The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf

Seven Days in Virtual Reality
Jeff Yager
Hannacroix Creek Books
www.hannacroixcreekbooks.com
9781938998256, $16.95, PB, 286pp

https://www.amazon.com/Seven-Days-Virtual-Reality-Novel/dp/1938998251

Synopsis: Louis Parker is the divorced father of two teenagers who is still=
trying to find his life's purpose. After losing his job, Louie's financial=
situation convinces him he has nothing to lose if he agrees to test out a = radical new virtual reality videogame for a substantial fee.

But Louie quickly learns that virtual reality is a lot more complicated tha=
n he realized as he agrees to test not just version 1 of the game. But vers= ion 2 has a dramatic difference from version 1. By the end of his testing, =
is Louie trapped in virtual reality forever? If he is able to return to his=
own reality, is it the same one he started from, or has it immeasurably ch= anged?

Critique: Original, imaginative, deftly crafted, "Seven Days in Virtual Rea= lity" by Jeff Yager is a compelling and compulsive page turner of a novel t= hat will have immense interest to Science Fiction fans. While especially an=
d unreservedly recommended for community library Science Fiction & Fantasy = collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Seven Days=
in Virtual Reality" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $3= ..91).

Editorial Note: Jeff Yager (https://www.jeffyager.us) is the co-author of "=
I Like God" (with Skye Bynes) and "Atom & Eve", as well as two children's b= ooks, "The Question is Why?" and "Chuck and Alfonzo" -- both illustrated by=
Nancy Batra. In addition to his own writing, Jeff does editing for other a= uthors and publishing companies. He also has been creating his own music an=
d rap songs for many years and has several albums including Jay-Free Existe= ntial Crisis and Extraterrestrial Activity.

The Great Unmaking
Brian A. Nelson
Blackstone Audiobooks
www.blackstoneaudio.com
9781538507841, $27.99, HC, 381pp

https://www.amazon.com/Great-Unmaking-Course-Empire/dp/1538507846

Synopsis: After usurping control of the world's most powerful military tech= nology, General Chip Walden knows the endgame is near and tasks scientist E= ric Hill with one final assignment. Helped by the love of his life, Jane Hu= nter, Hill is haunted by premonitions of a coming catastrophe as the techno= logy he created takes on a life of its own.

As Hill attempts to avert disaster, FBI Special Agent Bud Brown seeks reven=
ge for the murder of his fellow agents by eco-terrorist Riona Finley. But w= hat no one realizes is that forces are at work that have already decided hu= manity's fate. With the clock ticking toward an irrevocable apocalypse, it'=
s no longer a question of if the world can be saved, but who will be the ch= osen few that survive.

Critique: A propulsive, mind-expanding, and compulsive thriller of a read f= rom first page to last, "The Great Unmaking" is the dramatic conclusion to = author Brian Nelson's Course of Empire trilogy -- a series of SciFi novels = about bold scientific dreams turning into nightmares, or perhaps new beginn= ings! A deftly crafted technothriller novel, "The Great Unmaking" is unrese= rvedly recommended for community library Science Fiction collections. It sh= ould be noted for the personal reading lists of dedicated science fiction f= ans that "The Great Unmaking" is also available in a paperback edition (979= 8212238397, $17.99), in a digital book format (Kindle, $5.99), as as a comp= lete and unabridged audio book (9781538479360, $29.95, MP3-CD).

Editorial Note: Brian A. Nelson (https://twitter.com/Brian_A_Nelson) is a f= ormer Fulbright Scholar who holds degrees in international relations, econo= mics, and creative writing (fiction). His first book, The Silence and the S= corpion: The Coup Against Chavez and the Making of Modern Venezuela, was na= med one of the Best Books of 2009 by The Economist. His work has appeared i=
n the Virginia Quarterly Review, Christian Science Monitor, and the Souther=
n Humanities Review, among others.

