Roger was medically discharged after his service in the Pan Arabic Protectorate, cutting off his chosen career path early. He is living in rural Sitra Falls, Oregon trying to deal with hyper-vigilance and ease back into civilian life.

When an unusual looking young woman enters his favorite breakfast place he befriends her. Little does he know he’ll kill for her before lunch and start an adventure that will take him around the world and off planet.

When you have every sort of alphabet agency human and alien hunting for you survival is the hard part. But you might as well get rich too.

H.E.R.O. – Metamorphosis by Kevin Rau
Genre: Contemporary Fantasy
Link: http://amzn.to/K5jvlO

Although raised by single metahuman parents, Stephanie, Rael, and Lance weren’t prepared for the sudden and shocking event that thrust them into a night of upheaval as they cope with their metamorphosis into superhumans. The meteor shower that altered the heroes also mutated many others in Metrocity, causing a scene of chaos at Iron Cross General Hospital as Lance and Stephanie are captured by law enforcement, and Rael must free them.

The friends join the Homeland Extraordinary Response Organization (H.E.R.O.), and seek to stop a mutant named Shrinker as she gathers new supers to build an army of bloodthirsty mutants in her plan to cause anarchy. Her evil squad kidnaps normal humans to feed those mutants, and it becomes a race against time to find the anarchists before they murder the people.

While searching for the villain’s base of operations, the group must learn their powers and overcome the problems associated with telepathy, a strong blood thirst, and strength capable of crushing steel under one’s fingers. They also begin to take part as heroes in the city, and discover that having powers is not as easy as it appears – in heroic actions or in normal life.

Space Junque (Apocalypto 1) by LK Rigel
Genre: Science Fiction/Novella
Link: http://amzn.to/JvJVMk

The DOGs want to destroy the world. The gods want to make a new one. The trick is to survive both.

The world at the end of the 21st century is on the brink of ecological collapse, destroyed by corrupt politics and unchecked environmental damage. Hydroponics agronomist Char Meadowlark has become a recluse. Warned about an impending attack by the eco-terrorist Defenders of Gaia, Char flees to the airport.

When the DOGs strike in the midst of Char’s escape, pilot Jake Ardri offers her only hope of survival. They take his shuttle the Space Junque to the orbiting Imperial Space Station, the off-planet seat of world government.

When the conflict goes global and the planet threatens to implode, ancient gods return to take control of humanity and impose a new world order. Char is caught up in a divine plan to save the world – but it will take all she’s got to get through the apocalypse alive.

Circle Spinner and Other Tales by Elizabeth Baxter
Genre: Fantasy Short Stories
Link: http://amzn.to/K5iWbJ

Circle Spinner and Other Tales by Elizabeth Baxter

Five fantasy and science fiction tales that will sweep you to other worlds.

“You get to know all the characters really well and I found myself rooting for them.” – JB

“I enjoyed each of the stories as each provided me with a different emotion and sub-genre: danger, sadness, happiness, comedy and action.” – DoctorWolf

A tired old woman is the only one who can save a city from the terrifying Pantheon. A boy walks the empty corridors of a starship with only his dog for company. A high-flying city worker learns that fairy tales really do come true. A young slave woman discovers that she carries a power that could set her free. A cyborg demon-hunter meets an angel who throws his world into chaos.

Step into the world of the circle spinner…

Brothers Blind (Atopia) by Matthew Mather
Genre: Science Fiction
Link: http://amzn.to/K1BOYE

Bobby Baxter is master of the gameworlds, an immortal who plays among the gods through the infinite reaches of the multiverse. There is just one problem; his parents think he is aimless and wasting his life away. They may be right, but then again, they may just be very, very wrong…

All of the Atopia stories begin at the same moment in time so that you can start by reading any of them, and then read the others in any order you choose to slowly reveal the mystery and terrifying danger that connects them all. Atopia is a near future world without borders that teeters on the brink of post-humanism and eco-Armageddon.

The Princess of Dhagabad (The Spirits of the Ancient Sands) by Anna Kashina
Genre: Fantasy
Link: http://amzn.to/K5hFl8

When, on the day of her age-coming, the princess opens a mysterious bronze bottle—a gift from her grandmother—she has no idea that she is about to unleash a power older than the world itself. Worse, she is not prepared for the bearer of this power to be a handsome man whose intense gray eyes pierce her very soul. Hasan, her new slave, is immeasurably older and stronger than anyone she has ever heard of, and he is now hers to command—if she can handle him, that is.

