There is a lot to love about James S. A. Corey’s fully realized Expanse universe. It just might help you forget about how bad Star Wars has been derailed and make you fall in love again with sweeping space sagas that can deliver on what the sci-fi genre is capable of.

We’re slowly making our way through the solar system with this series, which concludes with book 9 in 2020 or 2021. We’re in for the long haul though. This second entry brings us to Mars, and introduces a character that I love as much as the Rocinante crew. Bobbie Draper is one tough Marine and takes everything the Martians, Earthers, and Belters throw at her. Listen to our break down of the book.

-Josh

How we imagine Roland at the end.

We are finally here. We have crossed the lands of Mordor, braved the winter wastelands of Westeros, and survived Arrakis’s unforgiving and unending desert in a struggle to master fate itself and steer the course of the universe. WE NOW STAND BEFORE THE DARK TOWER.

These other fictional worlds lie parallel in their own universes to Stephen King’s Dark Tower, in a metaphorical sense. They all in their own fashion represent the journey to the tower: to reach for the meaning of life, to attain one’s highest achievement, or to finally atone for one’s sins. The trek to the tower defied literally every expectation we had of this journey, and delved into some truly profound territory.

Roland Deschain ended his journey as it began, alone, and using his own wit and will to defy superior powers and reach the nexus of all worlds. Wow, if that sounded spoilery, don’t worry, it’s only a vague description to keep this epic monologue going. It won’t help you fully understand or comprehend what King ultimately has our protagonist find.

We’re still scratching our heads, not because of the complexity of the end, but of the implications it has for humanity. It’s not a conventional ending by a long shot, nor would we expect one from this tale. Our man Roland and his quest to save himself and all of creation will stick with us for a long time and demands attention for it’s literary elegance and execution in the questions it asks of us individually, including who do we want to be in this lifetime.

If you want to hear our full discussion on the end of this amazing journey, check out the podcast. Spoilers ahead. Enjoy.

The gunslingers just can’t catch a break. They face down insurmountable odds to save a town, but then Susannah goes off the deep end with the split personalities. Spoilers ahead.

Wikipedia

Illustration by Vincent Chong

In the quest for the Dark Tower, the gunslingers are drawn into a conflict where a town is being terrorized by wolves from the land of Thunderclap. Our heroes are reminded of the humanity they are fighting for and the terror that lies at the end of their journey. Spoilers ahead.

Album art from Come-come-commala

This is a mesmerizing entry into the Dark Tower series. Roland Deschain is asked to save a town from a horrible fate, and he can no more deny these people than forget the face of his father. There is an impending sense of doom and betrayal and more loss as the gunslingers must keep their own ka-tet from breaking as they face insurmountable odds against the emissaries of the Crimson King. Spoilers ahead.

This amazing song about the people of Calla Bryn Sturgis transported me to the night Roland danced the Commala. It speaks of hope and fear and the fate of many resting in the hands of the few.

Stephen King may be known for his horror novels, but over the span of his career he also shaped a very different type of story, one as ambitious and sprawling as the great fantasy epics of the 20th century.

The Dark Tower series, now being adapted for film in 2017, follows the gunslinger, the last of a line of men who stood to defend a world that has moved on. He now wanders the lands of Mid World in search of the Dark Tower.

We tackle this eight book series before the movie and TV series debut.

The original ka-tet: Cuthbert, Roland and Alain 

This entry into the Dark Tower odyssey offers some of the most tense and fascinating exploits in Roland Deschain’s journey to the Dark Tower. It is in fact near the beginning of a journey that will span Roland’s lifetime  and it shows a boy in a trial to become a man. The game of Castles he plays with a band of desperadoes, a town hiding a mystery, his first love, and an unbreakable bond with his ka-tet — Cuthbert and Alain — make this one of my favorites of the 7-book series. Spoilers ahead.

The Star Wars movie franchise is back and strong with the Force. So are the new “official” novels any good? Fans are divided, and it’s clear that the format of the book matters. Before Rogue One arrives in theaters, check out another band of rebels in “Star Wars: Aftermath” by Chuck Wendig laying the hurt on the Empire so that they can’t get back up.

Tron had its heyday. The future is the Oasis. We were inspired by Ernest Cline’s Ready Player One to discuss how both games and books are home to some of the best fiction anywhere.

Seriously good fantasy fiction ahead, light spoilers included.

The end of the Earth is happening, again, and maybe for the final time. Some humans, who are more than human, are realizing they may have the power to change their planet’s fate, but it is an odyssey filled with pain and uncertainty. Ancient truths from dead civilizations are starting to surface and a war waged for eons may finally be nearing its end.

The humans of this world carry so much pain and sorrow with them. They are under perpetual threat of death by their own planet and must take on a resilience to survive threats that upend whole parts of the world. Yet there is hope, and it’s through the strength of one family that humankind may be restored, or destroyed. 4.5 stars

Does it keep with the Star Wars spirit? Yes. Is it Empire Strikes Back good? No, but it could have been.

Han is still a scoundrel, the new crew earns their keep, and the intrigue with the empire continues. But there are missed opportunities in the liberation of Kashyyyk, Chewie’s home planet and one of the best parts of Star Wars lore.

Some Star Wars movie regulars get into the action and we see what war on a planetary scale looks like (kind of). Solid entry into the galaxy far, far away.

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline is essential science fiction reading; one of the most brilliant pieces of fiction we have ever read. It imagines our future by peeking just around the corner and showing how one new piece of technology could plausibly change everything about how we live.

This sci-fi classic examines the trauma of war and how in the future, to ensure humankind’s survival, some soldiers must sacrifice almost all of their connections to the species.

Dan Simmons, as we’ve noted, is a genius. This is his first horror novel we’ve picked up. There are nods to Stephen King’s “It” and vibes of “Poltergeist,” but this story is wholly its own. It’s a tale of bravery, friendship and dealing with loss. Simmons makes some memorable and gut-wrenching choices that leave this book at the top of our favorites list.

OK, this tale has some teeth. Even though I was face palming during the first two thirds because it followed Frodo and Sam’s playbook almost exactly, there’s a great world to explore and some exciting action that make the latter part of the story all its own.