Heroes of an Unknown World
Ayize Jama-Everett
Small Beer Press
http://smallbeerpress.com
9781618731975, $17.00, PB, 352pp

https://www.amazon.com/Heroes-World-novel-Liminal-People/dp/1618731971

Synopsis: After traveling back in time to rescue his fostered daughter, Tag= gert has returned to the present and found himself in his favorite place: u=
p against the wall. But the world they've returned to is not the one they l= eft: everything is slightly grayer, the music is boring, joy is just out of=
reach.

The liminals' entropic enemies, the Alters, are trying to bring about the e=
nd of the world by sucking the life (literally) out of enough people to tip=
the balance their way.

Traveling from Jamaica to London to Indonesia to the heart of the whirlwind=
in the desert at the heart of all deserts, Taggert and his found family of=
liminals and supporters have to find a way to bring back the joy before th= ey're all ground down into the gray dust!

Critique: The fourth and final novel in author Ayize Jama-Everett's African= -American science fiction series 'The Liminal People', this paperback editi=
on "Heroes of an Unknown World" from Small Beer Press is original, fun, fas= cinating, and leaves the science fiction fan looking eagerly toward his nex=
t science fiction project. While highly recommended for personal reading li= sts and community library Science Fiction collections, it should be noted t= hat "Heroes of an Unknown World" is also readily available in a digital boo=
k format (Kindle, $9.49).

Editorial Note: Ayize Jama-Everett (https://ayizejamaeverett.com) holds a M= asters degrees in Divinity, Clinical Psychology, in Fine Arts, Creative Wri= ting. Jama-Everett's Liminal series began with The Liminal People and conti= nued with The Liminal War and The Entropy of Bones. He has also written a g= raphic novel, Box of Bones with two-time Eisner Award winner John Jennings = and has written for The Believer and the LA Review of Books, among others.

The Game of 100 Candles
Marie Brennan
Aconyte Books
https://aconytebooks.com
9781839082153, $16.95, PB, 352pp

https://www.amazon.com/Game-100-Candles-Legend-Rings/dp/1839082151

Synopsis: The demon-vanquishing samurai, Asako Sekken and Agasha no Isao Ry= otora are summoned to Winter Court. Their exploits with the Spirit Realms h= ave taken a toll on the pair and the cut and thrust of Rokugani politics pr= oves challenging. After being urged to share their tales of adventure, the = Winter Court guests begin to fall into a deep sleep from which they cannot = wake. Fearing foul play, the Phoenix demand retribution, but Sekken and Ryo= tora uncover the hand of a supernatural trickster seeking entry to the mort=
al realm. The path to victory will risk their lives and the strange bond be= tween them. But they must succeed, lest something awful escape into Rokugan=
..

Critique: An absolute 'must read' choice for fans of Samurai novels and Her= oic Fantasy Fiction, "The Game of 100 Candles" is part of author Marie Bren= nan's ;A Legend of the Five Rings' series. Original, riveting, and a compul= sive page turner of a read from cover to cover, "The Game of 100 Candles" i=
s a very special and recommended addition to personal and community library=
Asian Fantasy Fiction collections. It should be noted that "The Game of 10=
0 Candles" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.9= 5).

Editorial Note: Marie Brennan (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marie_Brennan)=
is the author of the Hugo Award-nominated Victorian adventure series The M= emoirs of Lady Trent along with several other series, over seventy short st= ories, and the New Worlds series of world building guides; as half of M.A. = Carrick, she has written the epic Rook and Rose trilogy, beginning with The=
Mask of Mirrors.

Queen of Deception
Anna Stephens
Aconyte Books
https://aconytebooks.com
9781839082030, $16.95, PB, 336pp

https://www.amazon.com/Queen-Deception-Marvel-Legends-Asgard/dp/1839082038

Synopsis: A burst of magic from Midgard attracts the attention of Hela, Que=
en of Hel. The Goddess of Death craves power to enable her ultimate conques=
t of the Realms, and this new sorcery from Earth is tantalizing.

