Last Week

Last week was zombie apocalypse at GD when an experiment with nonlethal weapons went awry. Tess discovered what was going on with Carter and Alison and left. The acting was beautiful with all the restrained and unrestrained rage.

This Week

Carter goes off to visit Zoe in Harvard while Eureka celebrates Space Week – or the unlikely story that made Jo Lupo move in with Carter.

While Sheriff Carter rebound with Zoe over an invisible cat and the usual parental platitudes the youngsters in Eureka race to the moon. Alison’s son Kevin is one of the contesters in the race.

They even get a visit from the General in charge of Eureka. A Doctor Ramsey uncovers his plans for a Mars colony. He has invented a way to oxygenate the colony without a dome. The substance for doing this is central for the story thus the name; O is the scientific abbreviation of oxygen.

There was a Star Wars moment there when Zane arrived on his rather spectacular flyingbike. The General isn’t happy to see him to begin with so that when Zane returns and crashes the bike into the general’s car apparently intoxicated the general demand that he be deported away into prison again. Jo Lupo stands up for him to give him ‘due process’.

Eventually they start to put things together. Ramsey’s invention has been stolen from the lab; Deputy Andy catch fire at the launch site (funny btw); One of the rockets are using it for fuel; the changed EM field hit right on the frequency needed to activate the oxygen production and propagation of Ramsey’s invention which I assume is some kind of nano technology.

As Kevin’s rocket is in the lead he becomes their prime suspect but the unlikely culprit is Alison. She did it to ‘help’ her son win, the test burns didn’t go so well. Her care for her son is taking on absurd proportions, she used to be a responsible head of GD and now she steals a potentially dangerous invention to help her son win a race? The explanation is that the difference between autistic Kevin and this independent one was so big and she was only trying to reconnect?

They are not out of the woods yet, the returning rockets have crossed behind the moon and are now returning to earth and their engines will set off a fire that will destroy the town. The rockets are destroyed using their self destruct mechanism, save one built by Fargo’s obnoxious assistant who ’saved weight’.

Now they have to lower the oxygen content somehow before the rocket strikes. All the scientists at GD fails but Kevin comes up with the solution, turn it into water (H2o). Alison and Grant rush off to help him as he releases balloons. Kevin and Alison trigger the release together causing a massive fire in the upper atmosphere before it is extinguished by rain. It is a cute little family outing there.

Don’t forget the lone returning rocket. It is slightly off course and hits a residential area, namely Miss Lupo’s house. Sheriff Carter returns to find Jo homeless crashing in his jail so he offer her to stay with him and S.a.r.a.h. That is how Jo Lupo came to move in with Sheriff Carter.

It should be noted that this episode was directed by Colin Ferguson (Sheriff Jack Carter).

Said and done

• You are too irritating to be boring (Jo)
• They had to increase the EM shield, because last year the Nort-Koreans though they launched a missile attack.

Next Week

We have a cross-over event with Warehouse 13 next week, maybe not the last this season according to rumors from Comic Con.

Tuesday, August 3

Warehouse 13 2.05 – 13.1 (Syfy).
Douglas Fargo (Neil Grayston) of Eureka’s Global Dynamics is sent to Warehouse 13 to help update its aging computer system. This triggers a seemingly sentient computer virus that sends the Warehouse into lockdown and traps the team inside.

Friday, August 6

Eureka 4.05 – Crossing over (Syfy)
Claudia Donovan visits Eureka to see if Fargo’s promises of wondrous devices are true, but she finds herself in the middle of a mystery suitable for Warehouse 13 when objects begin to appear randomly around the town and GD, and it must be solved before there are deadly consequences

Related Posts

• Eureka 4.03 – All the Rage (Review) July 25, 2010
• Eureka 4.02 – A New World July 18, 2010
• Eureka Season 4 Premiere Review July 10, 2010
• Eureka Sneak Peek July 8, 2010
• Eureka – 4th Season Premiere July 9 July 4, 2010
• Eureka season 3 part 2 so far July 26, 2009

Order from: Amazon US | UK | B&N | sfbok

Sometimes paranoia is just a heightened state of awareness.

Carrera’s won his war, and inflicted a horrific revenge upon his enemies. But there are wars after wars. The Tauran Union is planning an attack. The criminals of neighboring states are already attacking, and threatening to embroil him in a war with the planet’s premier power. His only living son is under fire among the windswept mountains of Pashtia. An enemy fleet is hunting his submarines. His organization has been infiltrated by spies. One of the two governments of his adopted country, Balboa, is trying to destroy everything he’s built and reinstitute rule by a corrupt oligarchy. Worst of all, perhaps, he, himself, bearing a crushing burden of guilt, isn’t quite the man he once was.

Fortunately, the man he once was, was lucky enough to marry the right woman….

Information

The book is dedicated to Julia and starts with a “What has gone before” section.

This whole series is about Patricio Carrera a self made man who found a home in Balboa, the country he once fought. Now he fights for freedom both for his corrupt homeland and against the depraved old earth. It all takes place on Terra Nova. Earth’s first and only interstellar colony.

