Half Way Home by Hugh Howey: A Half Way Good Read
October 22, 2015 | Posted in LGBT THEMES, SCIENCE FICTION, YOUNG ADULT | By sockii
In the future, there is no faster-than-light travel, no wormholes to speed the exploration and colonization of other worlds. Instead, nations send out colony ships filled only with 500 blastocysts, ready to be nurtured into life if a planet is found to be hospitable to human settlement…
Buried in the “Sand” – Hugh Howey’s Disappointing Post-Apocalyptic World
October 12, 2015 | Posted in SCIENCE FICTION | By sockii
I recently read – more like devoured – author Hugh Howey’s “Silo Saga” books, an impressive trilogy that presented a truly unique post-apocalyptic vision of the future. I was so impressed by these books that I…
Book Review: Captive Prince Volume One by C. S. Pascat
February 16, 2015 | Posted in FANTASY, LGBT THEMES | By sockii
In the kingdom of Akielos, Prince Damen is a hero to his people. He is the rightful heir to the throne, but he is not without his enemies—including his own half-brother…
Book Review: The Towers of Tuscany by Carol M. Cram
February 14, 2015 | Posted in HISTORICAL | By sockii
Sofia Barducci is the daughter of a highly regarded painter in the medieval Italian town of San Gimignano. When she was younger, she learned how to paint and draw from her father, and though the lessons were often hard and grueling she developed a fine talent herself…
“The Sparrow” and “Children of God” by Mary Doria Russell
July 13, 2014 | Posted in SCIENCE FICTION | By sockii
Father Emilio Sandoz is the only survivor of a Jesuit-organized mission to the Alpha Centauri star system, where radio signals have been discovered broadcasting beautiful, alien music. Four priests and four civilians set out and find the planet Rahkat, but what happened to them there?
Book Review: “Rockstar” by J. M. Snyder
July 2, 2014 | Posted in LGBT THEMES, ROMANCE | By sockii
Adam Blue is a rockstar – or at least, he’s sure he’s destined to become one as soon as he can get a record company to pick up his band, Viral Blue. Their chance for success comes when the band lands a gig at a hot local club, and catches the ear of Paolo Raucci of Raucci Entertainment…
“American Love Songs” failed to rock my world
June 29, 2014 | Posted in LGBT THEMES, ROMANCE | By sockii
Once again, I found myself intrigued by an original gay romance novel set in the rock and roll world. And once again, I found myself disappointed by a book that failed to…
Andrew Smith’s “Grasshopper Jungle”: Where male adolescence meets an insect apocalypse
April 2, 2014 | Posted in LGBT THEMES, YOUNG ADULT | By sockii
When the best-developed and most sympathetic female character in a novel is the narrator’s mute Golden Retriever, I don’t think it’s unreasonable to say a work has some serious issues with sexism…
