Category: Science Fiction - GRANT LEISHMAN

New Horizons: (Host Saga #4) by Michael J. Farlow

21/9/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

New Horizons: Host Saga Book 4 by Michael J. Farlow continues the space adventures of the Galactic Force headed up by Commander Van Childs. The Galactic Force is a collection of like-minded humans and Zarminian’s who are committed to building and equipping a battle fleet capable of defending Earth and Zarminia from a planned attack by the bellicose and dangerous Arkon, who have designs on universal domination. The Earth Federation, the Zarminian’s and the Galactic Force have combined to face the threat that is posed. New Horizons is a space ship left to the Galactic Force by the mysterious Host people, who wanted to give them the opportunity to have the necessary technology to defend themselves against the Arkon. With the production of new battle cruisers and other armaments being hampered by both internal sabotage and piracy of supplies, the Galactic Force is engaged in a furious race to discover and catch the culprits. When it becomes apparent the Arkon timeline for invasion is much shorter than the Galactic Force had anticipated, there is a frantic rush to complete and man new ships of war plus to find any other assistance that may be available, out there, in their defence of their freedom.

This is a classic, low-tech science fiction novel, which makes for an easy read without the necessity to try and understand fanciful technical issues beyond our imaginations. I like my science fiction to be action/adventure with a minimum of science, so New Horizons: Host Saga Book 4 fits that bill admirably. Author Michael J. Farlow has created an interesting set of characters that no doubt run through the full set of Host Saga Books. Although I have yet to read any of the others, it’s worth noting that is definitely not a necessity to enjoyment of this particular episode. It is stand-alone and the author has done an excellent job of sprinkling the narrative with hints and clues as to what may have happened before. Without giving any of the plot away, I particularly liked the exposition by Van Childs and the other defenders, to the Host Ambassador and Admiral, as to what it was that made humanity and indeed the Zarminians willing to die rather than sacrifice their freedom or control over their lives. I thought the battle scenes in this novel were extensive, well-described, and exciting. It was easy to place oneself at the controls of one of these space fighters and feel the power of the weapons and the fear they induced. All in all, this is an excellent sc-fi read and I can highly recommend it.

You can find New Horizons: Host Saga Book 4 by Michael J. Farlow, here on Amazon:

Spirit of Prophecy: Paranormal and Sci-Fi Crime by j.j. hughes

19/9/2018

Spirit of Prophecy, a debut novel by J.J. Hughes was a stunningly unexpected surprise for me, as a reader. What I initially thought was a serial-killer hunt turned into so much more than that.
When Olympic Three Day Event Gold Medalist Juliet Jermaine's prize horse Gothic is killed, along with its young stable-hand rider, in an apparent road rage incident, the search is on to find the killer. Was Juliet the target of the attack or was it indeed just a simple case of someone losing their rag over horses riding on the roadway?
Enter psychic detective, Rosetta Barrett, who although working for the British police is actually, also a member of a top-secret research foundation that studies all sorts of paranormal, extraterrestrial and psychic phenomenon, world-wide. Rosetta is convinced that their is a long-past karmic link to this murder and believes she can unravel the mystery that happened so long ago to an Apache Indian, whose ripple effect is still acting on our world in 2021.
What follows is a classic "whodunit" mystery that delves into all things wiccan, psychic, paranormal and extraterrestrial, all wrapped around the exclusive and wealthy world of three-day eventing, along with the rogues that inhabit the world of horse breeding.
J.J. Hughes has produced an incredibly fast-paced and exciting debut novel that not only offers mystery and mayhem, but also give the reader pause to think about values, about relationships and about the impact of karma on our individual lives. What I particularly liked about this book is that it didn't allow the writer's obvious passion for these esoteric topics to impact too greatly, on the process of telling a good story. There is plenty of romance and no small degree of twists and turns to keep the most ardent romantic mystery reader engaged, but the addition of the psychic detective Barrett and her fascinating organisation, EPIS, lifts the story to another level and engages not only our imaginations, but our thinking brains as well. I doubt one can give a higher accolade to the writer than to say she has scored a bulls-eye on both aspects of this story.
For me, the number one criteria in rating a story that is clearly intended to be part of a series, is - will I read the sequel? With Spirit of Prophecy the answer is a resounding yes. In fact I'm on tenterhooks waiting for the sequel to come out. The characters she has created are fascinating and there are so many questions about Barrett's alter-ego, as a psychic investigator that beg to be answered.
Hughes has written a winner for her first novel and has ridden a faultless, clear round, in my opinion. This is clearly a new author to follow, with interest.