The Author

I have read Tom Kratman before. It would be wrong to say that he is politically correct. Especially his first books where not to my liking. I think Tom likes it when people criticizes his work, he used to have a wall of fame over the most angry ones (still have one). His works are usually on the edge on what I can tolerate to read. But he provides a different point of view and thats worth something.

World Building

It is a rather sordid world Tom has painted. Earth is ruled by renegade international humanitarian organizations like Amnesty and different United Nations departments. Liberals are the new master slaves and new religions even practice human sacrifice.

Terra Nova reminds a great deal of todays earth and there are many parallels just twisted a bit. Carrera has fought in their ‘middle-east’ and now his ‘Panama’ faces the drug cartels.

The philosophy and assumption reminds of Heinlein’s Starship Troopers to a great deal.

Plot

Carrera is not the man he used to be after all the death he caused in the last book so the first obstacle is to restore him to sound mind.

Carrera prepares for the war with earth while he has to deal with his occupied land and its corrupted leadership.

The ‘US’ threatens to invade if he does nothing against the drug cartels so he makes that his agenda. But the cartels have deep pockets and there are traitors among Carrera’s men and they go after him and his closest.

Characterization

The characters are a bit two dimensional but they are entertaining.

My View

This is decent military science fiction that might not be for everyone.

Related Posts

• A Desert Called Peace by Tom Kratman
• Yellow Eyes (Posleen) by John Ringo & Tom Kratman
• The Tuloriad by John Ringo & Tom Kratman (Posleen)

Amy Pond is the companion of the 11th Doctor. She first meets him as a little girl when the 11th reincarnation crashlands the TARDIS in her back yard. He behaves really weird even for the Doctor but I guess it is compelling to small children. Amy was cute as a child but that is nothing against what she looks like when she grows up.

Next time she meets him she is dressed as a police woman. She kicks the Doctor’s ass and make a citizen’s arrest because she is dressed like that for her kissogram job

The new companion has been a bit controversial, she is way too sexy for some and when she came on to the Doctor it was widely discussed especially since she was engaged. The Doctor sort it out and take the happy two on an extended honeymoon on the TARDIS. Executive producer Piers Wenger stated that Amy was intended to be “feisty and outspoken and a bit of a number. Amy is probably the wildest companion that the Doctor has travelled with, but she isn’t promiscuous.”

This installment of the Doctor feels more adult and grownup humor.

Name: Amy Pond
Portrayed by: Karen Gillian
TV show: Doctor Who, 11th Incarnation
Genre: Science Fiction
Status: She will return next season

Karen Gillian

Karen was born 28 November 1987 and is best known for her role as Amy Pond in Doctor Who. She was born and raised in Inverness, Scotland.

She did some model job before and also played in Fires of Pompeii

Related Posts

1. Olivia Dunham in Fringe
2. Max Guevara (X5-452) in Dark Angel
3. Erica Evans on V
4. Molly Anne Caffrey on Threshold
5. Wendy ‘Dub-Dub’ Watson on The Middleman
6. Jane Vasco on Painkiller Jane
7. Æon Flux on Æon Flux
8. Dana Scully on The X-Files
9. Myka Bering on Warehouse 13
10. Dr. Helena Magnus on Sanctuary
11. Sarah on Chuck
12. Echo on Dollhouse
13. Amy Pond on Doctor Who

I added a list of all the characters so far at the end of this post. Please add more suggestions. 100 is a better number than 80.

1. Paula Myo – Intrepid Investigator (Peter F. Hamilton)
2. Sissy – High Priestess of Harmony (C. F. Bentley)
3. Paula Mendoza – Unconventional Negotiator (Cecelia Holland)
4. Casseia Majumdar – Scientific Revolutionary (Greg Bear)
5. Dirisha Zuri – the Matadora (Steve Perry)

Paula Myo – Intrepid Investigator

Books: Pandora’s Star (2004), Judas Unchained (2005)
Series: Commonwealth Saga
Author: Peter F. Hamilton
Genre: Space opera
Publisher: MacMillan UK, Del Rey, Pan

Paula Myo is only one of the characters in the Commonwealth saga. She is a famous investigator that realizes the Starflyer is real and a threat to humanity. It was a few years since I read these books and they are huge, not as huge as his Night’s Dawn trilogy but big enough. Good interesting space opera with multiple main characters.

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Sissy – High Priestess of Harmony

Books: Harmony (2008), Enigma (2009)
Series: Harmony
Author: C. F. Bentley (Irene Radford)
Genre: Military Science Fiction | Fantasy
Publisher: Daw

I just finished reading Harmony an liked it a lot; it is a mixture of military science fiction, space opera and romance. Sissy is born with the mark of all seven casts. Normally that would make here an outcast to be killed but she hides the marks with the help of her family. Their planet Harmony is becoming unstable and a catastrophic earthquake threatens to destroy the capital. But Sissy finds out she has the power to divert the power of the quake and save the city. The High Priestess is killed and the surviving High Priest sees an opportunity in using this young uneducated girl with real powers to strengthening his position on the ruling council. Thing is that Sissy have other ideas.

There is a lovely love story in there to you can check out my review.

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Paula Mendoza – Unconventional Negotiator

Books: Floating Wolds (1976)
Author: Cecelia Holland
Genre: Feminist Science Fiction
Publisher: Knopf, Gollancz, Pocket, Sphere, VGSF.

