Ron Andrea's Blog, page 52

Book Review: The Iron Lance by Stephen R. Lawhead (four stars)

Book Review: The Iron Lance (Celtic Crusades #1) by Stephen R. Lawhead (four stars) “It is not a pilgrimage, but a war.” Of course it is a war! he thought. There would be no point in going otherwise. Lawhead at his … Continue reading →

Book Review: Wounds of Honour (Empire #1) by Anthony Riches (three stars)

Book Review: Wounds of Honour (Empire #1) by Anthony Riches (three stars) ‘Life here is as dull as it gets most of the time, but it could quickly become a lot more exciting than any of us would wish.’ Marcus … Continue reading →

Book Review: System Collapse by Martha Wells (three stars)

Book Review: System Collapse (Murderbot Diaries #7) by Martha Wells (three stars) I would be panicking more, but I didn’t have time. Disappointed. Excellent continuing tale of Murderbot. Wells takes readers deep into the psyche of a human-machine construct who, … Continue reading →

Book Review: Fractal Noise (Fractalverse #.5) by Christopher Paolini (three stars)

Book Review: Fractal Noise (Fractalverse #0.5) by Christopher Paolini (three stars) “That’s not handiwork of race scared of challenge.” Excellent concept: future humanoid survey ship detects what may be first verifiable sentient alien artifact; landing team all have personal issues: … Continue reading →

Review: Hero! by Dave Duncan (four stars)

Review: Hero! by Dave Duncan (four stars) It had been a corpse of a day. Bourne Identity meets Enemy Mine. What makes a hero? Science fiction and action tropes inverted forcing the reader to figure out who’s doing what to … Continue reading →

Book Review: Brand of Light (The Droseran Saga #1) by Ronie Kendig (four stars)

Book Review: Brand of Light (The Droseran Saga #1) by Ronie Kendig (four stars) “Is the journey long, Father?” “A lifetime, my son.” Satisfying science fiction-fantasy crossover novel. Elements of medieval fantasy juxtaposition with high space opera. Multiple characters sorting … Continue reading →

Book Review: Vault of the Ages by Poul Anderson (four stars)

Book Review: Vault of the Ages by Poul Anderson (four stars) Man’s remorseless and deadly foe was only—himself.  Humans in a post-apocalyptic future vie over possession and use of a trove of pre-apocalyptic resources. One of this SF/F master’s early … Continue reading →

Book Review: Search the Seven Hills: The Quirinal Affair by Barbara Hambly (four stars)

Book Review: Search the Seven Hills: The Quirinal Affair by Barbara Hambly (four stars) “They aren’t persecuted because they’re maniacs, boy. It’s because they’re traitors.” One of Hambly’s earliest novels, published in 1983, Search is amazing historical fiction. Using an … Continue reading →

Movie Review: Journey to Bethlehem, produced, directed and co-written by Adam Anders (four stars)

Movie Review: Journey to Bethlehem, produced, directed and co-written by Adam Anders (four stars) A spirited, if not spiritual tale following Mary and Joseph through the birth of Jesus. Singing, dancing and humor lighten the fare. Not quite Bolly wood, … Continue reading →

Book Review: A Shred of Honor (Markham of the Marines #1) by Tom Connery (four stars)

Book Review: A Shred of Honor (Markham of the Marines #1) by Tom Connery (four stars) ‘When sorrows come, they come not single spies, but in battalions.’ Early nineteenth-century sea opera. British naval warfare against France. A new take on … Continue reading →