Strange New Worlds

The Lord of the Rings Extended Edition Trilogy Now on Blu-Ray!

2011-06-27T15:54:00.007-04:00

Tomorrow, June 28, 2011, The Lord of the Rings Exteded Edition Trilogy is released for the first time on Blu-Ray, which has been a long time coming. Buy your copy today!

The long awaited extended edition, which avid Lord of the Rings fans like myself have been watching for years on DVD, is now remastered in Hi-Definition and available tomorrow.

The new set also comes with an online digital copy, and all the extras included in the DVD extended edition, plus the Costa Botes documentaries which were included in the Extended Limited Edition.

All in all, there isn't any new footage to be had by buying the new edition, but the hi-definition landscapes, and fantasy battles that take place in Middle Earth more than make up for it.

The only question I have to ask you the reader, is: How long have you been waiting for this version release? For me, it has been roughly 6 1/2 years, since the Extended DVD release date on December 14, 2004

The Hellbound Heart

2011-06-04T17:20:00.000-04:00

By: Clive Barker

The Hellbound Heart is a horror novella, that will be adapted into a classic horror movie franchise, Hellraiser.

Plot: Frank is a man who has had every pleasure imaginable in the world. After tiring of the same pleasures, he seeks out the Lament Configuration, a puzzle box that supposedly will show him pleasures from which the world has never seen. When he solves the puzzle in his grandparent's house, he unleashes the Cenobites of the Gash, who will show him pleasures beyond his understanding.

Unfortunately for Frank, the cenobites are a squad of sadomasochistic demons that believe the difference between pleasure and pain is insubstantial. He goes with them willingly at first, but quickly realizes his mistake, and the eternal torture he is going to endure.

Several months later, Rory (Frank's brother) moves into the grandparent's house with his wife, Julia to start a new life. Rory is unaware of how untrustworthy Julia is or the fact that Julia had sex with Frank right before their wedding. When Rory cuts his hand in the same room that Frank solved the puzzle, his blood creates a gateway for Frank to return this world.

Only a whisper at first, Frank tells Julia that the blood is the key to his return, and that he requires a lot more of it in order to become whole again. He convinces her to lure men back to the room, which each death helps him become more human.

While still in a muscle on bone state, Frank attacks Rory's friend Kirsty, who had stopped by the house to check on Julia, all the while suspicious she is having an affair. During the attack in the room, Kirsty manages to escape with the Lament Configuration, her weapon of desperation she used to fend off Frank and survive. In the hospital, where she is being treated for her injuries from the encounter with Frank, she accidentally in ignorance solves the configuration, and summons the cenobites.

After telling the cenobites that Frank is actually alive, they leave her with the choice of getting Frank to admitting who he is or she will spend an eternity in torture for solving the Lament Configuration.

Review: Truly a classic that spawned a movie franchise! Extremely gruesome from page to page, the reader will have to bare some disgusting descriptions, but will hopefully be enamored with the idea of "the box". The cenobites are unfeeling and creepy, and really strike fear from word to word. This is a must read for any horror fan or for any fan of the Hellraiser series of movies. The shortness of the novella is the only drawback. The book is very fast-paced, but lacks any history into the cenobites, who are the most intriguing characters in the story.

Discussion: In the story Frank seeks out a puzzle that will unleash to him all the pleasures he could ever want. Would you solve a puzzle that promised such pleasure or do you believe in Pandora's Box, and would refrain on the "too good to be true" principle?

Angel Time

2011-05-04T21:05:00.000-04:00

By: Anne Rice

Angel Time is the first book in a series called The Songs of Seraphim.

Plot: Lucky the Fox is a contract killer working for the good guys. He came from a sad childhood with a corrupt police officer for a father, who ends up being convicted and killed in prison. This causes his mother to drink, and eventually she kills her two other children and commits suicide herself.

Young Toby O'Dare (his given name) leaves New Orleans and moves to New York, where he changes his name to Vincenzo, and begins working for man named Alonzo, who acts as a father figure and takes the boy under his wing and lets him play his lute at Alonzo's restaurant. When the Russian Mafia moves into the area and kills most of Alonzo's family, Trying to force Alonzo to sell his land, Vincenzo seeks revenge and takes out the whole organization before lunch, including all the bankers and other business partners involved.

This is where he is drafted and trained to be an assassin for the American government, and starts working for "The Right Man" as lucky the fox. He becomes a soulless, methodical killer, without a care for who he is killing or why.

After completing a job at the Mission Inn in Riverside, California, a large historic Mission Revival style hotel where Lucky felt like he could be himself, he is visited by a seraph named Malchiah. Malchiah tells him that there is a battle for his soul taking place and asks for Toby's help. When Toby (because he will no longer think of himself as Lucky) decides he will take the chance, he is thrust back into 13th century England.