New to me both of them. According to Wikipedia “This novel is notable for its sexual content, its feminist theme, and its literary quality—all comparable to the mid-70s work of Joanna Russ and Ursula K. Le Guin.” that sounds like something I would like to read. This also goes on my to-read list.

When an aggressive race of mutants from Uranus and Saturn launch pirate raids on ships from Mars, the task of negotiating peace falls to the resourceful and unpredictable Paula Mendoza.

Though highly skeptical of her “anarchist” government, gutsy Paula Mendoza rises from the ranks of the unemployed Earthish to become its peace negotiator in the escalating war between the Middle Planets and the Gas Planets in this latest by Cecelia Holland (The Pillar of the Sky), whom the Chicago Tribune has compared to Arthur C. Clarke and Ursula Le Guin. Paula’s methods (which include sleeping with the enemy) are innovative, to say the least, and they land her in troubled waters in the startling and epic Floating Worlds

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Casseia Majumdar – Scientific Revolutionary

Books: Moving Mars (1993)
Series: Queen of Angels book 3
Author: Greg Bear
Genre: Coming of Age | Revolution
Publisher: Tor, Legend, Orb, The Easton Press, Brilliance Audio

This is a coming of age story about Casseia Majumdar at the backdrop of the brewing revolution. Sounds like a good book I have to read soon.

Mars is a colonial world governed by corporate interests on Earth. The citizens of Mars are hardworking, brave, and intelligent, but held back by their lack of access to the best education, and the desire of Earthly powers to keep the best inventions for themselves. The young Martians – the second and third generation born on Mars – have little loyalty to the Earth, and strong belief that their planet can be independent. The revolution begins slowly, but matures to its inevitable conclusion.

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Dirisha Zuri – The Matadora

Books: Matadora (1986)
Series: Matador
Author: Steve Perry
Genre: Military Science Fiction
Publisher: Ace , Sphere

Matadora is new to me while Steve Perry is not, I read Target Earth before and it was quite enjoyable. This book is part of a longer series all covering the Matador’s revolution.

On some worlds, the name of Khadaji is a prayer for resistance fighters…

Khadaji… master warrior, martyr, legend. The one-man resistance to the Confed on Greaves. Known as “The Man Who Never Missed,” he only let himself be taken when he’d done what he’d set out to do. With his death, Khadaji became the inspiration and idol of students of martial arts everhwere.

Matador Villa… the training center for the best fighters in the galaxy, disciples of the great Khadaji. A rigorous program of political tactics and psychological warfare, physical discipline and martial force. A mysterious school on the planet Renault… its ultimate motives unknown.

Dirisha Zuri… a dangerous drifter, a dark-skinned beauty, Khadaji’s colleague. A ronin, whose expertise in body control and knowledge of the fighting arts drew the attention of Matador Villa. The school wanted her talents… and the galaxy desperately needed her deadly skills.

Matadora The legend of the Man Who Never Missed becomes the incredible mission of a single woman… The Matadora.