You can take a look at this superb book Spirit of Prophecy on J. J. Hughes' Amazon page:

aeon rises by jim cronin

15/9/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

The Skutarans were a warlike group of aliens at the best of times, but when one of their most eminent scientists, Keldon Ankara is publicly humiliated and disgraced by the ruling council, for the direction of his research, he determines to escape and use that research to build an invincible army to return and vanquish the Emperor and rule, himself. Relocated on Earth, Ankara has a plan to infiltrate the brainwaves of millions of earthlings and raise an army to return and claim his homeland. In Aeon Rises by Jim Cronin, Justin Madrid, is a normal earth teenager (or so he thinks), in all respects; a typical geek who longs for acceptance amongst his peers, but cannot, for some reason, participate in the video and internet games so popular with those his age. His blinding headaches and nausea, when he looks at a computer screen are a big cause of concern for him. Justin must soon understand that he is not who he always thought he was, as he, his best friend Kevin, and a beautiful, young, Zarminan alien Myah will be pitched into a battle to save millions of earthlings from the evil machinations of Keldon Ankara.

This is not the first Jim Cronin book I have read and Aeon Rises continues a fine series of excellent science fiction stories from this author. What I particularly like about this author is that his science fiction is never way too outlandish or technologically complex for mere mortals such as myself to understand. Cronin instead focuses on the characters, their relationships and their trial and tribulations. In Aeon Rise, he has created a wonderful trio of three young characters who many will find the ability to identify with. Our hero Justin is a typical geek and along with his best friend Kevin they can quote almost any line from a series of genre films e.g. Star Wars, Star Trek, Lord of the Rings etc. etc. When you throw in the idea of Justin having to deal with discovering his true identity and also the beautiful, romantic possibilities of the young Zarminan, Myah, you have all the elements of a wonderful young adult, science fiction tale. The idea of the triad bonding opened up all sorts of possibilities, for the future, for the author and I, for one, hope he chooses to explore these in his next books. This is a highly recommended read, from me, for basic science fiction buffs and young adults, alike. I loved this story.

You can grab a look at Aeon Rises (and I recommend you do) by Jim Cronin, here, on Amazon.

prime vector by diana a. hicks

7/6/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Humanity has finally found the way to immortality. But, there are consequences to being immortal. In order to obtain this immortality, you must be subjected to the virus Ukruum and require regular booster shots to maintain your immortality. This is the premise of the dystopian, science fiction novel, Prime Vector by Diana A Hicks. The virus must be grown, along with the Ukruum plant, in order to keep supplies of the virus constant. The plant itself destroys the soil it grows in, so when earth was virtually destroyed by the plant, a group of scientists terraformed Mars and set about growing the product there. It soon became apparent, however, that immortality must be limited to just a few and the Immortals, through their Forever Queen and the QEC Army, would control and subjugate the rest of humanity to maintain their immortality. Catita John always thought she was just the unlucky younger sister of QEC Commando and Immortal Ry John, but when she sees her sister murdered (something which shouldn’t happen to an immortal) she vows to track down the killer. When she meets Tek, the son of an original immortal scientist, the sparks fly immediately and it is clear their destinies and the future of Mars and Earth will be inextricably linked to them.

Prime Vector is exactly what it sets out to be; a dystopian, science fiction story with a heap of old-fashioned romance thrown into the mix. Given that the story is from romance author Diana A Hicks, this is hardly surprising. Hicks has a style that allows the reader to make assumptions and draw their own conclusions about the plot, many of which will prove to be false. She has an expert ability to throw red-herrings into the mix that come back to surprise and trip up the reader. I particularly liked the slow release of information that had me guessing right until the end. Her two principal characters Cat and Tek were beautifully well drawn and their relationship was sizzling right from the very first chapter. Again, Hicks had the ability to allow her characters, Cat especially, to recognise the emotions she felt for Tek, but to still question their validity and their appropriateness, especially given their relative positions in the state of the story. I appreciated the fact that the author left a small door open at the end for the possibility of a sequel, should the desire take her. As a straight romance writer, I always find it pleasing when an author stretches herself and tries something new, as Hicks appears to have done here. Prime Vector is a fast-paced, rollicking story that action, science fiction, and romance junkies will enjoy. I certainly did.

Although Prime Vector is not yet for sale on Amazon, you can take a look at author Diana A. Hicks' other works, on her Amazon page:

saving paludis by clayton graham

2/6/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Saving Paludis by Clayton Graham takes are far into the future and far out into the cosmos. Man has developed a device known as, an Einstein-Rosen bridge, which finally allows him to conquer the vast distances of the Universe. With this, technological advancement human-kind has spread out across the cosmos and conquered many planets, for their own resources, including Paludis. Paludis, which has mainly been used for mining bauxite, has now come up with a fantastic new invention, a sleeping pill that will allow humans to explore even deeper into the cosmos, whilst the pioneers sleep away the immense time and distance. When Earth is attacked and the source of the attack is pinpointed as Paludis, the logical assumption is that this is about control of the most important discovery of the generations – the sleeper. Nobody suspects the subjugated and technologically deprived natives of Paludis, the Muskan’s, to be responsible for the attacks on earth – but could they be?