Here he will hear the tale of a tragic love, one that binds a Christian man and a Jewish woman in spirit only, and must decide if he will help this woman or not. She is surrounded by greed, bigotry, and tragedy all around. Will Toby save her, and thus, save his soul as well?

Review: Oh the attention to detail in this novel. Pictures are painted in paragraphs and paragraphs in this novel, so many in fact that the action and plot will sometimes get lost within. If you can tolerate all the detail to get to the story, it is quite well written and evokes strong emotion from topics that still exist today. The sadness people must have felt living in times with so many prejudices must have been very difficult indeed.

That being said, this tale of woe is very captivating, and the book is written like having three stories in one: The Life of Toby, The Life Of Vincenzo, and The Life of Brother Toby, with Lucky The Fox as the Narrator.

Discussion: Anne Rice has totally about-faced in her style of writing, going from Gothic style Vampire novels to God fearing angel ones. I myself would like to see Lestat again. Do you think she should have made the genre switch?

UR

2011-05-03T12:07:00.000-04:00

By: Stephen King

UR is a digital novella that was written by Stephen King for the release of the Kindle 2.

Plot: Wesley Smith, an English teacher at a college in Kentucky, decides to spite his ex-girlfriend (who feels he's old fashioned) by buying a Kindle from Amazon. In the mail he receives a pink Kindle that has a library called UR, that has complete libraries from over a million different realities.

Wesley brings in a colleague, fellow English professor Don Allman, and a student, young Robbie Henderson, to check out the bizarreness. They explore new Hemmingway, John D. MacDonald, and William Shakespear.

After tiring of looking at alternate histories, Wesley discovers the UR news section where he is able to peak into the future of his UR, and finds out that his ex-girlfriend (Who is a basketball coach at his college) is going to die in a fatal bus crash coming home after the championship, along with Robbie's girlfriend who is on the team.

Together, the two of them are going to change the future, but as a result will get a visit from the Low Men Who Wear Yellow Coats.

Review: This short novella is a great read for a reader looking to kill a two and a half hour trip. Obviously this novel is a ploy to sell more Kindles, but if you can get past that fact, this is a good story, with an uncharacteristically King happy ending. Also, out of character, this novel is fairly PG-13, and is a great story of all ages.

Discussion: The novella is about a Kindle that can see one year into the future. How would you use the Kindle if at all? For financial gain? Success? What?

The Old Republic: Deceived

2011-04-29T21:39:00.003-04:00

By: Paul S. Kemp

The Old Republic: Deceived is a novel set in the Star Wars universe that takes place during the Old Republic era, and is based on The Old Republic MMORPG.

Plot: Darth Malgus leads a successful attack on Coruscant, sacking the Jedi temple and killing many Jedi, including master Ven Zallow. His padawan, a force empath named Aryn Leneer, was on Alderaan attending a peace negotiation with the Sith, when she felt her master's death. She immediately knew the Jedi had been deceived by the fake peace negotiations, and set out to avenge her master's death.

Meanwhile, an ex commando named Zeerid Korr, is forced to take a spice run for the exchange to the newly conquered world of Coruscant for The Exchange. He only excepts this impossible mission because it will provide him with enough credits to get his daughter, Arra, a hoverchair, and clear his debts so he can become a farmer on Dantooine.

Aryn meets up with Zeerid on Vulta, where his daughter lives, and as chance would have it, tags along with him on his mission to Coruscant so he can deliver his shipment, and she can battle with Darth Malgus, and claim her revenge. Now all they have to do is get past an imperial blockade surrounding the planet...

Review: The Sith in peace negotiations? Doesn't the Sith credo start off: "Peace is a lie..."? If this is before the credo, I can see why they adapted it. This goes against everything any Star Wars Sith fan believes.

The novel itself is well written with many complex characters, all with their own agendas and motives. The author also includes extensive narrative in the blow by blow lightsaber duels that makes it easy for the reader to visualize the battles just like the feature films.

Also, Darth Malgus is a very complex character. Through the novel, the reader can figuratively feel the hatred radiate of of his persona, with every one of his conversations dripping with malice, even to the one person he loves.

If you are looking for an intergalactic tale, worthy of the Star Wars franchise, then look no further. The Republic and the empire will keep the reader enamored as they go head to head for galactic conquest, even though weaker Sith will enter into peace negotiation. The book is an excellent precursor to The Old Republic, the MMORPG set to come out in September at the moment.

Discussion: Was it a mistake for the Sith tor enter into peace negotiations?

Full Dark, No Stars

2011-04-13T15:19:00.002-04:00

By: Stephen King

Full Dark, No Stars is a compilation of 4 novellas that explore the dark side of human relationships. Families are tested as they try to endure out of the box horrific choices that they make.

Plot:

1922 - A man and his son are trying to make a life as a farmer. The only problem is the mother wants to live the city life. Now only if there was a way to get her out of the picture....