Pursuing its source, Hela is appalled to find herself in Elizabethan Englan=
d. From Asgard, Lady Sif and the valkyrie, Brunnhilde are also dispatched t=
o Midgard, and neither of them have any love for Hela. Yet a still greater = threat awaits: the Dark Elves see Midgard as the first battle in war of the=
Realms. Only a team-up between hated enemies can win the day, but how far = can you really trust the Queen of Hel?

Critique: A pure delight for the legions of Marvel Universe fans, "Queen of=
Deception" by Anna Stephens is just the latest in the outstanding Legends =
of Asgard series from Marvel. An original story, a riveting read, and showc= asing some of Marvel's most interesting heroes and villains, "Queen of Dece= ption" is a deftly crafted and fun read from cover to cover and will be a w= elcome and popular addition to community library Fantasy Fiction collection=
s. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Queen of Deception" =
is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.95).

Editorial Note: Anna Stephens (https://anna-stephens.com) is the author of = the Godblind trilogy (Godblind, Darksoul, Bloodchild) and the Songs of the = Drowned trilogy, which begins with The Stone Knife. Anna also writes for Bl= ack Library in their Age of Sigmar and Warhammer Horror worlds, and for Mar= vel through their tie-in publisher, Aconyte Books.

Dear Diary: Run Like Hell
James A. Moore
Cemetery Dance Publications
https://www.cemeterydance.com
9781587678493, $14.99, PB, 136pp

https://www.amazon.com/Dear-Diary-Run-Like-Hell/dp/1587678497

Synopsis: Sooner or later even the best prepared hitman is going to run out=
of bullets. Buddy Fisk has two new jobs, bring back a few stolen books of = sorcery, and then stop the unkillable man who wants to see him dead. There = are problems even the deadliest assassins can't be prepared for, like super= natural entities looking for the same prizes he seeks, and mob bosses that = refuse to die. The collateral damage adds up quickly and Fisk is looking to=
solve mysteries that border on the edge of madness!

Critique: A quick and fun read from first page to last, "Dear Diary: Run Li=
ke Hell" by dark fantasy author James A. Moore is impressively original, de= ftly crafted, and a compulsive page turner of a read. A recommended pick fo=
r readers with an interest in assassination and supernatural thrillers, "De=
ar Diary: Run Like Hell" is also readily available in a digital book format=
(Kindle, $4.99).

Editorial Note: James Arthur Moore (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bram_Stok= er_Award) is an American horror novelist and short story writer. In 2003, h=
e was nominated for a Bram Stoker Award for "Best Novel" for his book Seren= ity Falls. In 2006, the novella Bloodstained Oz (co-authored by Christopher=
Golden) was nominated for a Bram Stoker Award for "Best Long Fiction". He = wrote the novelization of Buffy the Vampire Slayer's Chaos Bleeds (based on=
the video game written by Christopher Golden). He also has done a lot of C= ollectible card game and Role-playing game related work for White Wolf, Inc=
including writing manuals, storyteller's guides, short stories, modules, a=
nd novels.

Baen Books
www.baen.com

Two new science fiction titles from Baen Books are especially and unreserve= dly recommended for personal reading lists and community library collection=
s.

https://www.amazon.com/Witchy-Eye-1-War/dp/1982192364

D.J. Butler's Witchy Eye (9781982192365, $17.00) tells of Sarah, a teen wit=
h a bad eye and a good talent for hexing. When a Yankee wizard priest attem= pts to kidnap her, she finds a mysterious monk on her side who pushes her t=
o probe her real powers and heritage. This sends her on a quest that carrie=
s her into dark realms and dangerous confrontations with the forces that ru=
le her world and that of her imagination. The powerful blend of fantasy, co= ming-of-age saga, and the evolution of a young girl's powers and altered pe= rception of her place in the world makes for riveting reading especially re= commended for teen audiences into adult circles, who will find Sarah's stor=
y compelling.

https://www.amazon.com/Moon-Desert-Robert-Hampson/dp/1982192496

Robert E. Hampson's The Moon and the Desert (9781982192495, $18.00) is a me= dical thriller of the future that tells of Glenn Armstrong Shepard and his = dreams of going to Mars. A training accident on the moon cripples his body = but not his dreams as he determines to be rebuilt to fulfill the strength o=
f both. A powerful story of growth and new abilities merges into a plot thi= ckened by futuristic intrigue and growth to create a compellingly different=
atmosphere sci-fi readers and libraries will find captivating.