The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood in many ways can be compared to George Orwell’s classic novel 1984. While the world of 1984 felt like a dystopian relic when I read it (albeit an especially scary, fascist dystopian relic), The Handmaid’s Tale disturbs me because it seems like a future that could be right around the corner. Slavery, oppression, genocide – all the worst of our past – are present in this future.

It’s no Walking Dead, but the high-octane action, death-defying escapes and survivalist tips make for a fun romp through zombie land, doubling as a user’s manual to the apocalypse.

We discuss topics in written fiction in our REIGNfall series.

This week, we talk about two sources for borrowing books. Which one is better? We debate. Kind of.

There’s no shortage of choices in the zombie genre in print or on screen. This yarn takes the best of the genre – ethically impossible choices, scavenging 101, bandits and harrowing scrapes with the dead – to weave together a fun if not wholly original tale.

This new official post-RotJ (Return of the Jedi) tale is full of likable characters, a galaxy in flux, and a fun new robot that almost makes up for its clumsy battle droid cousins.

New official Star Wars story. High expectations. Here we go.

This is a lifeless Star Trek parody that takes nihilism to the extreme. It’s not without its laughs, but it ends up being a hollow sermon on how life is what you make of it.

The Dragon Reborn expands the mythology of the Wheel of Time series and its protagonists face increasingly powerful foes and dangers from every direction.

“For the world has grown full of peril. And in all lands, love is now mingled with grief.”

This line is from the fantasy epic Lord of the Rings movie, but it beautifully portrays the sense of urgency and import in the third entry of Robert Jordan’s magnum opus, the Wheel of Time series.

None of the heroes in The Dragon Reborn are safe and all must find strength to fulfill their destiny lest the world enter a dark age from which there will be no escape.

The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin (pt2/finale), Ep. 56

The price of admission is well worth it, with the book showing us not only a compelling, frightening world but packing it with a brutal realism depicting how its inhabitants are forced to survive (as individuals and as a society). Jemisin masterfully holds back details of this world, letting us experience the story with the characters as events unfold and letting the consequences of their actions slowly sink in. This happens in deeply personal ways and makes the story feel more than mere fantasy. I reeled from the trauma that each of the three lead female characters experienced and marveled at their determination to continue on. The women’s stories pack an emotional weight that becomes the center of the narrative and takes hold quickly.

Welcome to REIGNfall, our weekly series on book topics where we talk fiction and ponder the world of storytelling.

Sinking ships, space karate, chosen ones and much more. We love our fictional characters. They enthrall us with their adventures (or misadventures), their triumphs, losses, personal courage and funny lines. They make fiction what it is. Some characters show they can own up to their actions and keep moving. Others don’t know what personal responsibility is and cause major problems. Check out who we love and who we love to hate in some of our favorite fiction.

More REIGNfall

The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin (pt1), Ep. 55

The Earth breaks frequently, and with devastating effect. Earthquakes, volcano eruptions and tsunamis all conspire to erase any trace of human society, and, incidentally, the species itself. The skeletons of forgotten civilizations (“deadciv” ruins) that litter the landscape are a testament to the endless war the Earth wages on us. Thus the scene is set for the Fifth Season, named so for the cataclysmic events in the book.

Welcome to REIGNfall, our weekly series on book topics where we talk fiction and ponder the world of storytelling.

We’re talking about Audiobook delights in this show. Audiobooks have a kind of sweet, long-lasting flavor.

We just had a knockdown, drag out fight over digital vs paper (the verdict is still out), so we have to give audiobooks their due. It’s a growing market, and the experience of audiobooks is not to be ignored. Some of the narrators are so good, I get chill bumps. Look at history; oral storytelling is where it started. Know your roots people!

We reminisce over some favorites and Jon calls me a country bumpkin (in a nice way) for not “reading” more audiobooks.

Digital VS Paper debate: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMhQ7vd0GyY

Listen:

The age old debate of “paper or digital” rages on. Lots of emotions come out in this discussion. Feelings get hurt. But we talk it out, and surprising confessions are made. No books were harmed in the making of this video.

PLUS A GIVEAWAY (our first, so excuse our clumsy announcement…not everyone who makes a comment gets a book…it’s a drawing contest, kind of like the Hunger Games, but in a good way!)

GIVEAWAY PRIZE:
Newish perfect spine paperback copy of Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk.

RULES:
Subscribe and leave a comment on this video.
Global population welcome to enter. No Martians allowed.

WINNER: One winner because there’s only one book. We’ll draw a name from a fishbowl – or the digital equivalent – on Oct. 15, 2015.

In Seveneves, Stephenson addresses how to keep a planet calm when the end is near (he alludes to lots of couplings), he immerses us in the technical challenges of space flight (orbital mechanics are geeky cool), and he creates major conflict as well as haunting scenes of daring and loss.

Spoilers ahead.

Every part of this story rises to the occasion – from the intimate and personal decisions of the characters to the larger geopolitical struggle to execute the space mission to the daunting reality of life in the cold bleak wasteland that is outer space.

Stephenson takes us on an the proverbial “unforgettable journey” with a stunning ending.

Part 2 of 2 discussion. Spoilers ahead.

Welcome to REIGNfall, our weekly series on book topics where we talk fiction and ponder the world of storytelling.





In this episode we’re talking about book series and how slow (or quickly) it takes for them to be completed and come to market. What’s better for a book series? Get it written and get instant gratification and legions of fans gobbling up your goods or waiting years for amazing stories? Can there be a happy middle ground?

Yes, the Song of Ice and Fire series inspired this.

Books offer writers the opportunity to breathe life into their characters over several years, decades even. Some of you literally grew up with Harry Potter. Others trudged along with Roland Deschain for three decades to find out what awaited at the Dark Tower.

On the opposite extreme, some series are cranked out so fast, you sometimes can’t help be cynical about the quality of the material. Looking at you Twilight, or so I’ve heard. Divergent started off promising, but fans seem split (pun!) over the quality of the ending. So is writing too fast the enemy?

Check out our discussion and tell us what you think is best for the life of a book series. Enjoy.

Seveneves is one of the most amazing, audacious and mesmerizing pieces of fiction I’ve ever read. Period.