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The Princess of Dhagabad (The Spirits of the Ancient Sands): Anna Kashina: Amazon.com: Kindle Store
The Princess of Dhagabad (The Spirits of the Ancient Sands): Anna Kashina: Amazon.com: Kindle Store

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So I guess I'll have to figure out proof readers, cover art, pricing and also what the best method to convert to ebook format is.

If anyone has experience on any of that feel free to offer suggestions.

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Then vote here: http://gopollgo.com/who-would-win-john-constantine-vs-the-killer-rabbit-of-caerbannog

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Who Would Win? John Constantine vs. The Killer Rabbit of Caerbannog
Read the debate on G+, then vote: https://plus.google.com/u/0/117668392750579292609/posts/KPuBHgShjyx ❒ John Constantine ❒ The Killer Rabbit of Caerbannog

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As I read books I am often already writing the reviews in my head. That was certainly the case here and most of what I had to say remains true. But it's never a good idea to judge a book before you've got to the end.

This book is an easy read and certainly a different angle on the popular Urban Fantasy sub-genre. The early chapters give us a setup that should remind people of many tv law shows. Which isn't a bad thing, because they're often popular for a reason.

Characters are quickly sketched in and it doesn't take long to get a rough idea about how this version of the US (Texas in particular) differs from our own.

There are times, however, when the author comes across as a little heavy handed. Telling us things that would have been better presented through the subtext. Just a little more polish would probably have moved this from 3 to 4 stars in my mind I think. Because I like the characters and I like the story.

Actually one of my favorite relationships is between the lawyer Hunter Gamble and his own lawyer father. It has a little more subtlety than the usual antagonism.

I would have liked the arcane elements to be addressed a little more rigorously though. Sabrina morphs from newbie witch to practically master sorceress in a matter of months. And what exactly are the mechanisms of zombie existence in this world?

The ending is something of a shock and it took me a while to process it. But in the end it makes sense and results in a stronger story and cleverly ties into the book title. Certainly it leaves all sorts of interesting angles for a sequel.

And I really hope that the author writes a sequel because there's a lot to like here. The arcane rights makes a great lens to address civil rights without getting too preachy. there are a lot of questions about The Unveiling and exactly what it means, not to mention some background plot points that remain unresolved.

While I do have some criticisms I would definitely buy a sequel.

Amazon: Atticus For The Undead – http://amzn.to/Kfs3Vn

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I don't really like horror movies. I find them generally predictable and kind of stupid. Plus the gore in most modern horror does nothing for.

The Woman In Black, however, is an old fashioned ghost story. And much better for it. It also relies very heavily on a single actor. In this case Daniel Radcliffe.

This is the first time I've seen anything other than the Harry Potter movies and it is a little difficult to move past that image of him. Indeed at one point I found myself wondering where his glasses were, before realizing he didn't have any. But his understated performance was perfect for the role and he was able to capture my attention for the large portions of the film where he was the only character on screen.

As I mentioned this is an old fashioned sort of ghost story. And it moves at an old fashioned pace that may not be to everyone's tastes. I loved the slow build up though.

There are a lot of ghost story tropes here. Faces in windows; dogs barking; unwelcoming villagers. Some may say it's unoriginal I suppose. I think of it more as using the familiar elements to build suspense and fear. The movie is particularly good at giving you moments of quiet and then making you jump. Which is exactly what a film like this should do.

I'd say this one is a definite watch.

Amazon: The Woman In Black – http://amzn.to/KuOh42

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Lord Of The Rings: One Facebook Thread To Rule Them All [Pic]
[Via]

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Minecraft Foam Pickaxe – http://amzn.to/KuvVAe
Minecraft Foam Sword – http://amzn.to/LzH3cJ
Minecraft Steve Head – http://amzn.to/JZKGOv
Minecraft Creeper Head – http://amzn.to/KGrO5g

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THE DARK KNIGHT RISES Fan Art – News – GeekTyrant

Here are some cool pieces of fan art for The Dark Knight Rises . I love seeing these unique tak…

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There are two names that everyone is familiar with, whether they are a fan of science fiction or not. Jules Verne and H. G. Wells are recognized as both pioneers and giants of the genre. There were other authors as well though. Some familiar names, others largely unknown today.