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List

• Alicia DeVries – Cadre and Fury (David Weber)
• Terese Drajeske – Ex Field Commander & Mother (C. L. Andersen)
• Mackensie Elizabeth Winifred Wright Connor Sol (Julie E. Czerneda)
• Zoe Boutin Perry – Teenager & Holy Icon (John Scalzi)
• Parrish Plessis - Postapocalyptic Bodyguard (Marianne de Pierres)
• Benita Alvarez-Shipton – the Perfect House-wife (Sheri S. Tepper)
• Kris Longknife – Princess & Officer (Mike Shepherd)
• Tobin Kerr – Leading From Below (Tanya Huff)
• Sassinak – Older Than Her Mother (Anne McCaffrey & Elizabeth Moon & Jody Lynn Nye)
• Sharrow – Symbol of a Solar System (Ian M. Banks)
• Heris Serrano – Civilian Warrior (Elizabeth Moon)
• An – Transcending Egghead (Emily Devenport)
• Adele Mundy – Sharpshooting Librarian (David Drake)
• Michelle Henke – Unpolitical Stateswoman (David Weber)
• Lenie Clarke – Meltdown Madonna (Peter Watts)
• Ofelia Fulfarres - Nest Guardian (Elizabeth Moon)
• Bella Lind – Icon at the End of Time (Alastair Reynolds)
• Helva – The Ship Who Sang (Anne McCaffrey)
• Nimue Alban – Mind of a Dead Starship Captain (David Weber)
• Rowan – Steerswoman (Rosemary Kirstein)
• Margaret Bain – Seven of One (Sheri S. Tepper)
• Jenny Casey – Cyborg Pilot (Elizabeth Bear)
• Nimisha Boynton-Rondymnse – First Family Castaway (Anne McCaffrey)
• Freya Nakamachi-47 – Soulful Machine (Charles Stross)
• Nausicaä – Ecological Princess (Hayao Miyazaki)
• Sarah – Skinned Quester (Anne McCaffrey)
• Elizabeth “Bet” Yeager – Stranded Veteran (C. J. Cherryh)
• Morgan Roche – Agent of Change (Sean Williams & Shane Dix)
• Honor Harrington – The Salamander (David Weber)
• Captain Reverdy Jian – Sceptic Pilot (Melissa Scott)
• Ariane Kedros – Killer of Worlds (Laura E. Reeve)
• Chanur – Alien Trader (C. J. Cherryh)
• Priscilla ‘Hutch’ Hutchins – Starship Pilot (Jack McDevitt)
• Kylara Vatta – Fixing The Family (Elizabeth Moon)
• Cirroco Jones – Captain & Wizard (John Varley)
• Athena Hera Sinastra – Intrepid Rebel (Sarah A. Hoyt)
• Nell – Mouse Queen (Neal Stephenson)
• Nicole des Jardins Wakefield – Stowaway to the Stars (Arthur C. Clarke & Gentry Lee)
• Sauscony ‘Soz’ Valdoria –  Empath Commando (Catherine Asaro)
• Festina Ramos – Expendable (James Alan Gardner)
• Shan Frankland – Immortal Diplomat (Karen Traviss)
• Acorna – Unicorn Girl (Anne McCaffrey, Margaret Ball, Elizabeth Ann Scarborough)
• Moon – Clone Goddess (Joan D. Vinge)
• Cordelia Naismith – Free Your Mind (Lois McMaster Bujold)
• Catherine Li – Human Construct (Chris Moriarty)
• Friday Jones – the Sometimes Single Cyborg (Robert A. Heinlein)
• Esmay Suiza – Landsbride Officer (Elizabeth Moon)
• Gloria VanDeen – Glorious Bureaucrat (C. J. Ryan)
• Molly Millions – The Original Razor Girl (William Gibson)
• Cassandra Blaine – Cyber Star (Wilhelmina Baird)
• Cally O’Neal – Secret Assassin (John Ringo)
• Angharad Gwyn – the Rowan (Anne McCaffrey)
• Sira di Sarc – Welcome Stranger (Julie E. Czerneda)
• Boss – Safety First (Kristien Kathryn Rusch)
• Rebel Elizabeth Mudlark – Mind Recording (Michael Swanwick)´
• Ariane Emory – I Made Me (C. J. Cherryh)
• Claire Haskel – Super Razor (David J. Williams)
• Ellen Ripley – Kick-ass Mother (Alan Dean Foster)
• Sweetness Octave Glorious Honey-Bun Asiim Engineer 12th (Ian Mcdonald)
• Thursday Next – Literary Operative (Jasper Fforde)
• Mearana - The Harper (Michael Flynn)
• Sparta – Venus Prime (Paul Preuss)
• Briar Wilkes – Persistent Mother (Cherie Priest)
• Caitlin Decter – Best Friend of the Web (Robert J. Sawyer)
• Ilia Volyova – Triumvir Ultra (Alastair Reynolds)
• Jennifer Government – Law woman (Max Barry)
• Killashandra Ree – Crystal Singer (Anne McCaffrey)
• Signy Mallory- Bloody-minded Commander (C. J. Cherryh)
• Y.T. – Yours Truly (Neal Stephenson)
• Deadpan Allie – Pathosfinder (Pat Cadigan)
• Dakota Merrick – Machine Head (Gary Gibson)
• Kivrin Engle – Temporal Historian (Connie Willis)
• Rydra Wong – Poet Captain (Samuel R. Delany)
• Miriam/Helge – Queen World Walker (Charles Stross)
• Ruby Kubick – Agoraphobic Salvage Artist (Laura J. Mixon)
• Paula Myo – Intrepid Investigator (Peter F. Hamilton)
• Sissy – High Priestess of Harmony (C. F. Bentley)
• Paula Mendoza – Unconventional Negotiator (Cecelia Holland)
• Casseia Majumdar – Scientific Revolutionary (Greg Bear)
• Dirisha Zuri – the Matadora (Steve Perry)

Miss anyone?

Read part 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | afterword

Order from: Daw | Amazon US | UK | B&N | sfbok

The launch of a brand new series that blends the best elements of science fiction and fantasy.

The world of Harmony, along with its close-knit colony planets, long ago isolated itself from the rest of the universe. But in a universe where the human-based Confederate Star System fleet finds itself hard-pressed to stand against ever-increasing attacks by the alien Marillon Empire, the Harmonic Empire cannot be left alone. For if the CSS cannot win an alliance with Harmony, the Marils will surely find a way to invade the planet and seize control of the unique and invaluable metal, which only the Harmonites can produce.

Yet invasion is far from the only threat the people of Harmony face. The gulf between rich and poor, rulers and ruled continues to widen, threatening to destroy the very structure of their society—while the planet itself is becoming increasingly unstable. In this time of crisis, one young woman

Information

The book is dedicated to Father Richard Toll and there is an excerpt from the sequel Enigma at the end of the book.

This is a book about a historical conspiracy and the pressure of change that will rip any static society apart.

The protagonists are Jake, a spy sent by mainstream humanity to obtain the secret of the Badger Metal and Sissy born with the mark of all seven castes, soon to become High Priestess of Harmony.