I found Saving Paludis to be good, solid, Science Fiction fare, with some interesting and relevant comments to be made on issues such as inter-species breeding, man’s natural arrogance, and indeed man’s inherent greed and sense of entitlement. Perhaps it's just me, but I could almost picture some of the characters wearing a MEGA (Make Earth Great Again) cap, I thought Clayton Graham presented us with a fast-moving, action-packed adventure that shied away from being too technical, or too geeky, which is exactly how I prefer my Science Fiction. At its core this novel is an action/adventure and as such had a complicated and twisty plot that at times threatened to drown the reader in its intricacies. The fast-paced nature of the story left less room for character development than I would have liked, however I accept that is the nature of the beast. If you are a fan of Science Fiction, of strange worlds, with fantastic inhabitants and aliens, then Saving Paludis will be a really satisfying read for you. It is nothing pretentious, just a good old-fashioned space adventure, set on a foreign world.

You can check out Saving Paludis, as well as the rest of Clayton Graham's work, here on his Amazon page.

a girl named cricket by peter j. manos

16/4/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Cricket and her family, escape their dying planet, to travel across the cosmos, seeking a new place to live. Eventually they crash land in the Mojave Desert of California and near the tiny desert community of Prickly Pear. During the many millennia of their epic journey through interstellar space they have been in suspended animation and their bodies have been transformed from their Lizard-like originals to human form. Cricket, is a typical teenage girl – angry and rebellious about the subterfuge her parents used to trick her into leaving their home, she is determined not to fit into the small community of Prickly Pear. In A Girl Named Cricket, by Peter J Manos we see the Sminth family slowly warm their way into the hearts and minds of the Prickly Pear residents, despite the almost unanimous opinion that these newcomers are probably Russian spies come to spy on nearby Andrews Air Force Base. Throw in a renegade bikie gang terrorizing the small town and we have the makings of an exciting Young Adult adventure.

Approaching A Girl Named Cricket, by Peter J Manos, from the perspective of his intended audience, i.e. young adults, this story is a lot of fun and told with considerable humour, irony and a touch of pathos. I particularly enjoyed the characters, who were typical of the inhabitants of any small town, where everyone knows everyone else’s business. Both Tom and Cricket came across as troubled characters who were just seeking their identity in a world neither felt comfortable with, although for very different reasons. This is a fun story that also manages to poke the borax at some of the current day happenings, which it does with gentle humour. The constant reference to “aliens” as referred specifically to undocumented Mexican workers was a clever construct by the author. I think this book really does hit the mark for its young adult audience. It has romance, action, and that innate fear of authority that often can drive rebelliousness in teenagers. It is an excellent read that I highly recommend.

You can find A Girl Named Cricket by Peter J. Manos, here on Amazon:

the mercenary (the war chronicles #1) by petra Landon

14/3/2018

Reviewed for Author Resource Centre by Grant Leishman

The Mercenary, by Petra Landon is the first book in a planned series based around the characters we find in this story and their adventures through space, as they fight for the freedom of their people and the Alliance. As a standalone novel it is a success and as an introduction to a different world, with many weird and wonderful races, it is equally a huge success.

Saakshi, the main character in this story is a former Budeyan rebel, who had been imprisoned by the occupying, Ketaari Imperial Forces. When her prison contract is sold to Pik, a trader on a distant space station, she finds herself waiting tables at his bar and as always, scrabbling to survive and keep her dignity intact. The Budeyan people, although now subjugated by the Ketaari, were once a proud, technologically advanced, race, who were deeply respected throughout the Universe. When a handsome, Hadari’Kor Mercenary starts frequenting Saakshi’s bar and showing an obvious interest in her, Saakshi’s life will change forever.

Zoran, the Hadar’Kor Mercenary and Saakshi’s saviour from Ketaari harassment on the Space Station will forever change her life and so begins a complicated and at times, fraught relationship between two separate races across the Universe. It is this relationship and Zoran’s intense feelings for Saakshi, plus the enmity between the Ketaari Empire and much of the rest of the galaxy that provides the excitement, conflict, drama and passion of this story.

Landon has done a superb job of drawing her two main characters. Saakshi is a fierce and strong young woman who through circumstances is forced to seek help from a stronger, more powerful male, in Zoran. She doesn’t quite know how to handle Zoran’s intensity and his total commitment to the people he loves. She dares to dream of a different future, but is always saddled by the pain and angst she had already suffered at the hands of the Ketaari. Although the two characters are extremes in many ways, Landon gives their story a realism and induces the reader to openly root for the pair.

The book is an incredibly easy read and the writing flows beautifully. I am not generally a science fiction buff, but for me, this was more than science fiction – it was true romance that just happened to be set in space. I was impressed with Landon’s ability to write the steamy, sex scenes that, although infrequent, were definitely a highlight of the read. The idea of two separate beings, from different worlds, mating and experiencing the joys of sex was part of the attraction. But the emotional, romantic, connection, as well as the potential for misunderstanding and confusion, between the two parties, I felt was fully portrayed by the author. The scenes themselves were hot, exciting and very realistic, giving the author full poetic license to depart, albeit briefly, from the standard, space battle scenes of many science fiction stories.