Big Driver - A middle aged author gets raped by a giant man on her way back from a book signing. Was it a coincidence she took the suggested shortcut? Now, just like her mystery novels, she will unravel the clues that lead to a chilling discovery.

Fair Extension - The ugly side of envy shines in this novella where a man gets to choose a happy life at the cost of his best friends' family, success, and happiness.

A Good Marriage - The lines of loyalty, love, and family are tested when a wife finds out that her husband may not be the man she thought he was.

Review: This book is a great read for those of you who are looking for a thrill. Dark temptations play a huge role in all of these stories. The best thing that makes these stories really compelling is they explore the reality of our fears, even if we would deny them to ourselves. Have you ever wanted someone out of the picture? Have you ever taken a shortcut you weren't comfortable with, through the middle of nowhere? Have you ever been jealous of someone's success, and wished it was yours? Has someone in your family lost your trust, because you found out they weren't who you thought they were? Come now, tell the truth, at least to yourself.

Discussion: In "A Good Marriage" Darcy Anderson finds out that her husband Bob is a serial killer. What would you do if you found out someone in your family was a murderer?

Knight Errant

2011-04-01T09:53:00.000-04:00

By: John Jackson Miller

A lone Jedi seeks to battle a Sith Empire in Sith Space in this action packed novel, bursting with all types of Sith Lords.

Plot: After her master, Vannar Treece, was impaled by Lord Odion on Chelloa, Kerra Holt ends up alone, trapped in Sith space. She ends up hiding on Darkknell, the capital world of the Daimanate, Ruled by the Sith Lord, Lord Daiman (naturally).

While trying to sabotage a giant think tank ship at the battle of Gazzari and saving the students, Kerra gets wrapped up in inner Sith lord feuding between Daiman & Odion that forces her to band with a mercenary for hire named Jarrow Rusher, and his band of artillery squads aboard his ship, Diligence. She convinces Rusher to try and find a new home planet for the student refugees outside of the Sith struggle.

They land on a planet called Byllura, where the population is all too orderly. Eventually Kerra finds out she has landed on a planet controlled by the Dierarchy, two Sith Lords named Quillan & Dromika who have enslaved the planet using force persuasion. Kerra manages to capture Quillan and escape the planet, only to be captures by another Sith Lord named Arkadia Calimondra.

The whole brigade is taken to the Arkadianate capital of Syned. Arkadia tries to recruit Kerra to assassinate the head of all the Sith Lords, and Arkadia's grandmother.. This is where Kerra learns about the Second Charge Matrica , and how all the Sith Lords are grandchildren fighting for their grandmother's attention.

In the end, Kerra will be forced to choose between saving many or saving a few in the grand scheme.

Review: The Sith struggle is something John Jackson Miller is proficient in telling, and this novel is no exception. The massive Sith feuds and the constant planet change really stretched this novel out into an epic tale, worthy of the Star Wars franchise. The only drawback is that the author focuses on developing the Sith characters far more than Kerra or Rusher.

Discussion: Who do you think should win the Second Charge Matrica?

Just After Sunset

2011-04-01T09:19:00.001-04:00

By: Stephen King

Just After Sunset is Stephen King's fifth collection of short stories. The book contains 12 short stories, 11 previously published in magazines, and 1 new unpublished story titled: "N".

Plot:

Willa - A tragic train accident leaves souls confused about what to do with themselves in the afterlife.

The Gingerbread Girl - Tragedies cause a woman to reinvent herself. She takes up running and she moves to Florida. While taking a long run through a rich neighborhood, she stumbles across something terrifying.

Harvey's Dream - Premonitions abound in this short tale where dreams can become a tragic reality.

Rest Stop - You will ask yourself the classic question: "What would you do?" in this tale where a writer, John Dykstra, stops at a rest stop on his way home, and finds himself eavesdropping on a classic case of domestic abuse.

Stationary Bike - Richard Sifkitz, a commercial artist, gets staggering results from his physical that causes him to change his habits. The only problem is that there are others that relied on his old eating ways.

The Things They Left Behind - After 9/11, Survivor Scott Staley has a hard time getting over the fact that an inner voice told him to stay home and not go to work at The World Trade Center on that fateful day. When items from the victims start appearing in his apartment, things go from bad to worse.

Graduation Afternoon - A girl tries to enjoy her graduation at her boyfriend's wealth Connecticut suburban home. All that changes when she witnesses an atomic bomb drop on Manhattan.

N - Obsessive Compulsive Disorder takes a front seat in the story narrative as a man called only N tells his story of how he uses his compulsion to keep a monster from another reality called Cthun from entering our realm. The only problem is that N's delusion is highly contagious.

The Cat From Hell - "The Cat came back, the very next day..." sums up this tale of a professional hitman getting paid 12,000 dollars to take out a cat.

The New York Times at Special Bargain Rates - A wife receives a phone call from her husband 2 days after his death from the afterlife. He has some chilling information about the future because time works funny in his realm of existence.