The Author

C. F. Bentley is a pseudonym Irene Radford uses for her science fiction novels. Harmony is the first novel by her I ever read but I think I will read more. From what it looks like she has written a number of fantasy books. The theme seems to be dragons and Merlin. More information on Irene’s homepage www.ireneradford.com.

World building

The Confederated Star System is at war with the alien Marillon Empire and they both need Badger Metal for their starships. Harmony is the only supplier which is why Jake is sent there to find out the secret on how to make it. Harmony is a seven world pocket empire that was founded by an earth cult. It closed its borders fifty years ago and they have had no outside contact ever since including no export of Badger Metal.

Harmony with its rigid cast society is like an onion of deception where we see layer after layer being stripped off. Marriages between casts are forbidden and when you are born into a cast (carry the cast mark) you are there for life.

The world is consistent, interesting and realistic even if it borders on on the absurd at times. There is a slight resemblance in feel from some Harry Harrison novels even if the world is much more complex here.

Plot

Jake used to be a fighter pilot before he screwed up and was saved by a secret intelligence organization that takes on space opera manners. There is sex very early in the novel but not very descriptive. He is first sent to The Lost Colony of Harmony (they broke of communication with their mother world and formed a new casteless society) to try to obtain an alternative to Badger Metal but it fails so he is sent to Harmony undercover as one of the Military Cast and he eventually end up as Sissy’s bodyguard.

Harmony is going through an unstable period with freaky weather and earthquakes which the cultists see as the planet being upset. Sissy is a mutant, born and raised by Worker parents but with all seven cast markings, usually that would make her an outcast of society to be eventually exterminated in one of their concentration camps/asylum but she hides it with cosmetics. During a catastrophic earthquake she discovers that she can channel its energy and commune with Harmony saving the city from destruction. The High Priest finds her and makes her the new High Priestess against the wishes of the former’s family who have had that title for generations. The High Priest thinks she will be easy to manipulate with her simple upbringing. He couldn’t be more wrong as she starts to put things right.

What follows is political intrigue, assassination attempts, deception but also revelation of the truth about their pasts. It is fast paced with unexpected twists and a lovely love story just like I like it.

Characterization

Jake is well developed with his doubt about the mission and the moral dilemma he faces. He is also appalled by the rigid caste society and the way the high casts manipulate the lower.

Sissy grows from ignorant worker to a formidable leader of her people. She is a strong believer in family and the high castes ways disgust her. You root for her from the beginning as she is so easy to love.

My View

There is a quite a bit of social commentary in this story and the characters, which makes it more than just a good rump. I like Harmony, it mixes military with space opera and romance in a fast flowing easy to read experience. It was also a damn fun book to read. I had to laugh out loud in delight at some of the twists the story took to the amusement of my dear ones. In conclusion Harmony is not great literature but it is a fun read which should please both readers of military science fiction, space opera and romance.

Last Week

Our intrepid artifact hunters missed one in the mail that made the whole town the scene of a number of really bad movies. The final one Doctor Doomsday they stopped just before he blew up the town. And Pete got a new veterinarian to fuss over and Claudia got a hardware-store boy to blush over. The cold shoulder they have been getting all over town also got its explanation, their cover is IRS agents.

This Week

Myka is in a sword fight while Pete eat dirt in Wales and an old lady disturb a Fashion show in Milan. Artie calls and tells them to stop by in Milan on their way home. Need a geography lesson? The old lady said “they stole me” in Russian before she died. Peter, the expert on breast implants track down her identity as Anya Verdikov a 19 year old fashion model that disappeared two days ago. Back in the Warehouse we learn that this is just the last in a series of disappearing fashion models. Off to Fashion Week in Manhattan we go.

Pete thinks he is in heaven. They discover one of the models they meet have similar symptoms like Anya after talking to her agent. When Pete rush after her she transforms to and old woman and collapse. Peter is spooked. We established earlier this episode that Myka was a tomboy learning to fight with swords as she grew up. Pete is delighted with his plan to infiltrate Fashion Week. Myka is going undercover as one of the Models and Peter as her obedient slave/assistant. No sooner than she is embedded she is approached by a creepy photographer to take her photos, but Gunther is not the photographer we are after.

Miss Donovan is getting persistent text on her Farnsworth from hardware-store Todd. It was so amusing to see Artie dig himself a hole with saying you are not a girl any more (meaning be responsible and call answer him). Back home Claudia plays with a Big Needle before going on coffee with Todd. While entertaining the date is a train crash and Claudia rushes home to yell at Artie for telling her to be herself.

It seems like someone is peddling youth to elderly people and it looks like Myka’s photo is involved. An old lady is shown Myka’s photo and says she is perfect. Pete’s pep talk before going out there was warm, corny and effective. Myka noticed an old woman with huge ruby earrings watching the show but she disappears before Pete and Myka can get to her. Unfortunately that also means Myka turns old. There is silver-nitrate in Myka’s blood which leads them to Man Ray’s camera and one of the photographers. He escapes  but Pete track him down and Artie figures something out before everybody else and take a photo of him overexposed on a photo of Myka. They guy had been stealing youth for a long time but it is over now.

Claudia and Artie has a cute father daughter talk before Todd walks into the Diner. Gulp from Claudia and a not so subtle go away to Artie. Young love, so charming.