In the face of an extinction-level event, do we have what it takes to save the species? With current 21st century technology, we’re about to find out: We plan to send a few thousand people into space to the International Space Station and a hastily built fleet of rocket soda cans that will form our future civilization. Desperate times, desperate measures.

Part 1 of 2 discussion. Spoilers ahead.

We know movie adaptations of games are pretty much disasters. Just look at Super Mario Brothers. Not even John Leguizamo could save that mess. And please don’t even mention Doom and Street Fighter.

But we’re not talking movies. We’re talking books. So what about game-to-book adaptations? Are they all universally ridiculed? Are some worth reading? We have a winner and a loser in this discussion of game-based books that we’ve sampled.

Games-to-Books on Wikipedia – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_novels_based_on_video_games

These are the European book covers – blame the marketers. The book is serious subject matter…

Bitter Seeds is a vivid reminder of Great Britain’s brave men and women during WWII as they held the line in Europe. But in this sweeping alternate history tale about the high cost of war, the death toll comes not only from conventional weapons, but through more sinister means as well. Nazi super soldiers wreak havoc and the British are forced to answer the threat with dark cosmic forces summoned by Warlocks. It’s an interesting morality tale that explores “What is too high a cost to win a war?”

Books are judged by their covers. But we take their titles to task. We find some pretty bad book names, and talk about just how mediocre they get. We cry foul on some of them. (We find out even great writers have bad book names.) Got any atrocious titles? Let us know.

Book covers are like a gateway into great stories. They become intertwined with the experience of any great tale and can instantly transport you back into what you loved most about the story. So we picked some iconic book covers to go alongside our favorite movie posters and album covers. We love this art and share why it matters.

What book covers made a difference in your reading experience? What is one you’ll never forget and why?

Watch the video and share your comments on YouTube or listen to the audio version below.

Listen:

       

I want to focus on Roland now. Many unanswered questions remain about this gunslinger and his mysterious past. The world has moved on, but this hard-as-nails cowboy continues to travel the long miles of its wastelands, in search of hope or answers of some sort. As iconic characters go, he ranks up there with Mad Max, the Mariner from Waterworld and Eli from the Book of Eli (sorry, cinema is my only reference point). He lives by the gun, but only when the “battle-rage descends,” as it inevitably does. He’s a survivor, and he has a mission, but will seeking the Dark Tower free or destroy him, or both? What kind of man is he? Part of that question is answered in this extraordinary latter half of the Wastelands as Roland and his friends are tested in a gut-wrenching race to survive a city gone mad.

Spoilers ahead:

Jake is taken and we wait to see how Roland will respond. Will he leave Jake and continue his quest to the Dark Tower, or save Jake and risk the city becoming his own grave. The diseased, rotting city of Lud is a rat trap with a junkyard maze stacked high and set with booby traps. Gasher takes Jake to an underground bunker where it seems all but impossible to get in, even if Roland could follow. But Roland doesn’t hesitate. He will not let Jake fall again. I love how Stephen King keeps the pace tight and cuts away to other action in the book as the story builds to a climax.

Our fellowship has split up, and Eddie and Susannah are forced to kill a crazed mob in the streets. It hardens them and awakens them to the necessities of survival in this place. They face an even bigger challenge with Blaine, a half-crazed, sentient train who feeds on riddles like a heroin addict on the needle. It can kill with electricity in its cradle, but Eddie and Susannah walk right up to the train’s gates because they need him to get across the wastelands. It’s a dangerous gambit with their lives on the line, but it’s part of their ka, or destiny, and they must hurry before time runs out.

Roland meanwhile stands outside the bunker and devises a plan for Oy (the pet billy bumbler) to crawl through the air ducts and pounce on the Tick Tock Man – an over-the-top barbarian who runs half the city – so Jake can push the button and open the hatches for Roland to get to him. Oy will almost surely die in this effort, and Jake, glimpsing Oy in the air vent above, focuses on his pet and misses the chance to open the door. The seemingly invincible Tick Tock Man (he’s lightening fast and lethal with a throwing blade) is badly mauled by Oy and is about to painfully kill Jake for this, but Jake stumbles onto Tick Tock’s throne where he feels a gun. Jake is beyond fear now; he knows it is his life or Tick Tock’s and in pulling the trigger and putting a hole through the barbarian’s head, he loses his innocence. King does a spectacular job of showing the fallen humanity in this lion’s den and Jake’s vulnerability here, hinting that Jake, if held captive, would be subjected to cruel and perverse things that might shatter him. But instead of becoming a victim of would-be rapists, the end of his childhood comes when he takes a life to save his own. It’s profound, expertly executed, and wholly unexpected.

The ending is amazing for the mix of sheer bravado and faith (in his ka) that Roland exhibits in challenging the demented Blaine who plans to kill the gunslingers. They escape the city (thanks to Susannah decoding the prime number riddle) that Blaine has just unleashed biological weapons on, but they are trapped on a train that plans to kill itself and them. Blaine demands riddles, but Roland rebukes him for his stupidity in making a death threat unless he gets his riddles. Roland is challenging a crazed machine, and he knows this may be the end, but he’s in his “battle rage,” and instead of bullets, it’s words he’ll use to challenge this strange foe. Who will win and how will this play out? This cliffhanger leaves a lot of unanswered questions but propels us to End-World, where the Dark Tower awaits. It’s an amazing story with an ensemble cast that I’m quickly falling in love with and promises many more unexpected and thrilling twists.

Roland has the toughest luck. He’s been chasing the Dark Tower for years, decades, centuries even? He’s had to suffer and endure seeing the collapse of his civilization, losing all his friends, and wandering the scorched Earth trying to find his path to the Dark Tower, which he is mysteriously drawn to.

His new gunslingers are showing they have grit and will surely step up (we hope) and fulfill their ka (or destiny) as Roland expects. Eddie, Susannah and Jake are ripped from their reality and thrust into this strange perilous new existence. But they are leaving behind broken, unfulfilled lives. As hard as it is to lose everything and risk desolation and death, they have a purpose now and they are more whole than they were in their former lives. It’s a powerful statement about rebirth and second chances.

