Spill by Leigh FondakowskiMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
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Thursday, April 30, 2020
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Wednesday, April 22, 2020
Review: Sanctuary
Sanctuary by G. Michael HopfMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
Sanctuary
A Postapocalyptic Novel
By: G. Michael Hopf
Narrated by: Keith Szarabajka
Series: The New World Series (Hopf), Book 3
Length: 8 hrs and 16 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 05-27-14
Language: English
Publisher: Penguin Audio
I started reading this book before the COVID-19 Pandemic was a thing, and I always figured that an EMP attack was the one that would knock out our country. I am now thinking otherwise. That being said, I still have most post-apocalyptic novels on my list.
Months after the EMP pulse has crippled the nation, the United States are no long fully united and the factions are splitting the country up further. This allows for a war-monger from South America to invade and take over the state of California with very little resistance. The hero of these books, Gordon, just wants to get back to his family.
This book tells his story, and how in just wanting to get home, he is helping fight of rogue factions of gangs and very bad people while at the same time helping the President get the country back together.
The narrator, Keith Szarabajka, does a great performance and is able to deliver this story in a fashion which makes for an audio drama from a written book narration. Never was I confused as to who was speaking, and as a plus, he was able create vocal characters from the characters in the book that are believable and endearing.
By the way, I didn't read the first 2 books in the series, but I will be going back now to check them out.
Publisher's Summary
Surviving the attack proved to be more than they could have imagined….
Months after a super-EMP attack devastated the United States, the country is now unrecognizable. Major cities are run by gangs, survivors are dying of starvation and the government is falling victim to lawlessness. Those who were prepared for the end find that they weren't really prepared at all.
While some seek vengeance for their losses, others are determined to restore the nation. Gordon, Samantha, Sebastian, Barone, Connor and Pablo are all on different paths, but they are all in search of a home away from chaos. They are all in search of a sanctuary.
©2014 G. Michael Hopf (P)2014 Penguin Audio
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Review: Yi Soon Shin: Fallen Avenger
Yi Soon Shin: Fallen Avenger by Onrie KompanMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
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Yi Soon Shin: Fallen Avenger
by Onrie Kompan (Author, Editor), David Anthony Kraft (Author, Editor), Giovanni Timpano (Illustrator), El Arnakleus (Illustrator), Adriana De Los Santos (Illustrator), Joel Saavedra (Illustrator)
Book 2 of the Yi Soon Shin Series
Hardcover: 176 pages
Publisher: Onrie Kompan Productions, LLC; First edition (August 24, 2017)
Before I get on to the review of this Graphic Novel, I would like to give you a heads up on what may happen in this review: 1.) I am an avid comic book reader, so I may be biased. 2.) I may name drop in this review, but not to make me look good. That being said let's talk about how awesome this book is.
I was attending a local comic-con a few years ago and was interviewing the author Brian K. Morris for my podcast, The NerdUp Podcast. After the interview he told me I should seek out Onrie Kompan and talk to him. Morris told me that Kompan is doing some very unique things in using the comic book format to re-tell the story of a Legendary Hero from history. I immediately looked for Onrie Kompan's booth and the journey began. This was back when the first Yi Soon Shin graphic novel was released, "Warrior and Defender." Onrie told me about his plight to get the story told and showed me the book. The first thing that grabbed me was the artwork. Beautiful!!! Once the pitch was over, I bought that first book and loved it. Then I heard he had compiled the next issues of individual comics into another graphic novel. (I prefer that format rather than waiting between issues.) I seemed to keep missing Onrie Kompan at various cons and was looking to find this book. This time not for an interview, but to buy the book and continue reading.
I finally found out that he was doing a Kickstarter for the first comic in a third series. In this Kickstarter one of the rewards was the 2nd graphic novel and the first issue of the third series. I jumped.
I can't say which of the two books is best, because they both are equal in splendor. The beautiful artwork continues. The story is told using "modern" language and the action is perfectly recreated by the art.
I have to tell any history buff and comic book fan that this book as well as the first are a must have. Great story, great art and passion behind the book make this a book you must have.
Review: And Another Thing...
And Another Thing... by Eoin ColferMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
And Another Thing...
by Eoin Colfer
Series: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (Book 6)
Hardcover: 276 pages
Publisher: Hyperion; 1 edition (October 12, 2009)
I have to start out by letting you know, I'm a HUGE Douglas Adams fan (who isn't?). I saw this book and thought, well Mr. Adams didn't really know when to stop so why should his estate? Eoin Colfer is a outstanding writer so that should be a plus. As it turns out this is not the book I was hoping it to be.
There is some entertainment in this book, to be sure, but there is just something missing. It was entertaining, some typical moments with Ford Prefect, Arthur Dent, Zaphod Beeblebrox, Trillian and many of the beloved cast of characters. Eoin Colfer has the verbal abilities to create the wordplay Douglas Adams could do best. In this book jumping back and forth between the "Guide," the footnotes, and the action going on in space, Eoin Colfer tells a great story.
So, you are probably asking right now, what is wrong with the book? Technically nothing. I was moderately entertained but for some reason I just couldn't stay focused on the book. I would stop and start several times and finally just forced myself to read and not get distracted, thanks to COVID-19 I had the time. It just wasn't as good as Douglas Adams. Maybe that's it, I just miss Douglas Adams.
I would like to give the audiobook a listen, maybe with a well performed multicast version it would hold my interest. I still would tell all "Hitchhiker's Guide" fans to give it a shot, but just know that it may make you miss Douglas Adams.
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