Broken: The Young Hellions Series
Braxton A. Cosby
https://braxtoncosby.com
Cosby Media Productions
https://cosbymediaproductions.com
9798885262613, $23.99, HC, 370pp

https://www.amazon.com/Broken-Young-Hellions-Braxton-Cosby/dp/B0B9282B6Q

Synopsis: It is 2035, and Earth's inevitable destruction has finally been r= ealized. Efforts to perfect weapons of mass destruction and subsequently de= stroy one another have come to a head as the most powerful countries engage=
in an all-out nuclear assault (known as the time of The Big Drop) that nea= rly banishes everyone to death in a wake of destructive Fallout.

Humanity devolves back to its carnal heritage of slavery in an effort to re= -establish currency through the slave trade.

Nobody knows who started it, but the devastation ravages every organic life=
form, both plant and animal. 90% of human life is wiped out, and of the 10=
% that survive, radiation poisoning has varying effects on the human genome=
, creating both mindless beasts called Ashers and beings with special gifts=
-- the Alphas.

As humanity struggles to survive, migrating to the safety of continental co= astlines in search of fresh water, the planet scurries to salvage some kind=
of economic stability. Enter16-year-old Keesa Donovan and her younger brot= her Kiran. They live out their lives in a slave pod run by The Establishmen=
t, just outside Savannah, Georgia. Losing everything she loved after the Fa= llout, she desperately seeks freedom while navigating the trials of teenhoo=
d, sifting through emerging feelings for her best friend Wynn, and realizin=
g the growing attraction for newcomer Dobbs.

Confounded by her gift of ESP, she is haunted by unexplainable visions of m= ysterious days to come, holding onto a sliver of hope that one day she and = her brother will be freed. But on the fateful day of the annual Reckoning, = Keesa's life takes a turn as fate steps in and forces her onto the narrow r= oad of her destiny.

Critique: A riveting and original post-Holocaust dystopian novel, "Broken" =
by author Braxton Cosby is an extraordinary and unreservedly recommended ad= dition to community library Science Fiction collections. Part of the author=
's 'The Young Hellions' series, it should be noted for the personal reading=
lists of all dedicated post-apocalyptic science fiction fans that "Broken"=
is also available in a paperback edition (9798885262743, $16.99) and in a = digital book format (Kindle, $3.99).

Editorial Note: Braxton A. Cosby (https://braxtoncosby.com) has penned over=
18 novels, comics, and several screenplays, many based on his own works. H=
e tells stories that evoke emotions and stimulates thought. Two other highl=
y recommended Cosby Media Production science fiction titles are Braxton Cos= by's "Steel Reign: Flight of the Star Ship Concord" (9798483872658, $20.99 = HC, $16.99 PB, $3.99 Kindle) and Titus Murphy's "Black Oak: The Loveless Ch= ronicles" (9798553494629, $16.99 PB, $3.99 Kindle).

I'll Stop the World
Lauren Thoman
https://www.laurenthomanwrites.com
Mindy's Book Studio
https://amazonpublishing.amazon.com/mindys-book-studio.html
9781662509971, $28.99, HC, 446pp

https://www.amazon.com/Ill-Stop-World-Lauren-Thoman/dp/1662509979

Synopsis: Trapped in a dead-end town, Justin Warren has had his life define=
d by the suspicious deaths of his grandparents. The unsolved crime happened=
long before Justin was born, but the ripple effects are still felt after t= hirty-eight years. Justin always knew he wouldn't have much of a future. He=
just never imagined that his life might take him backward.