This isn’t the first book of Petra Landon’s that I’ve read and I can guarantee it will not be the last. As a reader I like Science Fiction that is not too heavy on technological wizardry, but more focused on character building and relationships. The Mercenary fulfils this brief perfectly for me and as the set-up for a series of books it couldn’t be a better start. Five big stars from this reviewer.

Do pop on over to Petra Landon's Amazon page and check out The Mercenary, as well as her other works. It is well worth your while to check this author out.

dawn of affinity by v. j. deanes

28/2/2018

Reviewed for Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

The year is 2029 and although it is still illegal to clone humans, this didn’t stop a dedicated band of scientists from doing so some years ago and continuing to create and protect several growing communities of clones. Scientists at Wyndall Life Sciences Centre are at the cutting edge of gene technology and are world renowned for their contribution to human advancement and the fight against disease, but this has always been a front for their real purpose; creating a population of clones to eventually integrate with humans – the next evolutionary step. This is the scenario presented to us by V J Deanes in Dawn of Affinity. There are small rural communities across the country that have become the cradles for these clones, Hadley Crossing is one such community. Kalan Mars discovers not only does he have an exact double somewhere in the country, but that he, himself, may be a clone. When the Society for the Elimination of Artificial People (SEAP) seek out Kalan to eliminate him, he finds himself on the run for his very life.

This is the second book I’ve read recently that looks at the merging of humanity with Artificial Intelligence and asks the big moral question; is this playing God? Is it right? Dawn of Affinity by V J Deanes is an interesting glimpse at what the future might hold. Despite many forms of gene manipulation being considered to be unethical and illegal, are we being naïve in assuming it is not happening? I found the story of Kalan, and the dilemma he faced; was he a clone or was he human? to be very compelling. Deanes also made the reader look at the possible consequences of the public knowledge of this cloning and what it might mean to the general population, which I felt was very useful. The idea that clones could one day fully integrate into society and in fact they were the next evolutionary step to creating smarter, more advanced and more adaptable humans was also clever. As a thriller, the story did its job also as the characters sought to uncover the truth about the work at the Wyndall Life Sciences Centre. Dawn of Affinity is a good read and well worth the effort.

Do pop on over to Amazon to check out Dawn of Affinity on V. J. Deanes' Amazon page:

afterlife code by j. M. erickson

28/2/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Afterlife Code by Joseph M Erickson is a short Science Fiction novella that explores what may well be the next technological breakthrough for mankind; implanting code within the human brain to control and eliminate undesirable elements that can affect normal brain function. Dr Melanie Sage is a brilliant, young mind who has an electronic implant to assist her to overcome and cope with her autism. She develops a code that can be activated by her smartphone to enhance her implant. Problems occur when she activates this code in the presence of her therapist, Robert Cobb, who also has a brain implant to help him to cope with his Traumatic Stress. Cobb’s implant is an older implant without shielding and when Melanie touches her therapist it completes a circuit that throws them into a series of parallel universes and different versions of their lives. What they learn on this journey will ensure what they will make of their future.

What I particularly liked about Afterlife Code was its relevance to current science. I felt like I was reading a novel that touched on the cutting edge of scientific research today. This type of AI / Human interface is already being researched and experimented upon. What Joseph M Erickson asks is; what are the possible results of this experimentation? Will we open up a Pandora’s Box by linking ourselves to artificial intelligence? The whole idea of multiverses and alternate states of reality is very much a hot topic among quantum physicists and this whole area gives the novelist much scope for imagination. I found the book easy to read, if a little short for my liking. I especially enjoyed the conclusions that Cobb and Sage drew as it conforms to my general thinking about the purpose of life and the eternity of our existence. I would love to have seen more development of the characters, but this was a novella with the main focus being the concept and I felt that was developed very well. I would read more of this author’s work.

You can check out Afterlife Code and all of J M Erickson's other books here on his Amazon page:

miguel traveler #1: the man from texas by daniel mcfatter

17/2/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Miguel Traveller #1: The Man From Texas by Daniel McFatter takes us on a broad, sweeping science fiction/dystopian/philosophical/contemporary literature journey through the past, the present and the future. Miguel Morgan wakes up in the womb of a machine that he instinctively understands, is his new mother. Once, violently released from her warm embrace, Miguel takes the reader on a journey through a West Texas of the future, known now as the Outfar. During his adventure he will encounter, befriend and try to assist some of the few remnants left of humanity. This is a future world of fear and horror – where the few good humans left are terrorised by evil, zombie-like creatures afflicted with the laughing sickness. As time progresses we journey back with Miguel to current times as he recalls how he ended up in this place and he begins to question who or what he now is, plus his purpose in this harsh, new world.