This is a story about relationships. It always has been. It’s kind of an odd thing to say since Roland is a nomad wandering the world mostly alone, but we see with his new companions that he is a mentor, teacher and father figure. The relationship is a complex one, with the newly married couple dependent on the gunslinger for their survival in this strange world. They go through some horrific trials that test their bodies and their minds. It’s a strange fantastical journey and I cannot wait to see what destiny has in store for these explorers in the wastelands.

Listen to Episode:

This book is “Castaway” for the space age. It’s a story of struggle and survival on a hostile world that astronaut Mark Watney is forced to make his home.

A spoiler free(ish) video review is here: Man vs. Mars | The Martian BOOK REVIEW 

Some of my favorite parts (spoilers ahead): when Mark had to think extremely quickly after he’s launched out of his HAB home by a decompression. The airlock was launched with him and it’s slowly leaking. He has to stop the leak in the airlock (the almighty duct tape!), then do some extreme modifications to his spacesuit with a cracked faceplate – nothing major, just cut one of the suit’s arms off, use it to cover the smashed helmet and seal both openings with his supersticky goo. The seal isn’t airtight, so he does the math on how much oxygen he has (4 minutes) before he makes a run for it to the HAB to get another suit, then hop into the rover before suffocating. Intense stuff.

After surviving a year and a half on Mars, Mark is on the verge of rescue. His rover trip to an evacuation site with a launch vehicle almost ends in his death because of a huge dust storm that is so immense (it could last months) that it slowly descends on Mark without him knowing. His solar cells are slowly getting less power because of the increasing sand particles in the air. He only realizes there is a storm when he leaves the rover to stand on the edge of a huge crater and realizes that he can only see a limited way in one direction of the horizon. Smart guy. He now knows the danger he’s in. Go in the wrong direction. Mark dies. Turn back. Mark dies. Try to beeline through the crater. Mark dies.

The solution he comes up with is amazing – as usual. He lays out solar cells 40 kilometers apart and videotapes the readings so he can come back and collect them later and calculate exactly how much solar energy each gets at a certain time of day. He can use the readings to find out the direction of the storm and then drive in the opposite direction, hoping that it’s a circular storm and maintain enough solar energy to get out of it. (DISCLAIMER: I completely failed at explaining the science of this book, so don’t trust anything more than my general descriptions.) One of my favorite quotes.

The storm is probably circular. They usually are. But I could just be driving into an alcove. If that’s the case, I’m just f&*%ing dead, okay? There’s only so much I can do.

Mark’s honesty, humor and courage are the core of the book. He never wavers and shows a determination and hope that represent the best of who we are. His crew too has some amazing moments in the few pages that they appear. All are memorable from Commander Lewis (“I left him behind. In a barren, unreachable, goforsaken wasteland.”) to Martinez (“Who would you have eaten first?”) to Johanssen, Vogel and Beck.

Long live the Ares 3 crew and long live Mark Watney!

Listen to Episode:

This book is stunning. You read the first-hand account of astronaut Mark Watney, who is stranded on Mars alone with no means of communication with Earth or hope of escape. It would take years for a rescue mission to arrive. His survival instinct is extraordinary and he uses all his experience, intellect and training to carefully map out a plan that will give him the best shot of staying alive until the next Mars mission. His sheer ingenuity and resourcefulness make for a riveting tale. His wit, his vulnerability, his determination all show through and we see a human being unwilling to surrender in even the most insurmountable of odds. This man vs. nature tale is set in the most extreme of environments and science is Mark’s tool to beat the red planet. It’s amazingly funny, emotional, realistic and it will pull you in from the first page.

The conclusion to the Great Hunt was impressive with its grand stage setting and gripping confrontations. The story feels urgent with the odds seemly stacked against our group, which now faces powerful ageless forces separately and on different fronts.

Spoilers: My favorite part by far is the introduction of the marauder army from across the sea. The Aes Sedai are the most powerful group which wields the One Power, or so we thought. We see that women with the One Power are enslaved by this army from across the sea, being held as captives with silver collars and leashes that keep them under complete control. Jordan’s description of their enslavement was brilliant and utterly despairing. Egwene, whose control of the One Power is just beginning, is captured and we see her tortured. It shows that this series is growing up quickly. Nynaeve’s sheer will and determination make her the perfect force to counter this evil. Her trials to rescue Egwene make this one of my favorite parts of the book.

(Spoiler-light) The wielding of an uncontrollable power takes Rand down a dangerous path, where many will seek to either use or destroy him. The group of friends from the Two Rivers are forced to separate and each of their journeys is amazing. The hunt itself is wild and wondrous and Rand battles foes, other dimensions, and his own fear. The places Rand and his band of Shienaran soldiers go in pursuit of the horn really open up the world and the scenes are vivid and unforgettable – those Trollocs and Fades are some evil creatures.

Nynaeve and Egwene explore the world of the Aes Sedai and they must protect each other in the growing darkness and uncertainty. One of my favorite parts of the book is the inside look at the mythology and rites of the Aes Sedai. The multiple Ajah sects within the sisterhood and their unique traits are fascinating to watch play out.

The Great Hunt, book two in the Hugo-nominated Wheel of Time series, picks up right where the first book left off. This presents a rich exploration of the characters’ conflicts and motivations that each must face in this next leg of the journey. There’s no fast forwarding of the narrative with convenient resolutions that take place without the reader. This immerses us in the world and shows the crossroads at which this saga lies. Any story with an ensemble cast worth reading is able to show how each character deals with competing agendas and the process each goes through in deciding the path they must take. Let the hunt begin!

My buddy Jon put the question out there: Should we even finish this book? I voted yes because 1- I thought, against all hope, it might get better and 2- we couldn’t legitimately warn people away from it if we didn’t finish it ourselves. And, quite honestly, as I read on, I realized I had to find out how bad this book would get. It was a train wreck. All told, the group in the story did a little more wandering around, got into some nasty fights, fled, and in the end, kinda won, I think. (This is a trilogy, but there is no way you could pay me to read the rest.) I made a fickle prediction about how the book would end. One plot guess: the best buddy would bite the dust (spoiler: he did) and the second was the mysterious woman would hook back up with the fallen angel guy. After the best bud went bye bye, I started to actually pay attention. Would I go 2 for 2? It didn’t look hopeful as I reached the last few pages. My lucky streak was about to be up. But the last paragraph literally had the mystery woman revealing her devious plans to reunite with her beloved fallen angel guy. I laughed hard for a good 30 seconds. I will remember the book simply b/c I guessed the contrived and unoriginal ending. This book is that bad.