Mute - In a confession booth, Monette tells the story of how he picked up a hitchhiker that he thought couldn't hear or talk. He tells the priest that he confesses his wife's crazy lifestyle (cheating, embezzlement, etc.) to the hitchhiker. The hitchhiker eventually thanks Monette for the ride in the most drastic way.

Ayanna - A narrator recounts his father's battle with Pancreatic cancer, and how a 7 year old blind girl named Ayanna performs a miracle he will never forget. This opens up a world of "pay it forward" miracles for the narrator.

A Very Tight Place - Curtis Johnson is very distraught over the loss of his dog, who died by being fried on his neighbor's intentional electric fence. This causes a legal battle that breeds even more hate between Curtis and his neighbor, Tim Grunwald. Tim decides to lure Curtis to an old construction site, where he will lock Curtis in a Port-A-Potty to die.

Review: The best of these stories in this compilation live up to the name Just After Sunset because the deal with the after sunset of people's lives. Willa really invokes the reader to question their thoughts on post-death logistics. Graduation Afternoon is frightfully scary with all the apocalyptic trimmings. The New York Times at Special Bargain Rates really warms the heart, and is sad all at the same time. This complexity makes the story compelling. A Very Tight Place deserves an honorable mention because the tale is absolutely disgusting, but also packed with the nail-biting suspense that traps the reader as well. The review ends up at 3 stars because the other stories are a little played out and don't offer new ideas to keep the reader intrigued.

Discussion: The book really discusses the idea of existence after death. Do you believe you will exist after death?

Night of the Dragon

2011-03-16T16:36:00.000-04:00

By: Richard A. Knaak

Night of the dragon is a novel set in the World of Warcraft universe, specifically right before The Wrath of the Lich King.

Plot: Grim Batol is once again the source of some dark deeds. Sinestra (the consort to Deathwing) has imprisoned a nether dragon, Zzeraku, and is channeling the dragon's energy into corrupting dragon eggs, and creating the first Twilight Dragon.

Krasus, determined this time to confront the evil himself, but he is not alone. Iridi, a Draenei from Outland, travels to Grim Batol to stop the evil as well. Once again the cursed place is drawing all the heroes from the first book back for another round.

Now all at war begins as Krasus, Varessa, Iridi, Rhonin, and the Blue dragon Kalec, with an army of raptors square off against Sinestra, Varessa's despicable brother Zendarin, and a legion of Skardyn for the fate of Azeroth. Little do they realize that the twilight dragon Dargonax, has plans of his own...

Review: This is an once again an epic tale, with all the trimmings to make a good fantasy tale. The only problem is that this was already done in Day of the Dragon, and is starting to get old. So it's Deathwing's consort, instead of Deathwing? Whoopee! It's still Grim Batol, and the characters are pretty much the same. Is it worth a read? Sure. But I highly recommend not reading this novel right after reading the first. The Day really outshines The Night in this series.

Discussion: After reading the two novels consecutively, I find that Day of the Dragon is a far superior tale to the sequel. The second novel seems like an afterthought. Which of the two novels is your favorite?

Day of the Dragon

2011-02-10T15:44:00.001-05:00

By: Richard A. Knaak

Day of the Dragon is a novel set in the World of Warcraft universe, specifically in The Alliance & Horde era, after the second war, but before the Scourge arrive.

Plot: A rogue wizard named Rhonin is sent by the council of Dalaran to try and free the red dragon queen Alexstrasza from the Dragonmaw clan in Grim Batol. Little does Rhonin know, that he was actually sent on this quest by Krasus. Krasus in his dragon form is named Korialstrasz, and is a former consort to the red Dragonqueen herself.

During his quest to rescue the dragonqueen, he is aided by the unlikely Deathwing of the black dragonflight, who only has selfish motives to extend his power, and revive his flight.

Aided by his companions Vareesa Windrunner, a high elf ranger, and Falstad Dragonreaver, a Wildhammer gryphon rider, Rhonin will travel to Grim Batol, straight into the heart of the Dragonmaw's lair to destroy the Demon Soul, and free the Dragonqueen.

Review: This is an epic tale, with all the trimmings to make a good fantasy tale. An unlikely hero, a band of sidekicks, a long quest, unlikely alliances, political espionage, even a dragon are all components to this great story. Truly a classic in the World of Warcraft world.

Discussion: This novel gives you an in depth look at all 5 of the Dragonflight Aspects. Which Dragonflight is your favorite?

Beyond the Dark Portal

2011-02-09T21:53:00.000-05:00

By: Aaron Rosenberg & Christie Golden

Beyond the Dark Portal is a novel set in the World of Warcraft universe, specifically in The Alliance & Horde era.

