To contact us Click HERE
The Stockholm Octavo
Karen Engelmann
Ecco, Oct 23 2012, $26.99
ISBN: 9780061995347
In 1791, Offices of Customs and Excise Sekretaire Emil Larsson loves the life of a swinging single in enlightened Stockholm. He enjoys drinking, playing cards and is contented as a bachelor though his employment is in jeopardy if he fails to marry soon.
Everything changes for Emil when he meets gambling club owner Sofia Sparrow. A fortune teller whose clientele include King Gustav III, Mrs. Sparrow lays out the bureaucrat’s personal Octavo of eight people who will assist him in finding his fiancée and a promotion. What she fails to tell him is that his Octavo overlaps with hers in a Divine Geometrical connection and that his octet is divided on both sides of a scheme involving the monarch.
This is a fresh thrilling Swedish historical fantasy that ties what is happening in France to what occurs in Sweden. The opening act is incredible as readers learn of aristocratic intrigue and the applications of the pseudo sciences (Divine geometry, numerology, hand fan magic and cartomancy). Soon Emil’s search by the numbers for a wife via the Octavo contacts lead to the demands of opposing female conspirators (Mrs. Sparrow and Baroness Kristina Uzanne). Complex due to changing roles and relationships (thankfully a cast listing included as there are fourteen key players and the city), readers will appreciate this strong though at times convoluted late eighteenth century tale as the audience and the protagonist learn it is in the cards.
Harriet Klausner
4 Kasım 2012 Pazar
Phoebe & the Ghost of Chagall-Jill Koenigsdorf
To contact us Click HERE
Phoebe & the Ghost of Chagall
Jill Koenigsdorf
MacAdam/Cage, Oct 26 2012, $24.00
ISBN: 9781596923836
In Sonoma, California single mom Phoebe is a failed artist who keeps herself and her daughter Audrey from starving by designing wine labels though her creditors are demanding remittance or else. Twenty-five years after he died, the ghost of Marc Chagall arrives in her kitchen. He is thankful that Audrey cannot see him while he ponders why a painting he drew that her father found during the 1944 liberation of France never came to Phoebe or her mother. Marc is pleased to see his host has reproductions of his work on her walls. Vowing to help her find what is due her while also resolving the one thing that disturbed him when he was alive: his hundred or so paintings that vanished during WWI.
After a spirited introduction, the wannabe artist and the dead artist begin their trek to find La Contorsioniste. They soon run into an assorted motley crew wanting to ether help them or help themselves as witches, black market traffickers, sinister collectors, an inn keeper and much more join the search.
This fabulous paranormal amateur sleuth works brilliantly on two levels. First the historical provides the audience with strong insight into Chagall and his work, as well as the Nazi art theft with each intricately interwoven into the engaging storyline. Second is the exciting amateur sleuth search for the missing masterpiece and other works by the renowned artist. Fans will enjoy this good (art lovers) and evil (art profiteers) thriller as Phoebe & the Ghost of Chagall investigate.
Harriet Klausner
Jill Koenigsdorf
MacAdam/Cage, Oct 26 2012, $24.00
ISBN: 9781596923836
In Sonoma, California single mom Phoebe is a failed artist who keeps herself and her daughter Audrey from starving by designing wine labels though her creditors are demanding remittance or else. Twenty-five years after he died, the ghost of Marc Chagall arrives in her kitchen. He is thankful that Audrey cannot see him while he ponders why a painting he drew that her father found during the 1944 liberation of France never came to Phoebe or her mother. Marc is pleased to see his host has reproductions of his work on her walls. Vowing to help her find what is due her while also resolving the one thing that disturbed him when he was alive: his hundred or so paintings that vanished during WWI.
After a spirited introduction, the wannabe artist and the dead artist begin their trek to find La Contorsioniste. They soon run into an assorted motley crew wanting to ether help them or help themselves as witches, black market traffickers, sinister collectors, an inn keeper and much more join the search.
This fabulous paranormal amateur sleuth works brilliantly on two levels. First the historical provides the audience with strong insight into Chagall and his work, as well as the Nazi art theft with each intricately interwoven into the engaging storyline. Second is the exciting amateur sleuth search for the missing masterpiece and other works by the renowned artist. Fans will enjoy this good (art lovers) and evil (art profiteers) thriller as Phoebe & the Ghost of Chagall investigate.
Harriet Klausner
Bronze Summer-Stephen Baxter
To contact us Click HERE
Bronze Summer
Stephen Baxter
Roc, Nov 6 2012, $26.95
ISBN 9780451464798
Millennia have passed since the Year of the Great Sea led to teenagers Ana and Novu leading the construction of the Great Wall. By the Year of the Fire Mountain, Northland has become a prosperous pat of the continent rather than being under the North Sea or conquered by the kingdoms to the east. The impoverished Greeks look at Northland and its trading partner the thriving Hittites for conquest during devastating drought.