I found Miguel Traveller #1: The Man From Texas to be an absolute breath of fresh air, especially as a debut novel from Daniel McFatter. The characters, especially the irrepressible and very identifiable Crunchy, were both endearing and believable. I loved that Miguel was himself a fatally flawed character and was constantly questioning why he was given the responsibilities and power he clearly had. There was a strong philosophical thread flowing through the story that I found compelling. Based principally on the teachings of Taoism and of Buddha, but stretching through to include those of the modern “new age” thought as expressed in The Secret and The Law of Attraction, this deep thinking by the main character gave the story a greater depth and impact than just a dystopian thriller would have done. McFatter, in my opinion, beautifully tied together the different threads of the story and in good dramatic fashion left the reader wanting more at the end. I am sure this is just the first of a series on Miguel and his journeys, so I am looking forward to seeing Daniel McFatter’s next iteration of this character.

Do pop on over to Amazon and take a look at Miguel Traveler #1 by Daniel McFatter - you won't regret it!

eloah: no hell by lex allen

24/1/2018

Eloah: No Hell by Lex Allen is the second installment in his Eloah trilogy that brings us the idea that Jesus was not the Son of God at all, but just another human visitor from a technologically advanced parallel Universe. When Eloah first trod the earth 2,000 years ago, his teachings of "The Way" could be written down on a single parchment document. In fact, it was a magician, Simon Magus who founded the Church in Rome and began the 2,000 years of lies and deceit that followed. Eloah, has now returned to our Universe to try to correct the wrongs perpetrated by two millennia of deceit and to halt the almost inevitable march toward nuclear annihilation that humanity seems set on. With his modern day disciples and his magical, mystical, powers (advanced technology) Eloah will try to convince the Pope, and World Leaders that the whole basis of their religion is a fraud. Not only are earthly powers forming against Eloah, but so are numerous other visitors from alternate Universes, who see Eloah as a threat to their perfect lives on Earth.

The second installment in this trilogy did not disappoint in any way. I love a good, biblical-based story, as much as the next man (having written three of my own) and Eloah: No Hell continued to expand on the twists and turns taken in the first book. The writing is fast-paced and at times almost breathlessly so, but there is still time for Allen to develop his characters. Some of the more minor players look to have the ability to play a big role in the third and final installment and I look forward to seeing the author develop these more in Book 3. Not being a biblical scholar myself, but still well versed in the basic biblical stories and a history buff, I found Allen's grasp of both the region and the Church, in particular, to be excellent. He has done his research well in my opinion.

Eloah: No Hell does what many second books in a trilogy fail to do - it moves the story forward and sets up for a fantastic finale, which I am sure will come in Eloah: No Religion. I can't wait to get my teeth into that. Good job Mr Allen.

Absolutely, shoot on over to Amazon and check out Eloah: No Hell by Lex Allen, as well as the rest of the trilogy and his full portfolio of work.

the separation by thomas duffy

21/1/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Imagine, for a moment, a world where the sexes are separated at birth and brought up apart, never knowing the existence of the other sex until after they graduate college, at around age 22. This is the scenario brought to us in Thomas Duffy’s science fiction novel, The Separation. The United States Government has decreed that because of the rising crime rate, high unemployment and massive rate of teenage pregnancies, the economy is suffering immensely. To fix this, all babies will be taken away from their parents at birth and raised separately in “boy States” and “girl States” – never the twain to meet. Finn was taken to a “boy state”, where he was raised by child minders and taught in boy only schools. Finn graduates from Harvard, a mathematical genius and begins his successful career, as he has been groomed to do. The problem is, Finn is not only horrified and disgusted when he learns the truth about the sexes, he cannot accept that this is the way it should be.

The premise behind The Separation is an interesting one and Thomas Duffy explores many aspects of the moral and social dilemmas of what the State has done. His main character Finn is extremely intelligent and, as such, questions the way things are – the status quo. Although the writing is somewhat simplistic at times, the interest is maintained by the many moral questions Finn raises in his mind and then seeks answers to. Finn, as a character is well-developed, but some of the supporting characters came across as rather flat and almost like cardboard cut-outs. The story is very easy to read, as the writing is simple and straightforward, although the dialogue did seem at times to be too simplistic and too clipped to be realistic. All in all, a good premise that has been thoroughly worked by Duffy and an interesting read that raised questions in my mind, as a reader.

You can check out Separation and all of Thomas Duffy's portfolio here on Amazon:

shiva xiv: Shiva xiv #1 by lyra shanti

19/1/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

From the moment of Ayn’s Royal birth his future was predestined. Ayn was the reincarnation of the great Adin and would save his world from turmoil, disease and war. In Shiva XIV: (The Shiva XIV Series Book 1), by Lyra Shanti, we meet the young boy who will grow up to be King. Not everything is as it should be though and Ayn is torn by doubt and uncertainty as to whether he is indeed a God. Born with an unusual sexual orientation, the boy is constantly torn between his devotion to his teachers and mentors, his duty to his country and his desire to be simply a boy. On Ayn’s fourteenth birthday he is due to be crowned and recognised, by his people, as a King and a God, but on that day, all hell breaks loose at the castle and Ayn, along with his new friend Zin make an escape from the certain death that was awaiting him, to begin an adventure through the galaxy.