This was a very corny episode but I liked it. Maybe that tells you something about me. I expected something for the season arc but it never landed, maybe it is something with Todd and the season arc? The friendly bickering was great this episode and showed how fond the characters all are of each other. Could all these fuzzy warm feelings be a buildup for something? Or am I just paranoid? I don’t know but I am going to watch next week when Fargo from Eureka comes to visit …

Things learned

• There was a holy grail
• Myka’s sister was the pretty one, the cheer leader the boys was crazy about.

Next week

This is crossover-with-Eureka Week; there might be more than one this season according to rumors from comic con.

Tuesday, August 3

Warehouse 13 2.05 – 13.1 (Syfy).
Douglas Fargo (Neil Grayston) of Eureka’s Global Dynamics is sent to Warehouse 13 to help update its aging computer system. This triggers a seemingly sentient computer virus that sends the Warehouse into lockdown and traps the team inside.

Friday, August 6

Eureka 4.05 – Crossing over (Syfy)
Claudia Donovan visits Eureka to see if Fargo’s promises of wondrous devices are true, but she finds herself in the middle of a mystery suitable for Warehouse 13 when objects begin to appear randomly around the town and GD, and it must be solved before there are deadly consequences

Related Posts

• Warehouse 13 2.03 – Beyond Our Control (Review) July 21, 2010
• Warehouse 13 2.02 – Mild-Mannered July 14, 2010
• Warehouse 13 – Season 2 premiere July 6 July 3, 2010
• Myka Bering on Warehouse 13 July 2, 2010
• Warehouse 13 Season 2 Promo April 10, 2010
• Warehouse 13 renewed for a second season August 20, 2009
• Warehouse 13 pilot July 8, 2009
• Warehouse 13 sneak peak March 28, 2009

Last Week

Last week Annie wrestled with a renegade British MI6 agent planning an IRA attack on American soil. That was after Walter, a ten year old boy walked in.

This Week

This week Annie enters a more sordid part of the CIA business, she has developed an asset, a young college boy from Caracas who thinks he is in love with her only to get in touch with his sister back home. The sister is mistress to a government official (Victor) that has been skimming hundreds of million dollars the last years. CIA wants to know where they have gone. We start this episode as she makes her move to convince him he should introduce her.

While this takes place we also watch as the local agent in Venezuela is killed, this is not anything the agency knows about.

Annie goes to Venezuela with her new ‘boyfriend’ Diego. He can’t resist letting his hands wander and she has a hard time keeping him in check and at the same time it is quite sad the way they use ‘assets’ to get what they want. Diego’s sister is a beloved person; she is called the mother of the neighborhood for her charity work. Annie has a hard time convincing the sister and stealing the code key so they can put a trace on the money. There is a quite entertaining car scene where Victor reveals her as a trained agent and she dumps him out of the car and speed away. Annie gets back to the bank minutes before Victor and they discover that he has been financing terrorists. They flee the country with Victor on their tail.

The siblings are put into protective custody in a safehouse but the story is not over yet. About the same time Annie realizes the sisters charity money is from Victor the sister sneak out to meet Victor. The final confrontation reveals Victor as the monster he is as he tries to have the sister killed. Annie and Diego shows up in time to distract Victor while another agent takes them down.

One interesting detail in this episode was the meetings and support from Langley that made it feel more genuine and realistic. Don’t get me wrong this is a fun spy action adventure type of show but I find it a stamp of quality that they try to make the whole thing more realistic with things like that.

The way the sister has a hard time giving up on her love for Victor reflects back on Annie’s unwillingness to leave her love behind. It is clear that she will continue to carry a torch for Ben.

I like the episode but are not things moving a bit fast for Annie? I can understand if the agency wants to keep Annie in the frying pan to lure Ben out so maybe that is it. Annie convinces as a rookie agent and she feels like shit after the mission because what she had to do to Diego and his sister. Auggie is there with perspective, I like him a lot. USA has hit another great dynamic duo with Auggie and Annie.

Things learned

• Annie’s name is Anne Catherine Walker according to her business card at the Smithsonian
• Annie and her sister grew up as army brats

Next Week

Covert Affairs 1.04 - No Quarter (USA)
Annie needs Auggie’s help to return from Zurich where she is stranded with an untrustworthy Mossad agent. At the agency, Joan and Arthur suspect Auggie to be the CIA’s leak.

• Link to USA preview

Related posts

• Covert Affairs 1.02 – Walter’s Walk July 22, 2010
• Covert Affairs – New Series Premiere Review July 14, 2010

Order from: Amazon US | UK | B&N | sfbok

Wars may end. But vengeance is forver.

Reserve Major Ariane Kedros needs a shot at redemption-and the mysterious aliens known as the Minoans need an extraordinary human pilot with a rejuv-stimulated metabolism like Ariane for a dangerous expedition to a distant solar system. But there’s a catch. The Minoans have to implant their technology in Ariane’s body, and it might not be removable. Ariane is willing, but as she begins the perilous journey, there is an old enemy hiding within the exploration team who is determined to see them fail…

Information

Major Ariane Kedros is back as the guilt ridden heroine here in a new book that is mostly about the aftermath of the last book where she saved the system from destruction when she pushed a terrorist temporal bomb into N-space where it went off.