In a cosmic twist of fate, Justin's choices send him crashing into the path=
of determined optimist Rose Yin. Justin and Rose live in the same town and=
attend the same school, but have never met -- because Rose lives in 1985. = Justin won't be born for another twenty years. And his grandparents are sti=
ll alive -- at least for now.

In a series of events that reverberate through multiple lifetimes, Justin a=
nd Rose have a week to get Justin unstuck in time and put each of them in c= ontrol of their futures -- by solving a murder that hasn't even happened ye=
t.

Critique: Original, deftly crafted, and a lot of fun for readers with an in= terest in amateur sleuths solving murder mysteries, coming of age novels, a=
nd time-travel science fiction fans, "I'll Stop The World" is especially an=
d unreservedly recommended for community library collections. It should be = noted for personal reading lists that "I'll Stop The World" is also availab=
le in a paperback edition (9781662509964, $16.99), in a digital book format=
(Kindle, $5.99), and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Brilliance A= udio, 9781978695757, $24.99, MP3-CD).

Editorial Note: Lauren Thoman (https://www.laurenthomanwrites.com) lives ou= tside Nashville, Tennessee, with her husband, two children, and a rotating = number of dogs and fish. Her pop culture writing has appeared in numerous o= nline outlets including Parade, Vulture, and Collider.

Abstraction
Sam Weis
www.samweis1.net
Kasva Press
https://www.kasvapress.com
9781948403313, $14.95, PB, 226pp

https://www.amazon.com/Abstraction-Sam-Weis/dp/1948403315

Synopsis: With the lush Pacific Northwest as a backdrop, a famous artist ab= ruptly changes her painting style and finds her art has an eerie impact on = people. Wren Willow Hendrix's new work provokes inexplicable personality ch= anges in those who view it, with often hilarious results. All too soon, Wre=
n finds herself the center of unwanted attention.

With Homeland Security hot on her trail and a hate-spewing cult preacher gu= nning for her, Wren needs all the help she can get. Unfortunately, her best=
friend has hatched a plot of her own -- one that will not only put her in = the line of danger, but will pull Wren onto the stage of world events.

Will the dubious protection of a meddling journalist, a battle-scarred vete= ran, and a reclusive pot farmer be enough to keep Wren out of the clutches =
of those who would abuse her art - or worse?

Critique: With trip-inducing paintings, an amphibious tour bus (and assorte=
d donuts!), "Abstraction" by musician and novelist Sam Weis is an engaging,=
original, and thoroughly fun story of artists, villains, and accidental he= roes that will have a very special appeal to fans of deftly crafted Magical=
Realism stories and action/adventure urban fantasies. While highly commend=
ed for community library Fantasy Fiction collections, it should be noted fo=
r personal reading lists that "Abstraction" is also available in a digital = book format (Kindle, $4.95).

Editorial Note: Sam Weis (www.samweis1.net) is an accomplished abstract pai= nter, a 12-string guitarist/recording artist, and an award-winning songwrit= er. She grew up in Eastern Iowa and studied Fine Arts at The University of = Iowa. Sam has toured as a guitarist with two rock bands and enjoys a succes= sful solo music career. Now, after writing five recordings of original musi=
c and lyrics, she thought it was time to write something that did not rhyme=
every other line.

Sightseeing in the Limbic Landscape
Krys Call
Independently Published
9798654701299, $19.80

https://www.amazon.com/Sightseeing-Limbic-Landscape-Neuroscientific-Manners= /dp/B08BW431D9

It's impossible to neatly categorize or pigeonhole Sightseeing in the Limbi=
c Landscape: A Neuroscientific Comedy of Manners. It's a science fiction co= medy of errors that romps through California's Delta, neuroscience and psyc= hology, and gender issues alike. Indeed, the social, scientific, and politi= cal farces under examination and exploration contribute to a series of dial= ogues which are both philosophical and psychological in nature.

