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Phil Leader (619 KP) rated Perfect Genesis: Adolescence in Books
Nov 21, 2019
This is a book of many levels and many emotions. Superficially it is a far-future science fiction book where societies have been engineered by some planet-spanning intelligence to create stable and sustainable places for humans to live. Under this runs a strong current of philosophy and meta physics about exactly what this means for the individuals involved - and the news isn't good.
The plot follows Leonardo Khalid, a genetically engineered genius who has dedicated his life to improving life for mankind. However when he is taken critically ill he agrees to undergo a procedure to scan and record is brain. He is warned that during the process he will appear to inhabit a very real and long lasting dream as his brain is stimulated.
The dream is extremely vivid - so much so that we don't see it just from Leonardo's point of view. So is it a dream? Or a very real future world that he has somehow been projected into? Leonardo certainly believes he is in a dream, but does that condone some of his more morally questionable actions?
There are plenty of questions raised by this book. As Hogan says in a brief introduction, this book is supposed to stay with the reader long after they have read it, and it will certainly do that. At times it is an uncomfortable read - the dream societies place little value on human life and women in particular are treated very badly. Death, violence and sexual exploitation are daily hazards for the members of the societies described, but these are engineered places, not designed to benefit the individual human but to ensure the longevity of the society itself. They have been created with cold and clinical efficiency with no regard for the individual members of the citizenry.
This is a huge dichotomy and the heart of the book. The story itself - Leonardo exploring the land of his dream and overcoming the various obstacles that hinder him and his companions - skates along the top at a good pace, fizzing between plot points and twists, summoning the reader on to read just one more page. But underneath the dark heart will be throwing up awkward questions.
Exploitation of all sorts abounds, particularly sexual exploitation (not all of it men exploiting women). These sections can be an uncomfortable read but they are supposed to be - the questions around power and the abuse of power are valid and the reader is not supposed to be entirely sympathetic with any of the characters or their actions - even Leornardo. The civilisations are frequently brutal, either because of a dangerous environment or a ruthless ruler. People get hurt, people get abused, people die (sometimes horribly) but always the society lives on.
Read this book if you want to have a fantastic story exploring different places but at the same time have something to think about. By the end you will have seen what can happen if the concept of an ideal society is pursued to its limits. And it's not a utopia.
And yes this book will stay with me for a while. Definitely one of the best reads of 2014. Thoroughly recommended.
Rating: Sexual scenes, sexual violence and some torture.
The plot follows Leonardo Khalid, a genetically engineered genius who has dedicated his life to improving life for mankind. However when he is taken critically ill he agrees to undergo a procedure to scan and record is brain. He is warned that during the process he will appear to inhabit a very real and long lasting dream as his brain is stimulated.
The dream is extremely vivid - so much so that we don't see it just from Leonardo's point of view. So is it a dream? Or a very real future world that he has somehow been projected into? Leonardo certainly believes he is in a dream, but does that condone some of his more morally questionable actions?
There are plenty of questions raised by this book. As Hogan says in a brief introduction, this book is supposed to stay with the reader long after they have read it, and it will certainly do that. At times it is an uncomfortable read - the dream societies place little value on human life and women in particular are treated very badly. Death, violence and sexual exploitation are daily hazards for the members of the societies described, but these are engineered places, not designed to benefit the individual human but to ensure the longevity of the society itself. They have been created with cold and clinical efficiency with no regard for the individual members of the citizenry.
This is a huge dichotomy and the heart of the book. The story itself - Leonardo exploring the land of his dream and overcoming the various obstacles that hinder him and his companions - skates along the top at a good pace, fizzing between plot points and twists, summoning the reader on to read just one more page. But underneath the dark heart will be throwing up awkward questions.
Exploitation of all sorts abounds, particularly sexual exploitation (not all of it men exploiting women). These sections can be an uncomfortable read but they are supposed to be - the questions around power and the abuse of power are valid and the reader is not supposed to be entirely sympathetic with any of the characters or their actions - even Leornardo. The civilisations are frequently brutal, either because of a dangerous environment or a ruthless ruler. People get hurt, people get abused, people die (sometimes horribly) but always the society lives on.
Read this book if you want to have a fantastic story exploring different places but at the same time have something to think about. By the end you will have seen what can happen if the concept of an ideal society is pursued to its limits. And it's not a utopia.