One of the earliest science fiction books was A Voyage To The Moon ( http://amzn.to/KuiRuP ) by George Tucker, which was published in 1827. The book which is a satire, was published under the pseudonym Joseph Atterley. Tucker was one of Edgar Allan Poe's instructors at University. The novel features one of the first uses of anti-gravity technology.

Poe is commonly known as a writer of gothic stories, however he also published a number of science fiction stories and was perhaps the first writer to tackle two sub-genres.

The Unparalleled Adventure of One Hans Pfaall ( http://amzn.to/JntBZm ) was a short story published in the June 1835 issue of Southern Literary Messenger. The story which was written as a hoax story and purports to be a manuscript that details how Pfaall intended to reach the moon using a new balloon and a device that would compress the vacuum of space into breathable air. As such it is one of the earliest examples of a scientific approach to space flight in fiction.

In 1839, Burton's Gentleman's Magazine ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burton%27s_Gentleman%27s_Magazine ) published The Conversation of Eiros And Charmion ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Conversation_of_Eiros_and_Charmion ) and it may be the first apocalyptic science fiction story. In it Eiros describes to Charmion (both dead) how the world ended due to loss of nitrogen from the atmosphere.

Apocalyptic fiction wasn't the only sub-genre that Edgar Allan Poe helped to create. A Tale of the Ragged Mountains ( http://amzn.to/KGeCNF ) was published in Godey's Lady's Book in 1944 (and later included in Poe's collection Tales in 1845). The story may be the first example of physical time travel in science fiction.

With these and several other stories, Poe made a major contribution to the birth of modern science fiction, a contribution which seems to be largely overlooked, perhaps due to the lasting impact of his horror work.

Jules Verne

By the second half of the 19th century, modern science fiction had definitely arrived. One of the most significant and biggest names is Jules Verne. Verne himself acknowledged that some of his work was influenced by the earlier tales of Edgar Allan Poe. During the 1860s, Verne published two of the most influential science fiction books of all time.

In 1864 Journey to the Center of the Earth ( http://amzn.to/Jnutgu) presents us with a fantastical interior of the planet. On the surface then this is not so much science fiction as fantasy. However, we have to consider the scientific knowledge available at the time of writing and the nature of the story itself. The protagonist is a professor in search of scientific knowledge.

Journey to the Center of the Earth has captured the public imagination ever since it's original publication and has been adapted to television and film on multiple occasions. Some more faithful than others.

From the Earth to the Moon ( http://amzn.to/KGfMZy ), published in 1865 is a lesser known tale from Verne that is another early example of space flight. The story is particularly significant because it presents an almost credible method of travel in the form of a projectile fired from a giant cannon. Verne actually attempted to calculate the requirements for such a cannon. This is a perfect example of modern science fiction.

Verne's other well known science fiction tale is 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea ( http://amzn.to/K47o8D ) which was published in 1869. As is common with Jules Verne's work, the protagonists are scientists and he has some remarkably prophetic ideas about what submarines might be capable.of.

Sword and Planet Science Fiction

In 1880 Percy Greg ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Percy_Greg ) wrote Across the Zodiac: The Story of a Wrecked Record ( http://amzn.to/KGgC8H ) which is the original "sword and planet" story (a sub-genre that seems to have largely died out). Edgar Rice Burroughs would become the most famous author of this type of story, but his work would not be published until the next century.

The Genre Widens

Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions ( http://amzn.to/JFpJnT ) by Edwin A. Abbott ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edwin_Abbott_Abbott ) which was published in 1884 showed the breadth which science fiction could encompass. Set in a two dimensional world referred to as Flatland, the story is a satire on the rigid social hierarchy of Victorian society.

What makes it science fiction is the way it represents dimensions as a three dimensional being visits a resident of Flatland. Ironically the Flatlander is able to acknowledge the possibility of four or more dimensions, while the three dimensional being seems unable to.

Robert Louis Stephenson ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Louis_Stevenson )is well known for his adventure fiction, but one of his most unique stories is The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde ( http://amzn.to/KGhAlj ) which was first published in 1886. Often referenced as a horror story, it is actually a exploration of mental illness and split personalities. Science Fiction was no longer limited purely to the "hard" sciences.

Another early example of time travel stories is Mark Twain's A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court ( http://amzn.to/JuPISx ) which was published in 1889. However there is no scientific explanation for the time travelling so it probably sits more on the fantasy end of the genre. At this point fantasy was really not separated in any obvious way from science fiction.

H. G. Wells

In the 1890s Wells published a series of science fiction stories that made him perhaps the best known science fiction writer of all time.

