Review: The God Project, by Stan Lee.
published by Brash Books
Feb 2015
isbn: 9781941298428
It's the early 1990s. The newly elected President learns the CIA has a secret they've hidden from him and the military, a weapon called the God Project - but now somehow they've lost it.
It's a 'political' story. I don't usually like those, but this was an exception to the rule. The writer clearly knows the American political arena extremely well [and holds it in some contempt] so the detail is impressive. As a mere Brit I admit some of the 'real' names don't resonate with me as much as they probably do an American reader, but that's a small hitch in a big, bold story. It didn't stop me enjoying this a lot.
Happily, this is also a character-driven novel where it could have suffered from being too plot focussed, and the characters are well drawn. Though not always entirely understandable, which makes them more credible rather than less? In the end I have to say I was a little disappointed in the big reveal, the project wasn't quite what I hoped, but after that 'dip' the book carried me forward again and the ending was both a twist and a lot more satisfying than I expected. With an added 'is he or isn't he' type cliffhanger to leave me thinking.
Sadly, I understand that the author has since died. A real shame I can't find more of his work.
But that needn't stop anyone from enjoying this one?
Monday 29 August 2016
Sunday 21 August 2016
The Following Comments....
A while ago I came across the following title in one of Chuck Wendig's blog 'rants' - which I hasten to add I thoroughly enjoy. The occasional [or not so] rants are the main reason I look.
Title: Don't Read the Comments.
Basically, and humourously, this rants about our overweening need to make a comment underneath any and every article/blog post/ video etc we see online.
Most of which are, to put it bluntly, pointless.
I've always tried not to make comments unless I have something to add to a discussion. Always assuming that if I do I should also stick to the topic in hand.
I do 'like' stuff, but regard that as a nod to say I've read it and agreed, or yes, liked.
But now I'm wondering: do I also add to the flood of waffle that so often purports to 'comment'? Do hope not.
Though I know for sure I'm not the worst offender. That goes to a friend who likes to keep the world in touch with her entire life. She's going out - look, to here. She's wearing - see? She's arrived and here's a picture of her first drink to prove it... And you thought cat pictures were bad?
Wendig said he was fed up of inane comments on his blog - not guilty - and was removing the comment feature. I could see his point.
Which leaves the question, which of the messages flying through the ether needs a comment box, and which don't?
If you like rants, the whole getting it off your chest, you might look at the blog: terrible minds. :)
Title: Don't Read the Comments.
Basically, and humourously, this rants about our overweening need to make a comment underneath any and every article/blog post/ video etc we see online.
Most of which are, to put it bluntly, pointless.
I've always tried not to make comments unless I have something to add to a discussion. Always assuming that if I do I should also stick to the topic in hand.
I do 'like' stuff, but regard that as a nod to say I've read it and agreed, or yes, liked.
But now I'm wondering: do I also add to the flood of waffle that so often purports to 'comment'? Do hope not.
Though I know for sure I'm not the worst offender. That goes to a friend who likes to keep the world in touch with her entire life. She's going out - look, to here. She's wearing - see? She's arrived and here's a picture of her first drink to prove it... And you thought cat pictures were bad?
Wendig said he was fed up of inane comments on his blog - not guilty - and was removing the comment feature. I could see his point.
Which leaves the question, which of the messages flying through the ether needs a comment box, and which don't?
If you like rants, the whole getting it off your chest, you might look at the blog: terrible minds. :)
Sunday 14 August 2016
Was I away?
Oh Boy!
Last September? Now I'm really feeling silly. I have a life. No, really. But I had no idea it had been almost a year since I posted here last.
I still have seven Orbit groups running for the British Science Fiction Association. I still have a part-time job that actually pays me. I just kinda forgot to find the time to blog [if anybody noticed :)]
The reviews for Ashamet are still great. I will refer you to the latest, by Narelle Roberts, an author in Australia, that someone kindly sent me. It begins: "This is a marvellous book"!!! That fed my ego for the rest of the month. And she kindly put it onto Amazon and Goodreads as well as her own blog.
My publisher is talking about a new cover too, which will be interesting cos I think they mean to add some muscles?
And it's been made very clear to me that I'm supposed to SUBMIT stuff. Ashamet was signed without, and now I seem to have sold a short story without, cos again the publisher asked.
The story is called Incense Shrine, and it's out now, in the anthology Myriad Lands.From Guardbridge Books.
The theme is to collect stories none of which feature the more common western tropes and settings. the result was stories from writers in eleven countries, if you include the UK, including one from Adrian Tchaikovsky dealing with murderous flowers! To make it more fun, I was also engaged to edit several of the other stories, from five of the countries, and read a bit of mine at EdgeLit.
So I've taken the hint, and made a resolution to submit stuff in the future, which believe it or not will be a big step for me. Fingers crossed, eh?
Last September? Now I'm really feeling silly. I have a life. No, really. But I had no idea it had been almost a year since I posted here last.
I still have seven Orbit groups running for the British Science Fiction Association. I still have a part-time job that actually pays me. I just kinda forgot to find the time to blog [if anybody noticed :)]
The reviews for Ashamet are still great. I will refer you to the latest, by Narelle Roberts, an author in Australia, that someone kindly sent me. It begins: "This is a marvellous book"!!! That fed my ego for the rest of the month. And she kindly put it onto Amazon and Goodreads as well as her own blog.
My publisher is talking about a new cover too, which will be interesting cos I think they mean to add some muscles?
And it's been made very clear to me that I'm supposed to SUBMIT stuff. Ashamet was signed without, and now I seem to have sold a short story without, cos again the publisher asked.
The story is called Incense Shrine, and it's out now, in the anthology Myriad Lands.From Guardbridge Books.
The theme is to collect stories none of which feature the more common western tropes and settings. the result was stories from writers in eleven countries, if you include the UK, including one from Adrian Tchaikovsky dealing with murderous flowers! To make it more fun, I was also engaged to edit several of the other stories, from five of the countries, and read a bit of mine at EdgeLit.
So I've taken the hint, and made a resolution to submit stuff in the future, which believe it or not will be a big step for me. Fingers crossed, eh?
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