And yes this book will stay with me for a while. Definitely one of the best reads of 2014. Thoroughly recommended.
Rating: Sexual scenes, sexual violence and some torture.
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Emma @ The Movies (1786 KP) rated The Tomorrow War (2021) in Movies
Aug 1, 2021
A rather impulsive watch on this one, other than one of those pre-Prime adverts I hadn't seen anything about it. But it looked intriguing.
The future arrives in the present in an event that's never been seen before, but it brings news of a war raging 30 years in the future.
Tomorrow War has an interesting idea behind it, but I decided early on that I would stop trying to think about the ramifications of everything happening. We watch the events unfold along with the characters, I found that annoying at the beginning as I was keen to get into the nitty gritty and it was taking its sweet time.
I felt that some of the interactions took shortcuts. A character will ask a question, get refused, but instantly be told the answer after a second half arsed enquiry. Yes it moves the story along, but not in a very satisfying way. At the same time, it throws in a selection of completely unnecessary interactions like it doesn't know exactly what it wants to achieve.
I would like to say that there was some acting that helped redeem the rollercoaster of Tomorrow War's story, but everything is "they were working with what they got". There wasn't always a lot.
Despite the opportunity for Chris Pratt to be a strong action lead, the set up doesn't really allow for it. Initially we get presented with him being a scientist, when the action begins we're given the soldier angle. I'm not saying people can't have to sides to them, but it felt very strange to swap it up. It seemed entirely based off the need to have a scientific element later in the story, but with so many characters, it felt odd to have those elements in one person when there was plenty of scope to have two different people, one for each role.
With all these characters it's hard to differentiate between them... but don't worry, the costume department have a solution to that... I don't want to ruin the surprise, but it's truly ridiculous. There's very little sense to it, and I can't fathom how anyone signed it off.
The effects didn't really bother me, it all seemed to work, nothing stood out for negative reasons. With so many other questionable things happening, that was a bit of a relief really. The creatures were kind of familiar and just creepy enough to work, their movement helped with that, but overall there really didn't feel like enough of them in the film to warrant the effort.
I liked the idea behind Tomorrow War, but while I tried to switch my brain off, I came out with questions... so many questions. They just popped in there. And if it wasn't questions, it was predictions that were often right. With all of this I haven't even dealt with the ending. Everything before the conclusion wasn't bad, the ending was rushed and didn't fit with what had come before. The balance was definitely off, and I think with some changes this could really have knocked it out of the park.
Originally posted on: https://emmaatthemovies.blogspot.com/2021/08/the-tomorrow-war-movie-review.html
The future arrives in the present in an event that's never been seen before, but it brings news of a war raging 30 years in the future.
Tomorrow War has an interesting idea behind it, but I decided early on that I would stop trying to think about the ramifications of everything happening. We watch the events unfold along with the characters, I found that annoying at the beginning as I was keen to get into the nitty gritty and it was taking its sweet time.
I felt that some of the interactions took shortcuts. A character will ask a question, get refused, but instantly be told the answer after a second half arsed enquiry. Yes it moves the story along, but not in a very satisfying way. At the same time, it throws in a selection of completely unnecessary interactions like it doesn't know exactly what it wants to achieve.
I would like to say that there was some acting that helped redeem the rollercoaster of Tomorrow War's story, but everything is "they were working with what they got". There wasn't always a lot.
Despite the opportunity for Chris Pratt to be a strong action lead, the set up doesn't really allow for it. Initially we get presented with him being a scientist, when the action begins we're given the soldier angle. I'm not saying people can't have to sides to them, but it felt very strange to swap it up. It seemed entirely based off the need to have a scientific element later in the story, but with so many characters, it felt odd to have those elements in one person when there was plenty of scope to have two different people, one for each role.
With all these characters it's hard to differentiate between them... but don't worry, the costume department have a solution to that... I don't want to ruin the surprise, but it's truly ridiculous. There's very little sense to it, and I can't fathom how anyone signed it off.
The effects didn't really bother me, it all seemed to work, nothing stood out for negative reasons. With so many other questionable things happening, that was a bit of a relief really. The creatures were kind of familiar and just creepy enough to work, their movement helped with that, but overall there really didn't feel like enough of them in the film to warrant the effort.