Plot: The Second War is all but finished. Ogrim Doomhammer has been captured, the horde is in retreat, and Gul'dan is presumed dead after entering the tomb of Sargeras, and never coming out. The Horde being in shambles, has no choice but to return to their ruined world of Draenor, to regroup and rethink their strategy.

The Alliance has the same thought. They can not afford to let the Horde return through the dark portal, regroup, and then wreak havoc once again. The Alliance sends an expeditionary force, led by a paladin named Turalyon, to defeat the orcs on their home turf.

With the death of Gul'dan and the aid of the Black Dragon Deathwing, Ner'zhul returns to the scene by taking up the leadership role of the Horde. He sets out to take the orcs to a new world, and will let nothing stop him in his conquest.

Review: Having played this expansion when it came out for DOS way back when, the outcome of the story was not much of a surprise. However, just like the game, the journey is the best part, not the destination. Reading the plot unfold with more detail definitely steps up the storyline, and provides great entertainment. This novel is a good read, but is a must read for any of us old-timers that loaded up the game on our 486 computer, and lost several days, never looking back..

Tides of Darkness

2011-02-07T20:56:00.000-05:00

By: Aaron Rosenberg

Tides of Darkness is a novel set in the World of Warcraft universe, specifically in The Alliance & Horde era.

Plot: The Second War has begun. Ogrim Doomhammer is now Warcheif of the horder, after slaying and replacing the old one. Stormwind has fallen, and now the Horde seeks out new land to pillage and conquer. Their eyes turn to across the sea, where the humans prepare, and cower, awaiting their deaths.

On the other side of the sea, The Alliance is formed. Made up of Humans, Elves, & Dwarves, all the nations rally together, with the understanding that the Horde will slay everyone, and leave nothing but destruction in their wake. Well, maybe except Alterac...

When the orcs land on the shore, an all out war begins. Alliances will be tested on both sides. Ultimately, it will be Gul'dan, Doomhammers head Warlock, that will decide the fate of the war.

Review: Having played the game when it came out for DOS way back when, the outcome of the story was not much of a surprise. However, just like the game, the journey is the best part, not the destination. Reading the plot unfold with more detail definitely steps up the storyline, and provides great entertainment. This novel is a good read, but is a must read for any of us old-timers that loaded up the game on our 486 computer, and lost several days, never looking back..

The Last Guardian

2011-02-06T23:50:00.000-05:00

By: Jeff Grubb

The Last Guardian is a novel set in the World of Warcraft universe, specifically in The New World era.

Plot: The Last Guardian of Tirisfal is a wizard named Medivh, who is a recluse living in the tower of Karazhan, suffering from a battle from within between good and evil. In all his years, he has never had an apprentice, until now...

Khadgar, a young mage sent from the Kirin Tor, to apprentice under the old, slightly eccentric Medivh. At first everything in the tower is as it was expected to be, but when Khadgar discovers that the last guardian is from a lineage of incredibly powerful wizards empowered by a council to combat the forces of the Burning Legion, he starts to notice something terribly wrong with his mentor.

Review: The hardest part of reading this novel is getting through the very long beginning. It starts off extremely slow. The book has a flow like a boulder rolling down a slight incline. At first the rock is moving at a snail's pace, but by the end the speed is unreal. The end of the novel moves at such blazing speed that by the last page's end, the reader is left thinking: Oh, it's over?

Despite all that, the tale is well crafted, and intriguing. Medivh invokes sympathy, when the reader is finally let in on his big secret. Even though the book starts slow, the ending is well worth the wait. Also, the book is an essential read for any Warcraft fan, as it is referred to by many other novels in the World of Warcraft.

Rise of the Horde

2011-02-06T01:18:00.000-05:00

By: Christie Golden

Rise of the Horde is a novel set in the World of Warcraft universe, specifically in The Doom of Draenor era.

Plot: The Orcs are a peaceful, shamanistic society that takes pride in the hunt, and is one with nature. All that changes when Ner'zhul is tricked by Kil'jaeden into believing that the draenei are enemies, and that the path to the salvation of their race is to assemble a massive horde, which will abandon their long honored shaman magic for darker, warlock magics instead.

However, Durotan, the young chieftain of the Frostwolves clan, is not fooled by Ner'zhul's proclamations. Having met the draenei when he was younger, he knows the truth of their character. However, as a chieftan, he must do what is best for his people, and is forced to choose between what is right, and what the Horde wants.

Review: This novel offers great insight into who the orcs truly were before they were overwhelmed by bloodlust. The author truly is a master storyteller in the fact that she will have you sympathizing with the orcs, and the draenei, within a few pages of the novel. The plot is extremely entertaining, and the characters are very much real, which will captivate the reader right from the beginning.

The morality involved in this novel is gripping, where even the lines are blurred between good guy and bad guy. People can be easily fooled into doing bad things with the best of intentions, and if there is any lesson to be learned in this novel that is it. I highly recommend this novel for any reader interested in the World of Warcraft or any person interested in a good plot with larger than life characters.