This is the first in a series of books focusing on Shiva XIV by Lyra Shanti and she gives us ample opportunity to meet, understand and invest ourselves in the young characters, especially Ayn and Zin. As Science Fiction, this story appealed because it made no pretentions of being overtly technical, it just happened that the coming-of-age story was set on another planet among different species. This made it extremely readable for those of us who like Sci Fi, but sometimes get lost in the author’s overactive imagination. There are a couple of aspects that I particularly liked about the story. The backstory of Ayn’s sexuality was only briefly touched on in passing in this book, but I am sure future stories will focus more on whether indeed, he is male or female, or both. This aspect of the story is particularly relevant in today’s confusing sexual world, for young people. The second thing I loved about Shanti’s writing in Shiva XIV was the deep emotions she evoked in her characters. They were not afraid to show their emotions and “wore them on their sleeve”, so to speak. The character of Pei is fascinating and I’m sure will be explored even more in future episodes. As the start of a series, I would have to say this looks fantastic and well worth getting into.

Do pop on over to Amazon and check out the entire Shiva XIV series as well as Lyra Shanti's full portfolio.

project amber: the Milestone incident by carl lakeland

18/1/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Don’t worry about aliens coming to earth – they’re already here and they have been for aeons. They look like us, they talk like us and they’re almost impossible to distinguish from us. This is the scenario presented to us in Clive Lakeland’s, Project Amber: The Milestone Incident. When a successful, young television journalist, Angel has the temerity to ask the U.S. Secretary of State about the visit to Australia of an nuclear powered carrier, all hell breaks loose for this young woman. Unbeknownst to her, Angel is someone special and has been groomed all her life for the new role she will undertake as a member of Australia’s elite Secret Service (ASIO). Set principally in the outback of Australia, Angel will join forces with an elite team to try and stop the destructive events that are unfolding around the world that could easily see life on earth, as we know it, end. She, alone, has the ability to stop Project Amber and Operation Milestone from devastating our world in a nuclear holocaust.

I particularly enjoyed the opportunity to read about another country’s Secret Service, rather than the USA. It is clear that Clive Lakeland has done his research well in Project Amber: The Milestone Incident. From his descriptions of the facilities at Pine Gap and Nurrangar, right through to the weaponry used and the attitudes and beliefs of these dedicated elite forces, it all rang very true for me. As an ex-pat New Zealander, it was refreshing to read some good old-fashioned “Aussie” banter, with its unique phrases and expressions. The story is super-fast and action-filled, quite often, literally, leaving the reader panting for breath. I found the premise of aliens always living among us to be believable and even the seemingly impossible “magic” to be acceptable and this is a credit to Lakeland’s skill as a writer. I was intrigued to read the short excerpt at the end of the next book. It looks fascinating and I will be checking it out when it becomes available. The ability to prime a reader for the next book in a series is critical to authors and Lakeland has done that well. It’s an excellent fast-paced, science fiction thriller for fans of the genre.

You can find Project Amber: The Milestone Incident on Carl Lakeland's Amazon page:

un-holy grail by keith holmes jr

16/1/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

It’s 2068 and still people are searching for that most elusive of all relics – The Holy Grail. In Keith Holmes’ book, Un-Holy Grail, we meet Jonathan Cain who is an experienced and wealthy Grail Hunter. The opportunity to find and, of course, drink from the Grail Cup, hence gaining immortality, comes around only every ten years when the majestic and mythical Grail Tower appears somewhere in the world. The last time the tower appeared Jonathan was just a mere teenager, when he, his father and his brother went in search of the elusive Grail. The trio were successful in their quest, but his brother and he drank from false Grails and although they received Grail powers, they did not find the ultimate prize of immortality. Their Father, however, appeared to drink from the true Grail and is now lost to them. When the Grail Tower is sighted in Soltania, just off the coast of Florida, Jonathan heads out for another wild Grail adventure.

Un-Holy Grail is a relatively new genre, called Lit-RPG. Although classified as Science Fiction, the story Keith Holmes unveils for his readers is very reminiscent of many of the video game stories I have watched my son play in the past, even down to the magic of the players, diminishing each time they use it. While this is not necessarily my genre, as a reader, there is plenty of non-stop action here to keep the most ardent Lit-RPG reader fascinated and engaged. I did find the constant changing of perspective, from chapter to chapter (all in first person), to be a bit confusing at times and I had to keep reminding myself who was speaking at any given point. This did detract from the flow of the story I felt, but definitely not from the action and battle scenes, which were numerous and vividly written. The characters were many and varied – all with weird and wonderful powers and weapons. The author’s imagination was clear for all to see in this story. A solid and at times enthralling fantastical, future read for fans of the genre.