Uldyssian is the hero, I think, and his friends are trying to help him, we think. The women seemingly have nothing more to do than be mysterious or fawn over him. The story goes from point A to point B, introduces some characters who are quickly dispatched, our main character develops some nonsensical powers, he’s blamed for murder, then he must run. His friends join him, along with the mysterious woman, and they flee to where? The forest. And then they go in circles and get attacked. Everyone is worried, but no one knows what to do and altogether – between cut scenes with the bad guy – I wonder what I’m reading and why I’m reading it. Suffer with us on this weird, anemic entry into fantasy fiction. There is one high point – the book is mercifully short.

The fate of life, free will, a higher level of existence and harmony with the universe is pared down to these two simple words: Choose Again. The finale to Dan Simmons’ science fiction masterwork is shocking, poignant and one of the most grippingly emotional human stories I have ever read. I felt a sense of loss, hope, gratitude and awe at the mysteries Simmons weaved and the insight we glimpsed into a universe sewn together not by science, but by the intangible power of love. It’s not as cheesy as it sounds, but to say more is to spoil this story that has so much to offer and in my mind is a resounding achievement in science fiction and the human imagination. RoE’s characters display every facet of humanity – our triumphs and our failings – and explores the depths of the universe – the possibilities of other worlds and other plains of existence. The story is anchored by its lead characters who show the best of who we want to be and who never give up even in the face of relentless evil. It is a love story, an epic across space and time, a journey to find faith, and a beautiful homage to the spirit of the human race. Listen to the podcast as we share our thoughts on the best of what this story had to offer.

Our characters are perpetual nomads, refugees with no home, but they are guided by a strong sense of destiny that takes them across half the populated galaxy, again. The worlds are simply amazing and we are given this deep experience of what it’s like to be in these places, to feel the exotic cultures and to see our group of survivors adapt to them. Raul goes through one of the most truly remarkable and harrowing experiences imaginable (even having experienced a lifetime of adventures). The reunion of Raul and Aenea on T’ien Shan is beautiful, and the setting – on a world of mountains – is unforgettable in its grandeur. The humans on the world must live on the mountaintops away from the acid ocean surface. Life there is rugged and made for the strong, with zip lines, cliffside walkways, and mountain climbing the only way to travel the world. The people there live on the precipice, both literally and figuratively as one of the last strong free worlds not controlled by the Pax. This adventure gets serious and very passionate as we approach humankind’s final trial.

This is the finale to the Hyperion series. It’s a bittersweet realization to see this epic saga end knowing that these characters will leave us forever. But it’s also an exciting prospect to see this masterwork wrapped up and how Simmons deals with some weighty and ambitious issues that he has built up over four books and two generations.

We’ll take this in baby steps. Listen to part 1 of 3 of the book discussion to see how man’s final reach for an enlightened destiny begins. We have the reintroduction of the cradle of civilization, Aenea’s ascendancy to messiah status to restore humanity, and our favorite male hero Raul, who almost gets sidelined by kidney stones. Yes, even in the far flung future, they have kidney stones. Spoilercast ahead.

This is the conclusion to our 3-part book discussion on Endymion, the epic 3rd entry in Dan Simmons’s Hyperion Cantos. The journey in the book is quite simply stunning – the water world of Mare Infinitus had me in Jaws-panic-mode and the ice world of Sol Draconi Septem left me ready to take vacation on Hoth.

The journey goes from bad to impossible as the elements force superhuman feats from our band of fugitives. Man and machine conspire to kill Aenea and her friends, who must reach the mythical Earth or watch generations become enslaved by an evil that many thought destroyed. Listen to the REIGN spoilercast to find out if they make it and if this journey is one that you think you could survive.

What do you do when you’re outgunned, outnumbered, and have slim chance of escape? What we can say, without spoiling, is that Aenea, the time-traveling 12-year-old messiah, is quite the poker player. Listen to the REIGN spoilercast to find out how the ultimate game of space tag is played out.

Endymion, book 3 in the 4-part Hyperion Cantos, is an exciting race across the galaxy, which has changed drastically in three centuries since our last visit here. It’s amazing to see familiar places in this universe and how they’ve adapted to the new superpower in space.

Raul is a hero I can get behind. He lives a rugged life on Hyperion, never staying in one place too long and surviving how he can as a third-class citizen on his native world. He’s confident in his own abilities, but has no prospect of traveling the stars or joining the larger community of humanity and what it has evolved into. But then his wrongful death starts an adventure of a lifetime.

Master Chief’s book debut is filled with action and intense confrontations, but the narrative only gets interesting when his comrades are battling in space. Master Chief is sidelined to procedural missions mostly on the ground that don’t place him in the hero role. But we have fun discussing the continuing military cliches and pick apart the highs and lows of this adventure.

Halo, one of video game history’s defining science fiction war epics, comes to the written page. Can it muster the same emotional resonance that the gameplay inspired in a generation? Well, if you like your military cliches, you are in luck. Saddle up for super soldier training 101.

This is only the end of the beginning, and it’s an incredible beginning. We are rewarded with answers to what the Dark Tower is, but we are left with a grand epic stretched out before us. I for one will follow the gunslinger and find out if he can solve this mystery that surrounds his failing world and, perhaps, turn the tide.

The Gunslinger is a fascinating spectacle – rich characters, bleak landscapes, unknown forces of evil, and the gunslinger surviving the wilderness to track down the man in black. There’s a lot to sink your teeth into, and this struggle between these two adversaries is deeper than I suspect.

Colossal world crushing ahead. See how to manage awesome planetary power.