In the Northland capital Etxelur, the head of the ruling order dies in what appears to be an accident at a time her daughter Milaqa has failed to choose which Order to join. Milaqa’s Uncle Teel believes his sister was murdered and demands his grieving niece join him and the secret Order of the Crow in investigating the death. At the same time Qirum and dethroned queen Kilushepa team up to take advantage of the chaos engulfing much of the continent including Northland.
The second Northland alternate prehistoric thriller (see Stone Spring) has moved the people from a stone age into a bronze age at a time when an Icelandic volcanic eruption has led to climate change and famine. The action-filled storyline is filled with too much blood and gore distracting from the engaging political and social upheaval started by that volcano erupting; violence is a way of life in Stephen Baxter’s Bonze Age tale.
Harriet Klausner
Stephen Baxter
Roc, Nov 6 2012, $26.95
ISBN 9780451464798
Millennia have passed since the Year of the Great Sea led to teenagers Ana and Novu leading the construction of the Great Wall. By the Year of the Fire Mountain, Northland has become a prosperous pat of the continent rather than being under the North Sea or conquered by the kingdoms to the east. The impoverished Greeks look at Northland and its trading partner the thriving Hittites for conquest during devastating drought.
In the Northland capital Etxelur, the head of the ruling order dies in what appears to be an accident at a time her daughter Milaqa has failed to choose which Order to join. Milaqa’s Uncle Teel believes his sister was murdered and demands his grieving niece join him and the secret Order of the Crow in investigating the death. At the same time Qirum and dethroned queen Kilushepa team up to take advantage of the chaos engulfing much of the continent including Northland.
The second Northland alternate prehistoric thriller (see Stone Spring) has moved the people from a stone age into a bronze age at a time when an Icelandic volcanic eruption has led to climate change and famine. The action-filled storyline is filled with too much blood and gore distracting from the engaging political and social upheaval started by that volcano erupting; violence is a way of life in Stephen Baxter’s Bonze Age tale.
Harriet Klausner
The Cassandra Project-Jack McDevitt and Mike Resnick
To contact us Click HERE
The Cassandra Project
Jack McDevitt and Mike Resnick
Ace, Nov 6 2012, $25.95
ISBN 9781937008710
In 2019, the United States remains in the throes of the Great Recession. Federal agencies are cut to the bone so that there is little strategic planning when surviving daily operations has become the norm. In that environs, NASA press director agent Jerry Culpepper is a long term thinker grounded in reality.
Jerry releases material from the 1960s Apollo mission that contains a shocking recording between Houston and Sydney Myshko, captain of the first test mission to circle the moon on which the astronaut says he is landing. In the second test mission, astronaut Aaron Walker wrote in his diary that he walked on the moon. Two now deceased men and apparently a few others claim to have taken that “… giant leap for mankind” before Armstrong did. Jerry seeks the truth while trying to contain what seems to be a scandalous cover-up that capitalist Bucky Blackstone plans to exploit for his private enterprise moon landings. President George Cunningham realizes he loses credibility no matter what happens.
This is a superb NASA thriller that works because the key players seem genuine especially in how they react to the information as it is found. With a nod to the movie Capricorn One but with realistic people and critically no odious villains, fans will want to know if Armstrong was fifth in the batting order and why the four astronauts to precede him were not acknowledged as walking on the moon.
Harriet Klausner
Jack McDevitt and Mike Resnick
Ace, Nov 6 2012, $25.95
ISBN 9781937008710
In 2019, the United States remains in the throes of the Great Recession. Federal agencies are cut to the bone so that there is little strategic planning when surviving daily operations has become the norm. In that environs, NASA press director agent Jerry Culpepper is a long term thinker grounded in reality.
Jerry releases material from the 1960s Apollo mission that contains a shocking recording between Houston and Sydney Myshko, captain of the first test mission to circle the moon on which the astronaut says he is landing. In the second test mission, astronaut Aaron Walker wrote in his diary that he walked on the moon. Two now deceased men and apparently a few others claim to have taken that “… giant leap for mankind” before Armstrong did. Jerry seeks the truth while trying to contain what seems to be a scandalous cover-up that capitalist Bucky Blackstone plans to exploit for his private enterprise moon landings. President George Cunningham realizes he loses credibility no matter what happens.
This is a superb NASA thriller that works because the key players seem genuine especially in how they react to the information as it is found. With a nod to the movie Capricorn One but with realistic people and critically no odious villains, fans will want to know if Armstrong was fifth in the batting order and why the four astronauts to precede him were not acknowledged as walking on the moon.
Harriet Klausner
Sugarland Melting- Sam Neace
To contact us Click HERE
Sugarland Melting
Sam Neace
BlackWyrm, Jul 23 2011, $11.95
www.blackwyrm.com
ISBN: 9781613181072
In Eastern Kentucky ninety-nine years old multimillionaire RJ Rockhouse constructs Sugarland, a thirteen trailer park in the shape of a cross. He soon expands his original concept to fifty trailers. Rockhouse selects families living below the poverty line to reside in the trailers rent free.