You can check out Un-Holy Grail, here on Amazon:

ravenhill court by david r. beshears

15/1/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

Ravenhill Court by David R Beshears is the second short story/screenplay adaptation, I’ve read of his in the last couple of weeks and certainly this author is growing on me. In this story, a middle-aged Ben Foster returns to the world of his childhood, Ravenhill Court, a middle-class, suburban, Californian cul-de-sac. All the houses in the street are abandoned, the weeds grow wild and doors hang open or are long gone. Ben opens his friend’s Peter’s journal from 1964 and his mind travels back to when it all began; when four young teenagers discovered that their world was not what it seemed to be and they themselves were not what they thought they were. Ben, his sister Julie, best friend Peter and Louis, are caught in some sort of dimensional shift that they don’t understand and don’t know what to do about. The Professor, who lives down the street will provide them with a clue as to where to start looking and so, their incredible adventure begins.

As I read Ravenhill Court by David R Beshears, I couldn’t help but think of that wonderful movie, The Truman Show, starring Jim Carrey. There was certainly an element of The Truman Show shining through this work – not everything is as it seems. One thing that struck me about this book was the dialogue between the young friends, which was witty, cleverly written and totally appropriate for the age and the period. I almost found myself back in 1964 and thinking about how I was way back then. I could certainly identify with Ben, Julie, Peter and Louis. I particularly enjoyed the Professor. Perhaps it was one of those days when I couldn’t help but see this story as a screenplay, but I also kept thinking of the brilliant Christopher Lloyd as Dr Emmett Brown in the Back to the Future franchise. The plot was cleverly woven and the young adults certainly had some questioning to do about who they were, what they were doing, and what their place in this Universe was. This is an excellent science fiction/fantasy story, particularly suitable for the young adult market, but equally applicable to all ages. Clever, witty, and sometimes, dark humour, will always have a place on our bookshelves.

Do pop on over to Amazon and check out Ravenhill Court plus David R. Beshears full and extensive portfolio.

khdz by david r. beshears

12/1/2018

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

KHDZ by David R. Beshears is a short novella that whimsically explores the after-life and more specifically, Hell. John Smith has died and is sent down below, apparently an administrative foul-up. John was a good man and should never have ended up in Hell - Heaven was definitely the right place for him, but unfortunately the paperwork got mixed up and here he was - in Hell. He is told to report to the Hades Television Station, KHDZ, where he will be employed for the interim (until the paperwork is sorted out). Whilst at KHDZ John meets a variety of quirky and even downright weird characters who all influence his thinking and understanding of the afterlife, in some way. When John realises that any administrative foul-up in Hell will take some considerable time to rectify, he must adapt to fit in and survive in this strange environment.

KHDZ is definitely a quirky, little, short story/novella, that I did enjoy. The premise itself was interesting. How would someone who had every expectation of going to Heaven when he died, cope with ending up in the other place, even if it was by mistake? The main character of John Smith was reasonably well expanded and explained in the short span of the book, but I think given the length of the story, there was not enough opportunity to develop and flesh out the other characters, especially those of Janice and Mr Horn. I would have liked to have seen more. Nevertheless, this was an enjoyable read and something distinctly different from the usual fare I am served up. For that the author deserves considerable credit. Beshears has an interesting and dark sense of humour, which definitely appeals to me.

Why not pop on over to Amazon and check out KHDZ and all of David R. Beshear's prolific portfolio.

empyrean (The Brin Chronicles book 3) by jim cronin

15/12/2017

Reviewed for the Author Resource Centre by Grant Leishman

In Empyrean, Jim Cronin brings down the curtain on the wonderful and fascinating Brin Chronicles. Having been privileged enough to have read all three books, I can honestly say the author has done a tremendous job of tying everything up nicely and leaving this reader, anyway, extremely satisfied. I couldn't help but give myself a wry smile as I realised Cronin had indeed left a tiny hole for the possibility of a fourth book, but that having been said, if the Brin Chronicles ended with Empyrean, that would be just fine.

In this latest iteration, suspicion has been raised about the Skae's true motives toward the Brin. They had always been seen as the saviours of the Brin race and as such had been revered, with some factions of the population even embracing the Skae as Gods. When Maliche Rocker, head of the Brin Council, suspects there may be more to the story of their salvation than the Skae have told them, he embarks on a risky adventure to try to uncover the truth about what really happened all those years ago. Along with his son, Jontar Rocker and some other exceptionally gifted Kolbri (the result of mating between the Brin and the Kolandri), they risk everything in a search for the truth.

The Kolibri have unique talents that allow them to interact with technology in ways never seen before and to utilise the space strings to travel through both time and space, returning thousands of years to the rebirth of the Brin race and to try to pinpoint the true causes of the long-lasting and violent war against the Gorvin, which seems to have been going on forever.