This book is a coming of age story – a young boy has unfathomable burdens placed upon him as he steers the course of worlds and stands up against a would-be tyrant. His bravery comes at a high cost and he is willing to sacrifice the rare gift of true love to save countless others. His trials are ours, and his decisions a reflection of our own strength of character. It’s a timeless story of what roads we choose in life and how those will shape who we become. Myst remains shrouded in mystery until the end, but that is the nature of this world and the result of the power that is wielded by its people. Inevitably, the characters meet their just fates and we get closure to the story, yet it remains filled with many wondrous possibilities for adventure.

Survivors of a lost civilization search for the key to its revival. And it’s a really cool civilization. Think Atlantis minus the water.

This story really pulled me in. It starts as a story of pure survival. A boy and his grandmother live in the desert under the shadow of a volcano. All alone, their small cleft gives them shelter and a place to grow food. The boy Atrus is molded by the elder Anna, who teaches him to observe everything, use his instincts, hone his skills and to remember certain immutable truths about life. The boy has an innate thirst for knowledge, experimenting and adapting to this harsh world.

SPOILER: Life for Atrus changes forever when his father, who left him as a child, comes out of the volcano, telling stories of their now lost civilization and how he wants Atrus to come back with him to their former home. Atrus’s people, the D’Ni, lived deep underground and ruled an empire for thousands of years. There are mysteries and wonders that show the might of the D’Ni, and Atrus is told of the secret to their enduring kingdom before it fell. The D’Ni were world builders and used a special craft to fashion thousands of worlds by writing them into existence. Can Atrus and his father Gehn revive the once great D’Ni culture? What will it take and what are they willing to do? Their journey will take them to many unexpected places and challenge them with many decisions.

The light and dark go at. It’s a battle royale. Listen to part four of the podcast for the blow by blow.

It takes a certain brilliance to breathe life into a world, to make its lands and people and cultures memorable, unique. Creating histories and a sense of authenticity, not for just a region, but a planet, takes dedication. But its a bit of magic I think that crafts the best characters, those whose lives and fates seem for a time intertwined with your own. Their courage, fears, triumphs, decisions and fates reflected in your own hopes for them.

The Eye of the World is a triumph of the human spirit. It is a fantastical tale that takes young village boys out into the world after their home is attacked and sets them on a journey of destiny. But they are far from in control – being led by a mysterious sorceress – and they must outrun a looming shadow the spreads across the world.  They are not prepared for what awaits them and they survive one peril only to encounter another. The action is amazing, often rising unexpectedly, and keeps the reader guessing when and if they’ll make it.

These characters change remarkably over the course of the journey. They must do what no one else can to save the world, but the decisions don’t come easily and that makes the characters very relatable and believable.

Listen in to the conclusion of The Eye of the World on the REIGN of Books and prepare for an epic finish.

Destiny people, it’s destiny.

We get on the fate train and find out if our rag-tag group of heroes-in-training want to do this.

In part 3 of 4 of The Eye of the World, there is no doubt that fate is weaving itself around Rand and his friends – they will help determine the outcome for all of humanity. Will mankind splinter in this coming war? Will Moraine reveal her true intentions? Will Lan and NynaEve hook up? (jk, well not really). Will they be able to get to the Eye of the World? Find out what lies ahead in this episode.

Book Trailer – The Eye of the World pt.2

The wheel weaves as the wheel wills in the Eye of the World. As the journey continues, you’ll encounter creepy abandoned cities, play sharks and minnows with some Trollocs, and get freaked out by the Starks’ great, great granddaddy. (He could totally take the Lannisters.) Coming up on the REIGN of Books……

Seven travelers have set out from The Two Rivers, crossing a mysterious countryside pursued relentlessly by the Dark One’s forces from the sky and land….but not on water…… Man, rivers save those guys every time. Trollocs and Dark Riders are such babies when they get wet.

This episode: Chapters 19-30.

Savagely pursued. Relentlessly hunted. At the brink of doom and despair. Perrin and Egwene take the starring role midway through The Eye of the World. An unlikely ally rescues them in the wild and pulls them ahead of the dark forces spies. This is one of the most unnerving parts of the book because….you….feel….every….heart-pounding….muscle-aching….gut-wrenching….eye-popping…. moment. The danger is more dire than they know, and evil lurks around every corner.

We get heaping layers of epic storytelling with clues about the Blight, the Aeilman, and The Eye of the World. For more, listen in to this episode of the REIGN.

“Book Trailer”…it’s totally funny

Prepare for the very first chapters of Book 1…

of a 14 Book series…

written over 23 years…

by two authors…

and hailed by legions of fans as some of the best fantasy ever written…there are millions of those fans, so we better not mess this up.

REIGN of Books presents the Wheel of Time Series by Robert Jordan (and that new guy), starting May 17.

Listen to the REIGN’s introduction of the epic Wheel of Time series, Book 1:

BOOK TRAILER: WOT – Eye of the World, part1 (4:35 minutes)

Come Explore a World where “the Wheel of Time turns, and Ages come and pass, leaving memories that become legend. Legend fades to myth, and even myth is long forgotten when the Age that gave it birth comes again……”

Wait, are you saying that these ages repeat themselves and heroes are reborn and keep fighting the same battles against the forces of darkness for all eternity?

Weeell, that’s our guess based off the prologue…..listen to the podcast Saturday for our full breakdown of Chapters 1-18.

It is a wild ride with our entry into the Wheel of Time series. This is a respected and long enduring fantasy series (14 books written over 23 years) that has been compared to the Lord of the Rings for its ambitious and rich world, built around a compelling epic narrative. The book delivers from page 1 with a prologue that sets the stakes high for a world at war between the Shadow and the Light. The characters are rich, funny, flawed and I can feel what they experience….we are constantly reminded that these characters must endure through many brutalities and hardships. This saga is off to a great start.

Listen to Podcast:

Conan offers a raw, primal experience with incredible stories that rush at you with reckless abandon, even almost a century after Conan was first unleashed on Hyboria. The warrior’s battles and epic escapes from warlocks, monsters and shadows transcend mere pulp fiction and are timeless.

The two stories we take up here show this: The Phoenix on the Sword has Conan reaching his ultimate goal: king of Aquilonia. But he’s not ready for the civilized man’s warfare, with all the scheming and plotting. Give him a sword and a red-blooded enemy any day over vengeful politicians and serpent-tongued poets. A plot nearly succeeds in ending his reign as king…..and his life, but unexpected sorcery behind the scenes meets Conan head on, wrecking the political plot, and….almost his life. Only his desperation to survive and barbarian instincts save him yet again.