The alien culture that gave humanity the temporal technology to reach the stars is called Minoans since they share symbols from the Greek equivalent. Generation ships travel from star to star setting up Temporal Buoys as they go binding worlds together with FTL travel.

The Consortium of Autonomous Worlds was formed by the outermost colonies and their war with the Terran Expansion League (XL) ended less than 20 years ago. Major Ariane Kedros was pilot on the ship that deployed the Temporal Displacement Weapon that ended the war. Now she and everyone in their line of command have been given new identities by the government. Terra has declared them all war criminals but her identity is known to some Terran officials and attempts have been made on her life. What really ended the war was the Minoans declaring Pax Minoan and outlawed the use of Temporal Displacement Weapons, and the humans damn better follow it.

The Author

Laura is a great world builder. Her Minoan Space is greatly influenced by Greek culture and the alien are alien. I really like the characterization in her books too. It took me a while before I started reading her first book Peacekeeper, the cover and everything said yet another military science fiction with the usual female protagonist, love story, alien artifacts, and bad memories from the war, misunderstood and under appreciated military until I started reading. Her books are nothing like that, her characters are real people and the society around them is plausible in a refreshingly new way.

World Building

We knew from before that the very advanced and old ancient race that is called the Minoans has been around a long time and here we learn more about them. This is something I like reading about, alien mysteries that are slowly revealed.

As usual much of the plot centers around politics and clandestine maneuvers in the dark by the main powers but there is a shift in this book over to something different.

Plot

Most of the ‘action’ in this book centers around the inquiry into what went on the last book. That might sound boring but it is not. Laura makes it all come to life and become interesting. It should be noted that she served as a Military Inspector.

All the fractions involved have their own hidden agendas even the Minoans and Ariane is at the center of it.

In the end of the book and far, far less than the synopsis make likely she takes on a mission involving yet another mysterious alien race called the Builders. The ones that built that powered down Temporal Buoy is of interests to the Minoans so they hire Ariane to go.

Much is revealed on that trip, there is a conspiracy to kill Ariane but this time there is something much bigger going on that will have consequences for the next couple of books.

Characterization

This is Laura’s strength, her characters pop out of the pages likable, lifelike, imperfect and driven. There is as usual a love story here between Ariane and her boss, but I am afraid we are in for the long run there.

The illegal AI they have in their ship is getting more and more interesting, I have this thing for sentient ships since Mutineers’ Moon.

My View

Pathfinder is a great military science fiction with a little less action than I expected especially since reading the synopsis that only feels like 15% right (this is not the writers fault, I blame the publishers for that). I continue to love the setting and the characters and can’t wait on the next book.

Related Posts

• Laura E. Reeve (Author)
• Peacekeeper by Laura E. Reeve (Ariane Kedros 1)
• Vigilante by Laura E. Reeve (Major Ariane Kedros 2)
• New Science Fiction to Read 2010
• New Science Fiction Books in July 2010

Related posts

• Caprica 1.09 – End of the Line Mid-Season Finale April 28, 2010
• Caprica Series Review (Episode 1-6) March 6, 2010
• Caprica Series Premiere (New TV Show) January 23, 2010

Title: The Unincorporated Man
Series: The Unincorporated Man book 1
Author: Dani & Eytan Kollin
Genre: Science Fiction
Paperback: 496 pages
Publisher: Tor (1st ed 2009)

Order From: Tor | Amazon US | UK | B&N | sfbok

Statistics

Reading statistics

First some statistics

• Books read 75 so far this year (See 2010 Book Index)
• Review copies: 3
• New books 2010: 21 Older books: 54
• Gender: female: 13 male: 28

I will try to get more review copies in the future, but I don’t want to take to much time away from reading and writing to get them. I have established some good contacts so you will probably see a few more the coming months.

The gender distribution with 31.7% female authors read is moving in the right direction. I read somewhere that about 33% of all science fiction writers where female, does anyone have a hard number on that?

Publishers

• Ace: 6
• Angry Robot: 1
• Baen: 11
• Bantam Spectra: 5
• David Fickling Books: 1
• Daw: 12
• Durandus: 6
• Eos: 2
• Gollancz: 3
• Jeff Lane Audiobooks: 1
• Nightshade Books: 1
• Orbit: 3
• Pyr: 5
• Simon & Schuster: 1
• Solaris: 2
• Spectra: 1
• Tor: 7
• Tor UK: 7

I think the distribution includes all the major publishers and you can see where I get most of my books from.

Web statistics

I am still in the little league when it comes to visitors but it is getting there. 39.882 visits January-June (751, 1792, 9932, 8792, 9294 and 9318 visits respective). At the moment Cybermage.se averages around 8000 unique visitors every month. It is surprising what you can learn with statistics.

