Hiding Hand-Lee Denning

Hiding Hand

Lee Denning

Twilight Times, Oct 2008, $19.95

www.twilighttimesbooks.com

ISBN: 9781606190166

 

In Ireland, the Mullah waits impatiently for the moment to strike as his aid the Crone cautions him.  They plot to abduct eight year old Eva Connard, a chimera of sorts as Nova sapiens.  Her eighteen years old step-brother Joshua “Magician” O’Donnell vows to keep her safe.

 

However, in spite of his efforts and that of their Uncle Hamilton O’Donnell, the Mullah abducts Eva as he wants to control the power of this new evolutionary line as some insist she is the new Messiah.  Joshua tries to rescue his sibling, but his attempts prove futile.  Instead of saving Eva from the “pious” Muslim cleric, he manages to rescue Elia.  As they fall in love, Josh, with the help of “Unca Ham”, mounts a rescue mission only to have his beloved abducted.

 

The next generation offspring from the heroes of MONKEY TRAP make for a terrific romantic science fiction tale as the young precocious hybrid seeks a place in the world of Neanderthals while caught between ambitious modern day Lady Macbeths especially the psychopath Mullah.  Although the villain is obvious early on unlike the first book, team Dennng keeps the suspense high with a strong cast starring in the middle Nova Sapiens thriller.

 

Harriet Klausner

Hiding Hand-Lee Denning

Hiding Hand

Lee Denning

Twilight Times, Oct 2008, $19.95

www.twilighttimesbooks.com

ISBN: 9781606190166

 

In Ireland, the Mullah waits impatiently for the moment to strike as his aid the Crone cautions him.  They plot to abduct eight year old Eva Connard, a chimera of sorts as Nova sapiens.  Her eighteen years old step-brother Joshua “Magician” O’Donnell vows to keep her safe.

 

However, in spite of his efforts and that of their Uncle Hamilton O’Donnell, the Mullah abducts Eva as he wants to control the power of this new evolutionary line as some insist she is the new Messiah.  Joshua tries to rescue his sibling, but his attempts prove futile.  Instead of saving Eva from the “pious” Muslim cleric, he manages to rescue Elia.  As they fall in love, Josh, with the help of “Unca Ham”, mounts a rescue mission only to have his beloved abducted.

 

The next generation offspring from the heroes of MONKEY TRAP make for a terrific romantic science fiction tale as the young precocious hybrid seeks a place in the world of Neanderthals while caught between ambitious modern day Lady Macbeths especially the psychopath Mullah.  Although the villain is obvious early on unlike the first book, team Dennng keeps the suspense high with a strong cast starring in the middle Nova Sapiens thriller.

 

Harriet Klausner

Burnout: The Mystery of Space Shuttle STS-281-Stephanie Osborn

Burnout: The Mystery of Space Shuttle STS-281

Stephanie Osborn

Twilight Times, Apr 2009, $19.95

ISBN: 9781606192009

 

Upon reentry with seven aboard Space Shuttle STS-281 suddenly explodes into a deadly inferno.  All on board are dead.  An official investigation leads to a quick assertion of human error mostly by the crew.

Having known the pilot Jet Jackson who was his friend since their Air Force days, “Crash” Murphy has a difficult time accepting the official position.  He begins to investigate the disaster, which leads him to Australian astronomer Dr. Michael Anders, who is also probing the Burnout.  They team up and soon begin to find anomalies with the official denouement.  They begin to find evidence of alien intervention, which leads them to Area 51.  With the help of conspiracy buff operatives watching the locale 24/7, the pair sneaks inside seeking the truth, but neither is prepared for what they find.

 

This is an interesting science fiction mystery with an intriguing twist that leaves the portal open for sequels.  The story line is faster than the shuttle although adjustment to the zillion NASA acronyms (thankfully a glossary helps) takes a bit of time; but once done acceleration throughout.  Crash and Mike are courageous heroes, but what they learn and not learn will stun both of them and the readers.  Burnout is an exciting thriller that will have fans soaring with Stephanie Osborn as the flight commander.

 

Harriet Klausner

Total Oblivion, More or Less-Alan DeNiro

Total Oblivion, More or Less

Alan DeNiro

Ballantine, Nov 24 2009, $15.00

ISBN: 9780553592542

 

No one in the Minnesota town was prepared for the invaders, the ancient Scythians wearing NBA Lakers jerseys.  Everyone was captured and placed in camps.  However, survival takes a plunge and not because all non-fast food joints were closed.  Wasps were transmitting a new form of the deadly plague by air and by sting.