In The Scarlet Citadel, the story opens on Conan in absolute defeat surrounded by his enemies, but he will not yield. A wizard of untold evil, Tsotha, subdues him on the field of battle, rather than having Conan go down fighting. Trapped in the bowels of a lair of sheer terror, Conan fights his own superstitions and the dark to find his way out in a most improbable escape. More fantastical is his return to Aquilonia, having raised a small army to battle a force invading his land. The odds seem insurmountable, the fates of millions rest in his hands, but will Conan’s forces suffer the same fate as before? It’s a rousing finale and a showdown with Tsotha that will leave the barbarian wishing he had never heard of the Scarlet Citadel…..

News in this Episode:

MEET THE GODFATHER OF WEARABLES

Oyster Now Counts 500k Books in Subscription Collection

Literature’s Most Horrifying Mothers

Listen to Episode: 

 

Verdict:

5 of 5 stars

Tweet Review: Gods at war, courage of warriors and poets, betrayal of machines, woman from the future and a pilgrimage; all lead to a new humanity.

This book forever changed the way I read science fiction. There is much to say, and even in these 100 minutes (!) of wrapping up the Fall of Hyperion, there are many things left unsaid. Everything is answered – yes, even where the Shrike comes from. All the complex threads and interweaving relationships are deftly tied up. The revelations hit so fast and so hard the characters in the book (and reader) have to adjust quickly in order to make it to the end.

News in this Episode:

Which books make you feel stupid?

PHOTOS: Books on a Body

I continue to be amazed at the complexity of the Hyperion universe. It is some of the best sci-fi I’ve come across. The insanely strong narrative continues in the second book of the series – Fall of Hyperion. I loved the first one (Hyperion), and have high hopes for the finale of the second. The end arrives next week and the mystery of the pilgrimage will be revealed! (Right, it’s got to!)

This book makes the reader face an ugly truth – even centuries in the future, we hold our self-preservation above everything else. We will destroy in order to maintain our supremacy. But the forces of the universe and our own creations outmatch us and we’ll have to scratch and claw our way out of the abyss in order to survive. But will we ever change, really?

Favorite moment so far – SPOILER – The war meeting after learning of the impending Ouster invasion where Meina Gladstone realized she couldn’t control the chaos she had unleashed. But she steeled herself against the coming end of Hegemony civilization with dignity and fierceness. While her joint chiefs buckled under pressure and senators moaned, she took command – she told the generals to defend the web worlds at all costs, the senators were to pass a unified war declaration with no political defectors, and Gladstone told the All Things liaison in a private meeting that she would declare open war against the TechnoCore, no matter if it meant plunging the web into the dark ages – better that than be a slave to the machines or the Ousters. That was her moment to shine.

News in this Episode:

Announcing the 2014 Hugo Award Nominees

Amazon Chooses ’100 Books to Read in a Lifetime: Mystery & Thriller’

The genre debate: Science fiction travels farther than literary fiction

What would you do on the last day of your life? What if the world as you knew it was about to end? Nope, this isn’t a zombie apocalypse. It’s the Fall of Hyperion, an action-packed and deeply meditative tale of mankind confronted by long separated space siblings now returning for war, man-made machines gambling on their supremacy in the universe and surrounding it all – seven pilgrims on a desolate planet close to death and discovery of the ultimate truth of our existence.  Listen to the first part of the book here on the REIGN of Books podcast.

News in this Episode:

SAMSUNG & AMAZON TEAM ON NEW EBOOK CLUB

Interactive Game of Thrones Map

Goodreads Will Soon Let You Add Amazon Books to Your Shelves

We dive into some classic turn-of-the-century sci-fi from H.G. Wells, who helped define the genre. It’s impressive how Wells takes the ordinary things that surround us and turns them into tense terrifying mysteries. The tales are strange unwinding oddities filled with fantastic creatures and wondrous places. It takes me back to the roots of good ol’ campfire storytelling.

News in this Episode:

Amazon’s ComiXology Acquisition Has Some Readers Concerned

Zola Books Makes iOS App Social

Game of Thrones: how does the TV series compare to the books?

Verdict:

Hyperion is one of those rare pieces of fiction that transcends mere storytelling. It is epically crafted and its ensemble cast of characters are wonderfully deep, complex people who bare their souls through the journey. It is a saga stretched over space and time yet incredibly personal and intimate.

The future represented in this book is shaped through the personal experiences and histories of the seven main characters (and a fantastic supporting cast), and it’s very effective. We learn about the galaxy through their eyes and it’s easy to digest facts about an alien future and at the same time to care about where each person ends up. And the future is not so very different than the present – humans have taken their same hopes, dreams and fears out into the cosmos. And the book attempts to deal with the repercussions of our actions as a society. We killed earth, do we get a second chance?

But the story leaves many cliffhangers that make you want to jump immediately to the next book, which I’ve heard described as the second part to Hyperion rather than a sequel. The space saga that is the Hyperion universe demands to be expanded (even if the cliffhanger makes you want to scream). After that initial shock you realize you can’t wait to see what happens next. Let the journey continue.

Rating: 5/5 stars

I’m having a little bit of withdrawal already. I miss my fellow travelers and their stories of planet hopping, space battles, the search for eternal life, and the burning forest and sea of grass on Hyperion. I felt like I came a long way with them on this journey. This is one of those stories that rises above the rest and really nails it when it comes to describing the human condition and connects with you in strong and unexpected ways. Hyperion is part of my sci-fi lexicon now and in my opinion some of the characters are as memorable as any in Middle Earth, Star Trek or Star Wars. Hyperion hyperbole? I don’t think so. It’s that good.

