M. Pax's Blog, page 25
January 30, 2023
Weird and Wonderful Oregon: Petersens Rock Garden #photography
Petersen’s Rock Garden is a unique and fascinating destination. The garden is filled with intricate and creative rock formations, sculptures, and buildings, all made entirely out of rocks and stones. Some of them you can even walk inside.
One of the highlights of Petersen’s Rock Garden is the “Castle,” a towering structure made up of hundreds of carefully placed rocks. The castle features multiple levels, staircases, and even a throne room, all built from a variety of different colored rocks. There are bridges built of stone crossing the moat.
In addition to the castle, there are also several smaller rock structures scattered throughout the garden, including a replica of Stonehenge, a rock chapel, and a rock-lined pond. All of these structures are surrounded by beautifully landscaped gardens, complete with waterfalls, streams, and native plants. It’s a fun and quirky visit complete with a glow-in-the-dark display inside the museum.
January 24, 2023
Science Fiction Worth Reading: Project Hail Mary #BookReview #scifi #sciencefiction
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir is an engrossing read. He has a real flare for writing hard science fiction and making it exciting and readable. I liked it as much as The Martian.
It was full of adventure and problems and solutions through science. One surviving scientist wakes from an induced coma with no memory and has to solve humanity’s biggest dilemma. Then he discovers he’s not alone.
What started as a bleak mission – a suicide mission to hopefully save Earth and humanity – ended up being inspiring and full of hope. Weir shows us how humans can be low and how we can be at our best. Why can’t we always be so amazing, question? (You’ll get that when you read the book)
If you loved The Martian, you’ll love this book, too. We spend most of the story in space and discover new life and new worlds. Discovery of new life and worlds is my favorite part of sci-fi, so I was glad to see those two things in this story. Usually, I find a lot of award-winning books don’t stand up to the hype, but this one does.
Here’s the official blurb:
Ryland Grace is the sole survivor on a desperate, last-chance mission—and if he fails, humanity and the earth itself will perish.
Except that right now, he doesn’t know that. He can’t even remember his own name, let alone the nature of his assignment or how to complete it.
All he knows is that he’s been asleep for a very, very long time. And he’s just been awakened to find himself millions of miles from home, with nothing but two corpses for company.
His crewmates dead, his memories fuzzily returning, Ryland realizes that an impossible task now confronts him. Hurtling through space on this tiny ship, it’s up to him to puzzle out an impossible scientific mystery—and conquer an extinction-level threat to our species.
And with the clock ticking down and the nearest human being light-years away, he’s got to do it all alone.
Or does he?
January 16, 2023
January 9, 2023
#ScienceFiction Worth Watching: Obi Wan Kenobi #StarWars
I recently watched the Obi Wan Kenobi series on Disney and was impressed with the quality of the storytelling and performances. The series takes place ten years after the events of Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith and follows Obi Wan as he tries to protect the secrets of the Jedi while living in self-imposed exile on Tatooine.
Ewan McGregor reprises his role as Obi Wan, and he delivers a standout performance as the iconic character. The supporting cast is also strong, with standout performances from Moses Ingram as a young scrapper named Katooni and Joel Edgerton as a familiar character from the Star Wars films.
The series explores the themes of redemption and responsibility, and it does so in a way that feels true to the spirit of the Star Wars franchise. The action sequences are well-done and the special effects are top-notch. Overall, I thought Obi Wan Kenobi was a great addition to the Star Wars universe and would highly recommend it to fans of the franchise. I give it a beer is optional rating despite the lack of dancing.
January 1, 2023
2 for 1 #SciFi Sale! #scifibooks #ebook #sciencefiction #booklover
The Not of this Earth Bookshop is starting a new year with a great sale! Use coupon code SempBerg2023 at checkout!
Spaceberg Orbital Rescue Squad 51 is first on the scene with the most decorated first responder in the Sol. Nikili Echols battles the mega disaster to save her family, everyone in trouble, and entire worlds. With time running short, she’s forced to team up with her ex-husband in order to rescue their daughter and save what remains of the solar system. His superstitions irk her like gas, but luck and organic plastic are what her plan needs to prevail.