The Time Machine ( http://amzn.to/KGiuOM )in 1895 was a novella that used time travel as a method to explore social change and the social fears of the time. The slow evolution of the human race was apparently inspired by Charles Darwin's Origin of the Species ( http://amzn.to/KGiDS5 ).

In The Island of Doctor Moreau (1896) ( http://amzn.to/JFr0eA ), Wells again tackled a topical issue as the notion of animal rights was emerging. Rather than presenting us with purely fantastical talking creatures, Wells instead gave us a Doctor who experimented on humans creating human/animal hybrids. It's a theme that still resonates today.

1897's The Invisible Man ( http://amzn.to/KunJ2X ) gives us a scientific basis for the invisibility of the central character. The notion is that by changing a body's refractive index to that of air, it will become invisible. More interesting though is Well's exploration of the effect this would have on a human psyche. Wells consistently took a scientific concept and used it to explore its impact on society.

Alien invasion is the subject matter of The War of the Worlds (1898) ( http://amzn.to/JZzNMt ). But unlike modern films, the solution does not involve massive explosions. Rather a simple virus brings the aliens to their knees.

When the Sleeper Awakes (1899) ( http://amzn.to/JFrlOG )is a lesser known H G Wells story about a man who sleeps for two centuries and awakes as the richest man in the world. But London has changed radically while he slept. Wells actually re-wrote this story substantially and republished it as The Sleeper Wakes in 1910.

It's worth noting that H.G. Wells and Jules Verne had no fondness for each others work. Not only did they deny any influence on each others work, but Wells said that Verne was unable to write his way out of a wet paper bag and Verne disliked the implausible ideas that Wells included in his science fiction. It should be an argument that is familar to anyone in sci-fi fandom today.

Alien Planets

In 1897 German author Kurd Lasswitz published Two Planets ( http://amzn.to/JuQhM8 ) which is about a group of explorers who find a Martian base in the Arctic. The book references the "canals" on Mars which were the result of a mis-translation of the work of astronomer Giovanni Schiaparelli and of course became stuck in society’s collective memory.

In Edison's Conquest of Mars (1898) ( http://amzn.to/KGjS3Q ), Garrett P. Servis wrote an unauthorized sequel to H. G. Wells The War of the Worlds. The book featured Thomas Edison as its hero and was in fact endorsed by Edison. In the book Edison travels to Mars and helps Earth to destroy the martians ability to make war. Perhaps the first example of the Space Opera sub-genre, it is not at all in the spirit of Wells original story. It’s also a very early example of the habit of re-working or producing sequels to early science fiction stories.

Interestingly the book does include space suits, but does not feature any form of radio even though radio experiments were occurring by this time. Instead the spaceships communicate by flags or lights much like naval ships did. We do however get the first examples of Aliens building the Pyramids and disintegrator guns.

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For those who aren't familiar with how the story really goes… I give you William Shakespeare's Battleship….

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Excerpts from William Shakespeare’s Battleship.
SCENE I A Battleship, sailing majestically. Enter a common SAILOR.
SAILOR
Ahoy ye sailors!—friends and noblemen—
Riding ‘twixt glist’ring w…

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Reshared post from +Raymond Kirk Ramos

#Kubrick

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Then I recommend this Nintendo Gameboy silicone case!

Not only is it pretty authentic looking, it costs like $2!

http://amzn.to/KGaBZG

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UW-Madison seems to be making strides in identifying more efficient materials though.

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Aiding the search for solar energy storage catalysts | ScienceBlog.com
Eons ago, nature solved the problem of converting solar energy to fuels by inventing the process of photosynthesis. Plants convert sunlight to chemical

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Actually some of the assumptions in the press release are debatable. Particularly the assumption that a high technology level means that the only reason an alien species would have for travelling here is exploration.

It's possible but I don't think it's an absolute certainty.

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Opinion: Hostile Alien Invaders Are Unlikely | Fred Bortz
Sorry Stephen Hawking, I agree with Jill Tarter. Hostile alien invaders are unlikely–at least not the kind envisioned in SciFi movies. I received the news release reproduced below and it reminded me o…

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Steer clear of the kids cereal and they're somewhat healthy at least.

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Breakfast Cereal [infographic] | Daily Infographic
I love cereal. I could easily live off of it for the rest of my life. However, in an attempt to achieve the summer body I’ve always wanted, I’ve abstained from by beloved cereal for the past 3 months….

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