What I particularly enjoyed about Empyrean is the totally new cast of characters, as time has moved on. Yes, they are still Rocker's, but they have their own unique perspectives on life and especially on the Skae. Maliche is married to a Kolandri, in Ryma and this alone gives rise to thought and discussion about things such as inter-marriage between races and/or species. Their goal is to live in peace, as one people, but there are many who see that as not only undesirable, but positively evil. Cronin brings us plenty of political corruption and lobbying, but all set in a fantastic world that he has created from his own imagination.

This is a very easy book to read, despite the technological innovations and theories straight from the author's imagination. Science Fiction can so easy descend into mind-boggling technological descriptions that can distract the reader. Equally able to distract some readers is the concept of time travel and the paradoxes associated with it. We all love a good piece of time travel and Jim Cronin definitely has an understanding on writing in this genre, with some clever and at times witty comments and asides.

I have compared Cronin, in the past, to my favourite Science Fiction author, Robert A Heinlein and nothing in Empyrean would change my opinion from that comparison. It is an incredibly readable, fast-paced and enjoyable adventure, that just happens to be set in space and in a world very different from our own. The entire Brin Archives series is a triumph for this author, in my opinion and I would recommend all three books; Hegira, Recusant and Empyrean not only to all Science Fiction aficianados, but also to just readers who love a rollicking adventure story.

Do pop on over to Amazon and check out Jim Cronin's entire portfolio, including the Brin Archive's Trilogy:

the book of ralph by christopher steinsvold

6/12/2017

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

The Book of Ralph by Christopher Steinsvold is a comedy with a message. When a sign “Drink Diet Coke” suddenly, mysteriously appears on the moon, everyone on earth just assumes somehow Coca-Cola had managed to do this. The backlash against Coke is massive, but what no-one understands is the sign was a message from Ralph. Ralph is an alien come to warn earth of an impending invasion by one of the most feared races in the Universe, the Kardashians, from the planet Kardash. Markus, a disgraced “rocket scientist” formerly with NASA is asked by the White House to investigate the mysterious advertisement and report back whether Coke was indeed the miscreant. Confusion reigns, though, when a giant Chicken Soup Can, containing the alien Ralph, lands outside the White House. So begins the adventures of Ralph.

What I particularly liked about The Book of Ralph was the subtle, yet clever humour that Steinsvold used to introduce the reader to much deeper and interesting thoughts. Although, I would have to say that Ralph’s explanations as to the “purpose of being” and the Universe, in general, didn’t actually come as a surprise to me, it made them none the less interesting and thought provoking. The idea that we, as a species, could possibly be alone in this massive universe, is an arrogant and presumptuous notion. I also liked the idea that we were far too primitive and young in evolutionary terms to understand much of what Ralph and his like could tell us. I found Ralph to be totally appealing and, as a potential “alien”, one you would not mind making contact with. Chris Steinsvold has brought us a funny, thoughtful book with some real insight and I can definitely recommend this not only to readers with a SciFi or Philisophical bent, but also to those who just like a good yarn, well told.

You can pop on over to Amazon and check out The Book of Ralph on Christopher Steinsvold's Amazon page.

Diamond Rain: Adventure Science Fiction Techno Thriller (The Spy Stories and Tales of Intrigue Series Book 2) by michael james gallagher

16/11/2017

Reviewed For Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman

The takeover of the world, by the Chinese, has begun, but not with destructive weapons, as such, but by simple weight of numbers. All over the world, Chinese men have been mobilized to march into foreign countries, by their millions, taking over the financial resources of the countries and transferring that wealth to China. Protected from attack, by new nano-technology suits, it appears not even atomic weapons can stop the relentless surge of Chinese domination. In Diamond Rain, Michael Gallagher presents the world with just one hope of resisting this invasion. Deep within the Israeli Mossad is technology vastly superior to the carbon-based nano-suits used by the Chinese – a diamond based nano-suit. When Al-Jazeerah cameraman Thomas is surprisingly handed this technology as he films the Chinese invasion from high atop a ridge, he is set on a path of technology and subterfuge that will see him and the Mossad agents try to defeat the evil Chinese warlord intent on world domination.

Diamond Rain is a fast-paced thriller that will have you turning the pages rapidly to discover where it all leads next. Author Gallagher has projected technology slightly into the future, but given today’s advancements in quantum physics, it is easy to understand and believe the possibility of the action described. Although some of the concepts were a little advanced for my dim-witted brain to understand it didn’t detract at all from the excitement of the story. Michael Gallagher’s characters could be described as a little stereotypical, but nonetheless they were easy enough to identify and empathise with. The romance he wove into the story certainly helped to soften the edges of what is essentially an out and out spy thriller. There were enough twists and turns, although most were fairly predictable throughout the story. I note that this book is book two in a series. I was intrigued enough by the character of Kefira to want to read more of the story. A good, solid, thriller and one to recommend.

Pop on over to Amazon and check out Michael Gallagher's Diamond Rain and the rest of his portfolio:

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