with the book that preceded it and the book that followed it.


My qualms are minor. While I agree that people who speak in a certain way frequently use the same mannerisms and sayings over and over, I don’t think it was necessary to rip quotes straight from the films for the characters we encounter in them – Han and Lando don’t need to quote...

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Published on January 15, 2014 15:42