The first thing to note about Sightseeing in the Limbic Landscape (if the a= bove descriptors are not enough) is that this is a literary work of over fi=
ve hundred pages, packed with a Proust-like detail to in-depth descriptions=
and language (such as 'cuneiform' or 'funicular') which may not be in ever=
y reader's personal dictionary of terms.

As Marie, Anita, and a host of characters undertake this peculiar journey, = the humor embedded into social commentary comes to light in unexpected ways=
: "...it's smoked gouda-style rice cheese and vegan salami with sprouts and=
pickle relish. It smells of a natural foods delicatessen. Even the meat ea= ters find themselves wanting some."

Krys Call's tourist's journey through this landscape evokes behavioral and = emotional responses in the reader, in keeping with the reference to the lim= bic system, as the story unfolds in disparate and unexpected ways, blending=
science with liberal philosophical observations: "Hope is no longer just h= ope when the appropriate equations are in place."

The resulting intersection between fiction and science will delight literar=
y audiences looking for an expansive, involving neuroscientific comedy that=
is anything but your usual sci-fi formula adventure. The questions it prov= okes and the social insights it encourages make Sightseeing in the Limbic L= andscape appropriate not so much for leisure readers looking for action and=
adventure in the sci-fi realm, but for literary audiences. These readers w= ill thoroughly appreciate Call's attention to detail and the liberal sprink= ling of dialogues examining the nature of reality, science, and social tran= sformation.

Wrapped in the guise of sci-fi, but embracing so much more than a formula r= ead, Sightseeing in the Limbic Landscape is highly recommended for not just=
college-level readers, but discussion groups interested in literary device=
s and inspections that expand the boundaries and scope of scientific connec= tions to life.

The Final Season: Planet Gallywood #1
Andrew Gillsmith
Independently Published
9798367783919, $14.99 Paper/$2.99 ebook

https://www.amazon.com/Final-Season-Planet-Gallywood/dp/B0BRYY11XJ

Fans of the quirky sci-fi novels of Douglas Adams now have a new author to = follow: Andrew Gillsmith. His prowess at blending irony, humor, intrigue, a=
nd life inspection shines in much the same manner as Adams in The Final Sea= son: Planet Gallywood #1.

The prologue introducing this milieu sounds like a classic Adams observatio=
n: "If the inhabitants of Rexos-4 had anything resembling a common creed, i=
t would almost certainly have been "Mxtlpicam bnak ooligapn," which in most=
languages translated to something like "What's the bloody point?" In the o= riginal Rexan tongue, the question mark had been dropped; deemed as not onl=
y unnecessary but also contrary to the spirit of the expression. There was = indeed no bloody point, and the Rexans damn well knew it."

With this, the most popular entertainment franchise in the known universe s= ets off into a foray in which the Rexans face the end of their world with a=
n attention to pulling off a grand finale in a manner never seen before. As=
Gallywood executives and participants struggle to create the spectacle of = going out with a bang, readers are drawn into a rollicking ride that explor=
es the best of all possible worlds -- even if it does reside on the edge of=
apocalypse.

From virginity broken to galactic civilizations that exist not by "darting = around amongst the stars and doing great things," but by people who are "ca= rrying on about their lives and trying to make their way through the workwe=
ek without being discouraged to the point of giving up," Gillsmith adopts a=
speculative tone that enables characters to dance around each other and th=
e biggest concern and objective overriding their lives ... their demise. Be= tween government lotteries and rescue attempts to the entertainment busines= ses's management of an end of the world spectacle,

The Final Season is simply outstanding. It's a prime example of science fic= tion's venture into new worlds, sparked by a future entertainment industry = gone awry. Is there a happy ending to the saga, or a tragedy? Libraries and=
readers looking for Douglas Adams-style sci-fi inspections on steroids wil=
l find The Final Season a colorful examination of life's meaning, death's u= niversal threat and promise, and the efforts of media to capitalize on it a=
ll by pinpointing the meaning of and irony behind everything, including ent= ertainment.