 

Sixteen year old Macy and her family manage to escape to the Mississippi hoping to find a safe haven in what is left of civilization.  None quite realize the invaders have taken over the country and are now at war with one another to see just who will be the top lord.  However, Macy and family manage to reach St. Louis, where her dad says he has a job at a university’s astronomy department.  As Macy recovers from the plague, she meets Em the submarine captain and Wye whom she is not sure of whose side he is loyal to while her brother is sent for trial to Nueva Roma and her sister is sold into indentured servitude while her father has become the leading astrologer in the Mississippi.

 

Not for everyone, Total Oblivion, More or Less is an enjoyable futuristic thriller in which the conquering invaders come from the ancient past.  The story line is a combination whimsical look at what truly civilization is when calamity strikes on a mass scale in a world gone mad.  Sub-genre fans will enjoy traveling the DeNiro American landscape escorted by courageous Macy who learns the mighty Mississippi means civilization to all types of groups.

 

Harriet Klausner

 

Impact Douglas Preston

Impact

Douglas Preston

Forge, Jan 5 2010, $25.99

ISBN 9780765317681

 

College dropout turned waitress and amateur astronomer Abbey Straw believes she and her BFF Jackie saw a meteor crash near the Maine coast where she lives.  The two young females agree to search the nearby barrier islands as Abbey using wave theory believes the meteor struck land.  The plan is to sell the finds on E-Bay.

 

Meanwhile the president’s science adviser Stanton Lockwood III asks former CIA filed operative Wyman Ford to investigate the sudden flooding of radioactive gemstones in Cambodia.  At about the same time Stanton makes his request that seems more like an order to Wyman,on the West Coast, just before he is murdered Professor Jason Freeman sends a classified file containing proof of abnormal gamma ray activity on Mars to mission technician Mark Corso of the National Propulsion Facility.  Soon these three diverse scenarios converge with sixty hours to countdown impact.

 

This is an engaging science fiction thriller that hooks the audience from the moment Wyman begins his inquiry and never slows down as California, Maine and Cambodia hook up.  The story line is fast-paced as fans will welcome the return of Wyman (see Blasphemy), but in many ways the brilliant slacker with her naive innocence makes the tale fresh.

 

Harriet Klausner

 

Veracity-Laura Bynum

Veracity

Laura Bynum

Pocket, Jan 5 2010, $25.00

ISBN 9781439123348

 

In 2012, a virus terrorism attack annihilated a bout half the American population.  A new government with martial law enforcement is forged out of the abyss.  The Confederation of the Willing implant an electronic device in the necks of all citizens that so that if a person utters any of the red-listed words, they trigger the slate gizmo and die as the Blue Coats police are everywhere sadistically relishing punishing felons.

 

In 2012 Harper Adams was a little girl when she survived the disaster.  She is careful not to activate the slate in her neck.  In 2026, Sentient Baumfree selects her as a Potential because she has paranormal skills.  Harper works hard to be the best Monitor until 2045 however, when she has an apostasy when her daughter’s name Veracity is added to the death list of banned words.  The resistance movement guided by the pre-doomsday pandemic tome, The Book of Noah, recruits Harper to join their counterinsurgency from within a corrupt system.

 

This is an exciting 1984 type futuristic thriller that grips the audience from the onset with its word list and never slows down as ban has new meaning.  The story line is driven by Harper who will do anything to be able to say her daughter’s name with impunity.  Although the Confederation of the Willing never seems quite as nasty as say Big Brother except when the tall eerie Baumfree recruits twelfth graders, fans will appreciate this dark post apocalyptic future.

 

Harriet Klausner

Diving into the Wreck-Kristine Kathryn Rusch

Diving into the Wreck

Kristine Kathryn Rusch

PYR, Nov 24 2009, $16.00

ISBN 9781591027867

 

Boss prefers to work alone when diving into a wreck though she works salvage operations with others.  She feels she is more ethical than most of her rivals in their search for historical vessels as she always helps those in dire need in outer space though she prefers not to. Some of her unsavory colleagues would wait for a trapped crew to die so they can salvage like scavengers.

 

For her current quest the recluse uses her single crew ship rather than her larger Nobody’s Business vessel, but what awaits her is a shocker.  Her computer claims the derelict is somewhat between 5,000 and 10,000 years old and from old earth; an impossible scenario as that time frame and locale did not have the technology for the faster than light speed to float this far.  She searches for historical data as she is curious about this enigmatic anachronism, but fears what she will learn as the misunderstood ancient sciences might prove deadly.  Bringing together a special crew of loner divers, Boss and company explore the vessel while she considers following her mom who left her to vanish inside the mysterious Room of Souls.