Red Harvest

2011-01-21T18:50:00.000-05:00

By: Joe Schreiber

As a prequel to Death Troopers, this novel expands on the Star Wars Zombie universe, where the dead come back to life, by revealing the origins of the virus.

Plot: At the Sith academy on Odacer-Faustin, a twisted Sith Lord named Darth Scaborous has a dream, where immortality can be achieved, and all it will take is a flower. There is just a single problem. The virus created by this black orchid, grants immortality, but at the price of one's soul.

Review: That pretty much sums up the whole novel. Originally title "Black Orchid" this novel was renamed due to the fact that the title sounds like a romance novel. However, the novel should have been titled "Resident Evil: Star Wars" and it would have removed the need to read it. If you, the reader, are looking for plots within plots, galactic battles or anything you've come to expect in the Star Wars universe, look elsewhere. The sole purpose of the novel is to explain the origin of the Death Trooper's virus. Possibly, in the future, more plots will develop in other novels, but for right now, it is just one zombie killing after another.

The saving grace of the book is the non-stop action that never ceases throughout the entire novel. Short chapters that are used to just explain the necessary plot points, leaving tons of room for gruesome action. Also, expect tons of fear and betrayal that comes with any Sith academy.

So in short, unless you're looking for a quick paced, relatively short novel to read in an airport or on a plane, then skipping this book would not put you out of the loop in the Star Wars time line.

The Force Unleashed II

2011-01-16T14:58:00.000-05:00

By: Sean Williams

The Force Unleashed is a novel set in the Star Wars universe that takes place during the Rise of the Empire era, and is the Second of two books in The Force Unleashed duology.

Plot: After a self-sacrificing move by Starkiller that begins the Rebellion, he wakes up on a cloning facility on Kamino alive. Quickly, he locates General Kota in order to find Juno Eclipse, the woman he fell in love with and his former pilot, who has been occupying his memories as of late.

However, Starkiller is not the only person looking for Juno. Vader has hired Boba Fett to track down and abduct Juno before Starkiller can find her. As long as Starkiller has a love, Vader believes he will always have power over him. It is this fact that brings both Sith Lord and apprentice together again for a confrontation that will change the fate of the Galaxy.

Review: Even though the first book was action packed and a great thrill ride, the second novel exceeds the first in many respects. The plot development of the novel shows a great growth in Sean Williams' writing. Williams does not stick to the script the way he did in the first novel. This is a testament to all great writers. Rather than lengthening a basic video game script, he took the idea, expanded on it, and made it his own.

The subplots really make the characters seem more real, the impending tragedy makes the plot twist and turn, and the way the love is written between Juno and Starkiller is just as entertaining as any of the action sequences in the novel. Even if the reader has not read the first novel, the character relations in the novel will be more than enough to keep the reader's interest piqued. The second novel was even more enjoyable than the first, and is definitely worth a read.

The Force Unleashed

2010-11-11T15:46:00.001-05:00

By: Sean Williams

The Force Unleashed is a novel set in the Star Wars universe that takes place during the Rise of the Empire era, and is the First of two books in The Force Unleashed duology.

Plot: The Empire rules with an iron fist. The Jedi are all but wiped out. Emperor Palpatine tasks Darth Vader with finding and exterminating the remaining Jedi scattered across the galaxy. In turn, Vader unleashes his secret apprentice, a boy taken from Kashyyyk when he was a child, trained to be a force wrecking ball for the empire.

His mission is simple: follow Vader's orders, kill Jedi, and eventually take his place at Vader's Side after they destroy Darth Sidious.

Starkiller's journey will take him to robotic junk worlds, jungle planets, Imperial shipyards, and even to a new moon sized space station in the Horuz system. Along the way, the apprentice collects a crew comprising of a old Clone Wars general, an Imperial pilot, and his faithful droid Proxy, who tries to kill him from time to time. Together, they will start a rebellion, rescue both Organas, all the while secretly revealing the last of the emperor's enemies. When push comes to shove, the apprentice will have to choose whether he wants to be Vader's puppet, or the rebellion's greatest hope.

Review: This novel captivates the reader with non-stop action, a mesmerizing intrigue by answering the question: "How did the rebellion begin?" Starkiller could have had a little more character development, but the great story the intertwines into the Star Wars timeline more than makes up for it. Like most Star Wars the novels, the question of right or wrong will come into play. Well worth the read for any Star Wars fan, or any person who has played the video game.

The Bachman Books

2010-10-29T02:09:00.002-04:00

By: Richard Bachman

A crazed out teen decides he has had enough. A futuristic "walk till you drop" contest. A husband decides to take on the city, when he finds out he has to move for a freeway. A futuristic game show with dire consequences . Stephen King as Bachman, writes in a fast pace style with these four novellas.