SPOILERS: My favorite parts. Peter Dure’s trek through the flaming forest, subsequent discovery of the cruciform and the labyrinths, and his gut-wrenching fate. Colonel Kassad’s many simulated and real military campaigns and the insane survival instinct that lets him outfight the Ousters in zero-gravity. Martin Silenus and his centuries-long story including the Dying Earth, fame, and true literary obsession in the City of Poets. Sol Weintraub’s emotional powerhouse of a tale in watching his daughter become younger and lose her skills and essentially her life. Brawne Lamia’s classic noir tale ripped from Blade Runner and which exposes the true nature of the Technocore. The Consul’s tale of his world of Maui-Covenant being crushed and later his role in keeping the Hegemony secret of the systematic genocide of other species so that mankind would not be challenged. And then he became a double agent many times over, conspiring with the Ousters and potentially destroying mankind by unleashing the Shrike. The whole book makes you think hard about morality, destiny and our choices in life.

News in this Episode:

Waterstones founder: e-book revolution will soon go into decline

Amazon’s Literary Journal Day One is Seeking Submissions

Audiobook Revenues Reach $1.6 Billion

New York City Hosts Twitter Poetry Contest

Listen to Episode:

The Hyperion Cantos

It was not about the planet but about the passing of the self-styled Titans called humans. It was about the unthinking hubris of a race which dared to murder its homeworld through sheer carelessness and then carried that dangerous arrogance to the stars, only to meet the wrath of a god which humanity had helped to sire.

The middle part of Hyperion raises the bar significantly. It’s a very strong middle section that delivers some jaw-dropping revelations.

The many layers of mystery wrapped up in this space saga draw you in deeper as the history of the Dying Earth and the colonization of Hyperion are retold by a living witness of these century old events. We see another personal encounter with the Shrike that shows the power of the time energy at the Time Tombs and the resulting devastation that reverberates through the years.  Below the surface of these stories are deep issues of faith, obsession and destiny. Hang on, this is gonna get good.

News in this Episode:

Zola’s Bookish Recommendation Engine Goes to Work for Libraries

Web Fiction, Serialized and Social

Bookspotting app uses GPS to bring books to life

Listen to Episode:

Hyperion is insanely good. It’s thought provoking, fast paced, mysterious and engrossing from page one. Don’t miss this ride if you are a true scifi fan. Dan Simmons‘ Hugo Award-Winning Novel is a masterful read that reminds me of Games of Thrones with its raw brutality of human conflict but with the unyielding conviction of hope and deliverance. We dissect the first third of the book in this podcast. Here’s my synopsis on the first part of this unforgettable tale:

Hyperion is a science fiction drama set in the distant future when man has conquered the stars and is the dominant sentient lifeform in the known galaxy. But our sins and fears have followed us into space. Hyperion starts off as an interstellar mystery where the ruling empire – called the Hegemony of Men – is on the edge of potentially their biggest war with space barbarians known as the Ousters. But the heart of the story is a group of seven who converge on the planet Hyperion where the coming war in space is preceded by martial law on the surface and a population on edge waiting for evacuation. And there is another danger that lurks on the planet – thousands have been killed by a mythical creature, called the Shrike, which is now venturing further from its northern hiding place, the mysterious Time Tombs. The seven characters are fascinating and flawed and they each keep secrets of why they accepted to come on this perilous journey. It’s a fascinating read so far and a compelling look at a fictional future for mankind.

The story unfolds through the characters’ experiences in this world. There is some very entertaining dialogue by group members, who are forced together and would never socialize or be in the same world or place otherwise. We’re pulled right into their environment and come to care about these characters, or at least have a strong need to know what happens to them. All of them have a connection to Hyperion and reasons for returning. As far fetched as it seems that each would invite probable death by going to the Shrike’s domain where few have returned, we see in the first part of the book, the motives for each pilgrim is powerful and will leave you reeling after they are revealed.

News headlines in episode:

‘A History Of The Quidditch World Cup’ Part One Released By JK Rowling On Pottermore

On The Books: Soon you can read Tolkien’s ‘Beowulf’

Publishers Are Warming to Fan Fiction, But Can It Go Mainstream?

Listen to the Episode

Verdict:

If you like great action and inventive alternate realities, you get an appetizer in this book, but outside some fun battles, there is no resolution to major plot points, which are pushed off to a second book. With no payoff, it’s harder to care what happens to the characters.

Rating: 3.25/5

We conclude our World War I alternate reality Young Adult novel “Leviathan” by Scott Westerfield. The last third of the book saves the best part of the war for last, that is the actual parts of the war we see. The Clankers and the Darwinists join forces and cultures to survive their frozen prison. And the inevitable attack by the Germans puts our heroes in real life-and-death danger.

We find out what happens when giant hydrogen-filled airships don’t pay attention to fire safety 101, it seems Deryn is either crazy or just young and impulsive, and secrets that have been building up throughout the book are saved until…. the…. very…. next… book. At least we can hope.

So even without a payoff to some big questions – the eggs anyone? – it’s an action-packed finale with more talking lizards, eight-legged giant robots and a hollywood worthy finale.

Thanks for joining us on the REIGN of Books.

NEWS in this episode:

• Serial Novels: Modern Torture or the Best Way to Read Fiction?
• Twitter Fiction Fest tells stories one tweet at a time
• George Saunders becomes first winner of UK’s newest literary prize

PART 2

Listen to the Episode:

Things get tricky on the war front!

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Scott Westerfield creates a revisionist history of World War I with robots versus genetically engineered beasties. Things get crazy as our two title characters, on the opposite side of the conflict, are thrown into new roles that put them in real danger. Enjoy the spoilercast and watch out for talking geckos.

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The Ocean comes and makes a lasting impression; we get a glimpse of a marvelously different world, and a tragedy has lasting consequences.

Listen to Episode:

A family implodes when a father commits an unforgivable act, a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse unfolds in the countryside, and the unbelievable rise and fall of the arch villian is shockingly emotional and poetic. The middle part of TOATEOTL has it all – listen to the rundown on the REIGN of Books podcast, where the written word rules supreme.

Listen to the Episode:

So it begins. The REIGN of Books Podcast ep. 1  explores an atypical story of a boy and girl, fighting against an ancient evil that pays a visit to the English countryside. Unlikely events bring them together and the boy discovers a new reality on the edges of our own. What lies there follows him back to our world.

REIGN of Books hosts Josh and Jon discuss the new show, what constitutes sci-fi and fantasy, some classics that have shaped the genres and more. Moby Dick makes an appearance too.