Semper Audacia The last soldier’s last stand. War took everyone Leda knew, leaving her in the company of ghosts. Or is it madness? The siren blares. The enemy is coming. In an aging flyer, Leda ventures out to meet her world’s fate.
December 29, 2022
#MPaxDimension Report: Sorrow and What to Look forward to in 2023 #scifi
With great sorrow, I had to say goodbye to Sarge right before the holiday. His pain was short-lived, and he went with love and a smile. He lived a happy life with us. Because he came to us as a stray in desperate need, he’s extra special. I’ll miss talking to him (he always answered back and had different meows, so you could have a whole conversation) and his hugs. He was so sweet and gentle and had a million expressions. Despite the world being so cruel to him, he was always smiling and always happy (except when we didn’t get him a snack fast enough). I’ll miss him in a million different ways. Love you, Sargie Boy!
In author news, I played around with the Ai artist some and added new artwork to the Backworlds and Rifters series pages.
I’m working on turning Worlds on Edge, Backworlds Book 5 into an audiobook. I intend to finish the Backworlds series in audio in 2023. I’ll also be getting more titles back into print.
I finished the first round of edits in The Afterworlds and have started the second read-through. If life doesn’t get in my way too much, I plan to release The Afterworlds in 2023. Then it will be on to finishing the Rifters series!
Wishing you the best in 2023!
December 25, 2022
Weird and Wonderful Oregon: Waldo Lake #NaturePhotography #photography #NatureBeauty
One of the largest natural lakes in Oregon, Waldo Lake is also one of the purest lakes in the world. With no permanent inlet to bring nutrients into the lake for plant growth, the lack of plant life contributes to its purity. On a calm day, depths of up to 120 feet can be seen.
December 18, 2022
Best Science Fiction and Fantasy I Read in 2022 #scifibooks #scifi #fantasy #BookLover
A few of these popular and best-selling science fiction and fantasy books came out this year, but what matters for this list is what I read. These were my favorite reads
10. Kaiju Preservation Society by John Scalzi. Giant monsters, adventure, and a unique setting. Pass the popcorn! Full review HERE
09. Cage of Souls by Adrian Tchaikovsky. Thought-provoking and haunting. I still mull over this story. Full review HERE
08. Midnight Library. A little bit sci-fi, a little bit fantasy. Inspiring story to warm the heart. Full review HERE
07. Space Murder by Nikki Haverstock. Adventure and laughs in space. A very fun read. Full review HERE
06. A Desolation Called Peace by Arkady Martine. The prose is like an aching poem. Lovely. Full review HERE
05. Revenge of the Revenants by Christine Rains. If you love immersing yourself in a fantasy world, this series is the ticket. Adventure and a great story! Full review HERE
04. A Shudder of Specters by Christine Rains. This was my first foray into LitRPG. This book made me a fan. What a treat! Full review HERE
03. Dark Nebula: Isolation by Sean Willson. This is a juicy and engaging space opera. Can’t wait to start on the next book. Full review HERE
02. House on the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune. I didn’t want this one to end. Full review HERE
01. The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells. I’ve read 5 out of 6 so far, and I hope there will be more. Robot stories aren’t usually my thing, but I love this one. Full review HERE
December 14, 2022
End of Year Smashwords Sale! #ebooks #booklovers #scifi #sciencefiction #fantasy
It’s the most smashing time of the year! The annual Smashwords end-of-year sale!
Get these M. Pax titles at Smashwords for a great price while the sale lasts!
FREE: The Backworlds, Stopover at the Backworlds’ Edge, The Rifters, Omens & Lifesavers, Plantgirl, Translations
99c: Boomtown Craze, The Backworlds Box Collection Books 1, 2 and 3, The Rifters Box Collection Books 1-3
Half Off: The Initiate, Spaceberg, The Backworlds Box Collection Books 4, 5, 6