Plot: With four exciting tales of suspense, Bachman takes you to the edge of your seat with two tales involving futuristic game shows, and two tales that take the reader step by step through a crazy mind in stressful situations.

Rage - A troubled teen takes a classroom hostage in this columbine style story. The tale takes you through his memories, as he relives his issues growing up, while taking the class to new heights of honesty. The novel really emphasizes the illusion kids project to their peers, all to stay socially acceptable.

The Long Walk - In a future where America has become a poor police state, the reader follows the lives of one hundred teens that choose to enter a yearly competition, where they walk till they drop, and the last person walking wins the ultimate prize - whatever they want. The only downside is that if you lose, you die.

Roadwork - A man is notified by the city that he has to move his home and the business he works for because a highway is coming through. The novel focuses on his endless series of bad decisions that lead him to a last stand.

The Running Man - In this futuristic tale where the environment is dying, and a giant network conglomerate controls America, Ben Richards signs up to be a contestant on "The Running Man", where he has to allude the authorities for 30 days, in order to win the grand prize. Otherwise, he will be executed. Fortunately for him, he is good at running.

Review: This book was very long in some parts, but the futuristic stories are well worth the read. The Running Man flows extremely well, with a great ending. The Long Walk is more about the journey, keeping the reader reading "one more chapter" till the end, which was very anti-climactic. The other two stories have a few readable sections, but all in all the reader could skip them and not miss much. The rating of each novel individually is 5 stars for The Running Man and The Long Walk, 3 stars for Rage, and 1 star for Roadwork because it seems impossible to make that many bad decisions in a row.

Terminator Salvation: Trial By Fire

2010-10-04T22:37:00.001-04:00

By: Timothy Zahn

The fourth novel in the Terminator Salvation Series Timeline. This novel takes place immediatelly after the novel Terminator Salvation. Skynet Central has been taken offline, and now the resistance must clean up the mess of terminators that can only connect to Skynet's eastern hub at night.

Plot: John Connor is recovering, Kyle and Star are now with the resistance, and Skynet's Western America hub has been destroyed, but the war with the machines rages on.

Kyle goes on an ammo run with 3 other boys and ends up in a hidden tunnel that the resistance hadn't discovered when the blew up the research laboratory. While trying to get out of the tunnel, the four young resistance members discover that Skynet still has plans to kill John Connor, and have set them in motion.

Meanwhile, Barnes & Blair return to the explosion site to bury Barnes' brother because humans always bury their dead. While leaving the area, Blair discovers a backbone line going into the forest. Upon further investigation, the two resistance fighters discover a town that that has been untouched by post Judgement Day.

Upon venturing into Baker's Hollow, Barnes & Blair find a town that has two sides, ready to split. The tension results from spotting a terminator standing guard, facing away from the town, waiting for something or someone to arrive. When a man who claims to be John Connor arrives, all hell breaks loose. Plans are set into motion, tables turn, and the two resistance fighters find themselves involved in a nightmare experiment they could never have imagined.

Review: A novel so great, it could easily be a motion picture sequel! The plot is solid, the action immense, and the only true victim of this book is the reader, who will be slave to the novel till the very end. The best part of the book is the anticipation of what happens next, but when the plot unfolds, the reader will be left with a feeling of having read a great mystery.

Terminator Salvation: Cold War

2010-10-04T21:50:00.002-04:00

By: Greg Cox

The second novel in the Terminator Salvation Series Timeline. 2 novels in one book! Beginning with the Judgement Day in 2003, this book takes a look at the other side of the missile launches. Also, in 2018 a small resistance cell in Alaska takes on a large heist to get the attention of Command.

Plot: The year is 2003. Captain Dimitri Losenko is ordered to launch a barrage of nuclear missiles against the USA in a counter attack. After Judgement Day, the Gorshkov submarine surfaces to find out that machines were the cause of the initial strike, forcing Russia's hand.

Now Dimitri resurfaces to encounter hostile machines, humans enslaved or sympathetic to the synthetic cause, and a small group of remnant military factions trying to unite to take on Skynet. If only the old countries can put their now obsolete prejudices aside.

Now the year is 2018. A group of rag tag resistance members battle the Alaskan weather while trying to survive in post Judgement Day Alaska. Molly Kookesh struggle to keep her Resistance cell safe from the terminators with very little resources. A fuel heist gone wrong lures a terminator back to their camp, destroying the place and costing many lives.

After the devastation, Molly is convinced to get the notice of General Losenko at Command, by planning to steal Yellowcake from a Skynet train, that passes nearby like clockwork. But like most things that involve Skynet, not everything goes as planned...

Review: The view into immediately after Judgement Day was quite exciting as a reader. For me at least, this was an area of the timeline that hadn't been explored yet. Learning about the Skynet Sympathizers was a great explanation of how Skynet was able to take over the world so quickly. The story of the Alaskan resistance group almost seemed like a sub plot, and was not real engaging. The characters were very well developed and likable, but the story itself was plain.