ALFIE: Earth's Last Hope
Ignacio F. Bunster-Ossa
Inspiration Pointe Press
9780996840644, $14.95 Paper/$9.95 ebook

https://www.amazon.com/ALFIE-Earths-Ignacio-F-Bunster-Ossa/dp/0996840648/

ALFIE: Earth's Last Hope will delight hard sci-fi readers with its contrast=
s between a high-tech future's ability to mitigate the ecological devastati=
on of Earth and the realization that Earth's environmental degradation and = abuse are not something to flee from; but tasks important to acknowledge an=
d fix. Can humanity save its home?

Opposing forces and special interests each try to influence the planet's fu= ture. There is a stark disparity between saving the planet's biodiversity a=
nd plundering it to the bitter end, and this dichotomy is illustrated in th=
e course of a story that follows each train of thought about the planet's f= uture and mankind's responsibility in managing it.

Add an alien intelligence into the mix that also holds its own special inte= rests and influences for a tale that brings to life those who would party a= way their inheritance and those who would preserve it.

Ignacio F. Bunster-Ossa surveys suspended lives, errant behaviors, technolo= gy-laden futures, and the impact of attitudes and choices which lead to con= ceit, blind rage, the ethics of an ecological approach to managing landscap=
es and communities, and the ultimate impact of profiting from planetary cha= nges. While part of the tone of the story lies in a romp through social, po= litical, and technological decision-making follies, injecting a wry ironic = humor into unfolding events, it also represents a thought-provokingly power= ful examination of what happens when humans exploit nature without concern = for its demise or health.

The ecological and social messages embedded in this story pair hard sci-fi = with social issues in an unusual, revealing manner. ALFIE: Earth's Last Hop=
e is highly recommended to sci-fi and social issues readers not just for it=
s futuristic focus, but for its many considerations of human impacts on the=
planet. These portraits venture into realms of good, evil, and the ways in=
which mankind burns itself in the process of plundering the world.

Baen Books
www.baen.com

Two new science fiction books are highly recommended reads for libraries th=
at look for solid series additions.

https://www.amazon.com/Time-Trials-M-Rothman/dp/1982192488

M.A. Rothman and D.J. Butler's Time Trials (9781982192488, $25.00) opens a = new time travel series with the story of Marty Cohen, a linguist and milita=
ry strategy student who moves from Egyptology to woodworking to escape acad= emic rivalries. When visions begin to trouble his dreams and he is called b= ack to Egypt to participate in a dig that has produced unprecedented discov= eries, Marty finds new doors opened that tap his academic skills in unexpec= ted ways. The intersection of a time travel adventure with a study in intri= gue and discovery creates a riveting story filled with unexpected moments a=
nd tense developments.

https://www.amazon.com/Into-Vortex-2-Worlds/dp/198219247X

Charles E. Gannon's Into the Vortex (9781982192471, $26.00) is the second b= ook in the Vortex of Worlds series, and presents the conundrum faced by Dru= adaen, who has proven the contradictions that exist between magic and physi=
cs on his world. His reward? Exile by temple believers determined to preser=
ve their illusions and power against the reality of facts. Druadaen remains=
committed to uncovering the truth, and his quest here involves a mysteriou=
s portal, a solo foray into unknown territory, and a quest that further thr= eatens to shake the foundations of Arrdanc. The gripping story will best be=
enjoyed by those who appreciated the first book, and library collections w= ith this in their holdings will find Into the Vortex equally powerful and c= ompelling.

EDITOR'S NOTE:

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for free on the Midwest Book Review website at www (dot) midwestbookreview=
(dot) com

Anyone wanting to submit books for review consideration can send them to:

James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575-1129

To submit reviews of any fiction or non-fiction books, email them to Frugal= muse (at) aol (dot) com (Be sure to include the book title, author, publish= er, publisher address, publisher website/phone number, 13-digit ISBN number=
, and list price).

James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review

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