 

DIVING INTO THE WRECK is an exhilarating fast-paced yet cerebral science fiction thriller.  Filled with action and adventure but purposely with two dimensional characters including Boss who is a bit more philosophical. Kristine Kathryn Rusch uses outer space to have her audience consider ethics and morality re the scientific-government complex and how society looks back at ancient civilizations through a modern day lens while failing to provide a historiographic disclaimer about the background of the anthropologist or archeologist leading the glimpse through time.

 

Harriet Klausner

Crawlspace-Sarah Graves

Crawlspace

Sarah Graves

Bantam, Jan 2010, $25.00

ISBN: 9780553806809

 

Six years ago, everyone believed Randy Dodd died because there was plenty of evidence backing that belief.  It also was assumed that Randy killed his wife Cornelia.  His brother Roger, who was married to Cornelia’s sister, lost his spouse in an accident so he grieves all the tragedies that has hammered at his soul.  Nothing altered these convictions until true crime writer Carolyn Rathbone and her assistant Chip Hahn arrive in Eastport, Maine to research the tragedy of the Lang sisters for a book she is writing.

 

Carolyn and Chip believe Randy is alive and is responsible for the deaths of both sisters as he wanted their inheritance.  Randy is in town to access the money, but first kidnaps Carolyn with the intent to kill her because he simply enjoys murdering women.

 

Jacobia “Jake” Tiptree awakens to the realism her son Sam failed to come home last night and later discovers he was seen and recognized Randy.  Sam is also the killer’s prisoner.  Jake is determined to find out where Randy hides and rescue the writer and her offspring.  With help from her step-brother, her best friend, her housekeeper and Chip, Jake begins her search.  A clue from Roger assists them, but they remain ignorant that they are entering a trap until it is sprung.

 

Crawlspace is much more violent than the usual Home Repair amateur sleuth tales due to the predator; rather than a cozy this tale is more a suspense thriller.  Readers ironically know Randy lives from the onset when the residents of Eastport sleep serenely at night because they believe he is dead.  The story line is terrific with a great finish that will stun the audience used to amateur sleuth superheroes as fans will salute Sarah Graves with a strong grim entry.

 

Harriet Klausner

Starfire-Stuart Vaughn Stockton

Starfire

Stuart Vaughn Stockton

Marcher Lord, Apr 2009, $14.99

www.marcherlordpress.com

ISBN: 9780982104941

 

Being a low born Yangkuch in the Karn Empire, Rathe, has no future except to become a Saurian warrior; still Rathe dreams of becoming much more. His hope lies in being the best warrior.  He works hard at training to be ready when his chance at success occurs.

 

However, his first assignment is routine so Rathe knows he cannot shine as his dreams of glory will wait.  Still he does his best and works his way up the ranks based on a lie about saving a hatching from a Jerkrenak.  On his next mission he finds an ancient artificial intelligence who says his name is Karey.  She takes control of the female body of a scientist and firmly believes Rathe is her protector.  However, Rathe and his unit are in mortal combat with the Herians and the fearsome Jerkranaks.

 

Pulled in two directions the hero is terrific as Rathe stars in a coming of age allegorical science fiction saga.  The story line is fast-paced yet filled with references to the Karn Empire including its simplistic caste system that keeps low born like Rathe drowning in the ooze below the food chain though his “heroism” lifts onto the ladder.  Devoid of humans in the entire novel, Stuart Vaughn Stockton provides a clever well written inspirational head biting thriller as salvation is within anyone’s grasp if they reach out of the darkness.

 

Harriet Klausner

 

The Dark Man-Marc Schooley

The Dark Man

Marc Schooley

Marcher Lord, Apr 2009, $13.99

www.marcherlordpress.com

ISBN: 9780982104934

 

In Texas undercover agent Charles Graves, the man with a thousand faces, is assigned to destroy the last remaining powerful Christian leader in the United States, Reverend James Cleveland.  As he gathers evidence, Charles goes to arrest Reverend Cleveland, but suddenly hears voices in his head insisting he heed the message his target proclaims.

 

This turns Charles from a cynic to a believer in God.  He quits his law enforcement position and works to protect James and the word against his former associates, which includes his father.  However, the Dark Man from his past urges him to forget this Christian nonsense and take care of himself especially when his former comrades are searching to assassinate him as a traitor.  Charles has to choose between standing  up for God or standing up with the Dark Man who haunts his breathing.

 

This is a fascinating but grim future tale that has Big Brother (and Sister) watching you ready to prance and harass.  Charles is a terrific conflicted protagonist pulled schizoid like in two directions.  Although The Dark Man inside his head also appears inside other people’s brains abating the issue of the hero’s sanity, fans will relish this profound look at persecution as religious tolerance is unacceptable.

 

Harriet Klausner