Also, the reader had to jump from one story to the other from chapter to chapter, which was very disruptive as far as the story's flow was concerned. This story really should have had a part 1 (2003) and a part 2 (2018).

Terminator Salvation

2010-09-22T10:44:00.000-04:00

Directed By: McG

Marcus Wright is a convicted killer sentenced to die, and the sentence is carried out by lethal injection. So how is it that he can wake up years later, and find himself in a world that has suffered a nuclear holocaust?

Plot: After being put to death in 2003, Marcus Wright wakes up in 2018 where the world is destroyed, and machines rule the earth. While wandering aimlessly, Marcus stumbles upon a teenager named Kyle Reese, and a nine year old mute girl named Star. While trying to escape Los Angeles, Kyle & Star are captured by a harvester and transported to Skynet Central in San Francisco.

While en route to rescue Kyle and Star, Marcus meets a resistance pilot named Blair Williams, who tells him of her resistance cell, and how they may be able to help Marcus rescue his two friends. While at the edge of the resistance camp, Marcus steps on a mine. When he wakes up, he gets to meet the legendary John Connor, who revels to Marcus a secret about the purpose of Marcus' second life.

Review: A great movie, worthy of the terminator franchise. Christian Bale plays John Connor perfectly with his monotone, no emotion acting style. Sam Worthington is definitely an up and coming actor in the action genre with this movie being a testament to his skills. The ending is not a personal favorite, but the nonstop action makes up mostly for the ending choice.

Terminator Salvation

2010-09-22T10:29:00.004-04:00

By: Alan Dean Foster

The third novel in the Terminator Salvation Series Timeline. Marcus Wright is a convicted killer sentenced to die, and the sentence is carried out by lethal injection. So how is it that he can wake up years later, and find himself in a world that has suffered a nuclear holocaust?

Review: The book has a better ending than the movie. If you have only seen the movie, then you should read the book. It will give you all the details. Truly well written, but when it comes to movie-to-book adaptation, Alan Dean Foster is the master, with his "get to the point" type style of writing, which can even keep the non-reader's eyes glued to every page.

Spartacus: Blood & Sand Season 1 Now on Blu-Ray!

2010-09-21T13:52:00.000-04:00

On Today, Tuesday, September 21, 2010 the complete first season of Spartacus: Blood & Sand is now available to purchase on Blu-Ray! Now you can watch and enjoy your favorite episodes from the comfort of your own home!

Terminator Salvation: From The Ashes

2010-09-20T10:29:00.002-04:00

By: Timothy Zahn

The first novel in the Terminator Salvation Series Timeline. Kyle Reese and Star find themselves at Moldavia Lost Ashes, a community that has managed to survive the Judgement Day nightmare by keeping their heads down....

Plot: Moldavia Lost Ashes is a community that is as good as it gets in the Los Angeles nightmare that exists after Judgement Day, when Skynet (a sentient supercomputer) launches the world's nuclear arsenal and puts the Earth into nuclear winter. However, little does the community know, but Skynet has sectioned the area off for human cleansing.

The resistance cell in Los Angeles, led by John Connor, has to do something spectacular to gain the attention and resources of the international resistance fighters. They decide to invade a newly setup terminator depot which has been temporarily created to clean out a sector of the city of its human population. When The Resistance scouts out the local population and encounters Moldavia Lost Ashes, Kate Connor has a battle of conscience between what needs to be done, and all the children she sees...

Review: A great prequel novel if there ever has been one! The great use of happenstance in this novel greatly increases the suspense from page to page. The marine Justo Orozco is a compelling, very well written character that the reader will root for up to the very end of the novel.

Star Wars Episode III - Revenge of the Sith

2010-09-20T09:45:00.001-04:00

Directed By: George Lucas

Star Wars Episode III - Revenge of the Sith is a film set in the Star Wars universe that takes place during the Rise of the Empire era, and is the third of three books in The Star Wars Prequel trilogy.

Plot: Obi-Wan and Anakin, now veterans of the Clone Wars, are engaged in a huge battle above Corrucant to rescue Chancellor Palpatine form the Separatist army. While Obi-Wan is unconscious, Anakin squares off against Count Dooku and makes a choice that begins his path down the dark side.

General Grievous escapes to Utapau, and Obi-Wan is forced to pursue. Meanwhile on Corrucant, Anakin is wrapped up in a series of political plots, trying to decide what side of the line he falls on, all the while figuring out a way to save Padme from a death only he has seen in his nightmares. Eventually, Chancellor Palpatine will force Anakin to choose between the Republic and the people who are trying to save it...

Review: The final culmination of events leading from Anakin Skywalker to Darth Vader is a thrill ride of non-stop action from beginning to end. The movie has great, epic battles, engaging dialogue, and will keep you glued to your seat while you witness the final showdown between light and dark.