Most popular book posts

1. Formidable Female Protagonists in Science Fiction Part 7
2. 18 Science Fiction Podcasts
3. New Science Fiction Books in April 2010 Revisited
4. 10010 Top Military Science Fiction Series
5. Free Online Science Fiction

Most popular book reviews

1. The Ambassador’s Mission by Trudi Canavan (Traitor Spy Trilogy 1)
2. Earth Strike by Ian Douglas (Star Carrier 1)
3. Live Free or Die by John Ringo (Troy Rising 1) Review
4. Eye of the Storm by John Ringo (Hedren War 1)
5. The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi a Review

Most popular TV posts

1. First look at Felicia Day in RED
2. Amazing New SF Short Film: The Raven
3. Major Casting Change in HBO’s Game of Thrones
4. The Gates – an update on ABC’s New Supernatural Summer Show
5. Interesting TV Pilots Round Up

My Picks

I should start by saying that I read a lot of good books so far this year and it is really hard to pick the best but here goes.

Pick of new books

1. Blood and Iron (Penrose book 2) by Tony Ballantyne (Tor UK)
2. Mission of Honor (Honor Harrington book 12) by David Weber  (Baen)
3. Veteran by Gavin Smith (Gollancz)
4. Oath of Fealthy (Paladin’s Legacy book 1) by Elizabeth Moon  (Orbit)
5. The Noise Within (The Noise Within book 1) by Ian Whates (Solaris)
6. Darkship Thieves (Darkship Thieves book 1) by Sarah A. Hoyt (Baen)
7. Watch (Www book 2) by Robert J. Sawyer (Ace)
8. WE by John Dickinson (David Fickling Books)
9. The Orphaned Worlds (Humanity’s Fire book 2) by Michael Cobley (Orbit)
10. The Machinery of Light (Autumn Rain book 3) by David J Williams  (Spectra)
11. A Mighty Fortress (Safehold 4) by David Weber (Tor)
12. Pleasure Model (Netherworld Trilogy 1) by Christopher Rowley (Tor)
13. Up Jim River (The January Dancer book 2) by Michael Flynn (Tor/Tantor Media)
14. The Crucible of Empire (Jao Empire book 2) by Eric Flint & K. D. Wentworth (Baen)
15. Victorious (Lost Fleet book 6) by Jack Campbell  (Ace)

Last Week

We have a real cliffhanger from last week when Dylan saved Nick from that avenging sister and revealed his true nature at the same time. Nick was shocked. We could see that before the episode ended.

This Week

Dylan buries Tess/Amanda while Nick brings the kids home. They don’t meet until the day after, and they have a manly talk about it where Dylan, at least on the surface gets his will on how to handle it, but you can see Nick is not happy about it, but he is also scared. Marcus will miss Thess and now it is Nicks thing to suppress it. It is painful to see Nick refusing his Marcus and then he goes off and interrogate Dylan Radcliff by himself.

I feel sorry for Andie, finding out you are a succubus when you just started dating boys and the hormones are raging can not be easy. Peggy is kind of wonderful the way she helps Andie. I still doesn’t like Andie’s father.

Devon’s ex husband’s new girlfriend Vanessa shows up in Devon’s shop and reluctantly have ‘tea’ with her. Then she invites Devon to the party later that night she and her husband is throwing for the new chief of Police. Seems there is a lot of conflict under the surface. Barbara is gossiping like a lunatic here and there and Clair calls Christian to tell him they have a problem. Maybe Christian will take care of it for her?

Dylan is guilt ridden when he tells Claire he killed the day before. That is kind of a role reversal for them. They are still the most interesting couple in the Gates but Nick and Sarah are catching up.

After being sent home Marcus discovers Amanda’s notebook with notes on Nick’s activity’s in her luggage. He shows them to Leigh and they start to suspect Nick. But then they discover Theressa’s true identity and Marcus tells Nick he is sorry for allowing her to come so close to him.

Devon uses the party to break into her ex safe and remove a disc. Frank Vanessa’s husband and Devon’s ex is keeping recordings of all that happens inside the Gates. And this episode ends with him putting a recording of Devon killing Nick into his safe.

Things are heating up in the gates. It is getting a bit more dark and becoming more of it’s own show.

Next Week

The Gates 1.06 – Jurisdiction (ABC)
When a neighbor is murdered inside The Gates at the hand of a vampire, Nick enlists Dylan’s help to find the killer. Sarah organizes a school fundraiser at Devon’s Spa, but finds it difficult to bring bickering factions together. Claire attempts to end her “arrangement” with Christian, only to find him more entrenched in her life than ever. Frustrated by the side effects, Andie stops taking her medicine and tries to control her symptoms, resulting in dire consequences for those around her.

Related Posts

• The Gates 1.04 – The Monster Within (Review) July 19, 2010
• The Gates 1.03 – Breach Short Review July 12, 2010
• The Gates 1.02 – What Lies Beneath June 28, 2010
• The Gates – A Review of the Series Premiere June 22, 2010
• The Gates – First 17 Minutes June 16, 2010
• Introducing the Cast of The Gates June 1, 2010
• The Gates New Promos (and Scoundrels) May 24, 2010
• The Gates Promo 2 May 17, 2010
• The Gates – New Promo of ABC’s New Summer Show! April 30, 2010
• The Gates Open June 20 This Summer on ABC (New Pics) – promo pics from the pilot included. April 8, 2010. Updated April 18.
• The Gates – an update on ABC’s New Supernatural Summer Show April 5, 2010
• Supernatural Eureka Due This Summer From ABC? March 26, 2010