The nearby townsfolk wonder why he used this form of philanthropy when the affluent Rockhouse could donate to causes that would help many more people. Five years ago, RJ’s beloved wife Lola died. At her funeral he apparently lost his mind. Now the townsfolk believe his latest action affirms his insanity. Instead, RJ, who believes in the magic of 100, has a plan to transfer his soul and that of Lola into the bodies of his Sugarland residents.
Sugarland Melting is an engaging thriller that keeps readers guessing whether the storyline is a necromancy horror or a psychological suspense. Once readers know the path the entertaining plot goes, the excitement ebbs. Still this is a strong character driven tale of a desperate person trying to regain paradise lost at any cost.
Harriet Klausner
Sam Neace
BlackWyrm, Jul 23 2011, $11.95
www.blackwyrm.com
ISBN: 9781613181072
In Eastern Kentucky ninety-nine years old multimillionaire RJ Rockhouse constructs Sugarland, a thirteen trailer park in the shape of a cross. He soon expands his original concept to fifty trailers. Rockhouse selects families living below the poverty line to reside in the trailers rent free.
The nearby townsfolk wonder why he used this form of philanthropy when the affluent Rockhouse could donate to causes that would help many more people. Five years ago, RJ’s beloved wife Lola died. At her funeral he apparently lost his mind. Now the townsfolk believe his latest action affirms his insanity. Instead, RJ, who believes in the magic of 100, has a plan to transfer his soul and that of Lola into the bodies of his Sugarland residents.
Sugarland Melting is an engaging thriller that keeps readers guessing whether the storyline is a necromancy horror or a psychological suspense. Once readers know the path the entertaining plot goes, the excitement ebbs. Still this is a strong character driven tale of a desperate person trying to regain paradise lost at any cost.
Harriet Klausner
13 Ekim 2012 Cumartesi
Number the Stars - Lois Lowry
To contact us Click HERE
Number the Stars - Lowry, Lois
Summary: In 1943, during the German occupation of Demark, ten-year-old Annemarie learns how to be brave and courageous when she helps shelter her Jewish friend from the Nazis.
Kellen's Review In this story, Annemarie Johansen and her friend Ellen Rosen are moving to Sweden to escape the evil Nazis. When a critical packet is dropped in the evacuation to the boat that will take the Johansens and Rosens to Sweden, Annemarie must take the packet herself to the boat. Can she get there without the Nazis stopping her? It would help interested readers to know about World War II and the Jewish Holocaust in order to understand this book. I didn't love this book, but didn't hate it either.
Check Availability
Number the Stars - Lowry, Lois Summary: In 1943, during the German occupation of Demark, ten-year-old Annemarie learns how to be brave and courageous when she helps shelter her Jewish friend from the Nazis.
Kellen's Review In this story, Annemarie Johansen and her friend Ellen Rosen are moving to Sweden to escape the evil Nazis. When a critical packet is dropped in the evacuation to the boat that will take the Johansens and Rosens to Sweden, Annemarie must take the packet herself to the boat. Can she get there without the Nazis stopping her? It would help interested readers to know about World War II and the Jewish Holocaust in order to understand this book. I didn't love this book, but didn't hate it either.
Check Availability
The Great Powers Outage - William Boniface
To contact us Click HERE
The Great Powers Outage - Boniface, William
Summary: When the citizens of Superopolis begin to mysteriously lose their superpowers, Ordinary Boy and his friends investigate the world of master villains.
Eli's Review This is a really great book and I think it is a very good read. I would recommend it to ages 7-14. It is about a city called Superopolis, and everyone in it has a superpower, except for Ordinary boy. Then suddenly, everyone starts losing their powers! But since no one knows where powers come from in the first place, it is impossible to determine what causes the sudden loss. O Boy (Ordinary boy) finds out! This is third book in the Extraordinary Adventures of Ordinary Boy series, so you should read the other 2 first. I loved it.
Check Availability
The Great Powers Outage - Boniface, William Summary: When the citizens of Superopolis begin to mysteriously lose their superpowers, Ordinary Boy and his friends investigate the world of master villains.
Eli's Review This is a really great book and I think it is a very good read. I would recommend it to ages 7-14. It is about a city called Superopolis, and everyone in it has a superpower, except for Ordinary boy. Then suddenly, everyone starts losing their powers! But since no one knows where powers come from in the first place, it is impossible to determine what causes the sudden loss. O Boy (Ordinary boy) finds out! This is third book in the Extraordinary Adventures of Ordinary Boy series, so you should read the other 2 first. I loved it.
Check Availability
Kaydol:
Kayıtlar (Atom)