I liked the idea behind Tomorrow War, but while I tried to switch my brain off, I came out with questions... so many questions. They just popped in there. And if it wasn't questions, it was predictions that were often right. With all of this I haven't even dealt with the ending. Everything before the conclusion wasn't bad, the ending was rushed and didn't fit with what had come before. The balance was definitely off, and I think with some changes this could really have knocked it out of the park.
Originally posted on: https://emmaatthemovies.blogspot.com/2021/08/the-tomorrow-war-movie-review.html
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Debbiereadsbook (1630 KP) rated Blood of the Damned - Thorn (Vaughn Winery #1) in Books
Oct 15, 2025
I liked that it doesn't focus so much on the Divergent part of Ledger.
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.
This book is set in the Divergent Omegaverse world, but spins off. You don't need to read those books before this one, you can pick it straight up. However, I personally recommend you read at least Alpha's Divergent Omega. It will give you a better picture of this world, and what it means to be Divergent here. Lane and Derick make a visit here.
Ledger is Divergent: He has an inner animal, a squirrel, but he cannot shift. He runs to the Vaugn Winery to get away from a break up. Meeting his mate was never in the plan, finding out that mate is his new boss AND a vampire?? Mind blowing but Ledger and Thorn run with it, until Thorn discovers just how vampire babies are born.
I love Ms Sayle, you know I do, but this book takes me back to the very beginning of her author career and I'm left with questions!
So many bloody questions and feelings!! And, as is par for the course with this author, I cannot voice all of them and that is so frustrating!! My book brain is doing overtime, while battling a nasty cold and I can't get them all out.
I can voice some though!
I liked this a lot. It doesn't focus so much on the divergent part of Ledger and more on the vampire part of Thorn, and his brothers: Calvert and Dacian. There is a sister, Elouise, but she is only talked about and to on the phone but doesn't really play a part, other than to tell Thorn just how vampire babies are born!
I found the relationship between the others amusing, Dacian takes great pleasure in winding Thorn up, but Calvert is more subdued. His feelings about Thorn and Ledger become known through the book and I wonder if Ms Sayle will make him wait til last to find his dhampir, his fated mate.
It's steamy, and that steam runs right through the book.
so, questions! What was the thing with the increased wine order?? That was mentioned and left hanging. And I wanna know!
Who is next?? Will each vampire be mated to a Divergent? Or will there be some surprises? OOOH Will Elouise get a book too??
Feelings?? You should know this is an m-preg world, and there is a male pregnancy in this book AND a vampire birth. (which was slightly faded to grey and I'm so glad it was! But now I know, I can prepare myself for next time, cos I have a feeling that the next one might not be quite so simple as using thrall!)
I feel this has been deliberately left sort of open ended. While there is the birth of Ledger's babies, the book ends there. And that is my biggest and strongest feeling: There is more to come for Thorn and Ledger.
And I want to be front and centre!!
4 very VERY good stars
*same worded review will appear elsewhere
This book is set in the Divergent Omegaverse world, but spins off. You don't need to read those books before this one, you can pick it straight up. However, I personally recommend you read at least Alpha's Divergent Omega. It will give you a better picture of this world, and what it means to be Divergent here. Lane and Derick make a visit here.
Ledger is Divergent: He has an inner animal, a squirrel, but he cannot shift. He runs to the Vaugn Winery to get away from a break up. Meeting his mate was never in the plan, finding out that mate is his new boss AND a vampire?? Mind blowing but Ledger and Thorn run with it, until Thorn discovers just how vampire babies are born.
I love Ms Sayle, you know I do, but this book takes me back to the very beginning of her author career and I'm left with questions!
So many bloody questions and feelings!! And, as is par for the course with this author, I cannot voice all of them and that is so frustrating!! My book brain is doing overtime, while battling a nasty cold and I can't get them all out.
I can voice some though!
I liked this a lot. It doesn't focus so much on the divergent part of Ledger and more on the vampire part of Thorn, and his brothers: Calvert and Dacian. There is a sister, Elouise, but she is only talked about and to on the phone but doesn't really play a part, other than to tell Thorn just how vampire babies are born!
I found the relationship between the others amusing, Dacian takes great pleasure in winding Thorn up, but Calvert is more subdued. His feelings about Thorn and Ledger become known through the book and I wonder if Ms Sayle will make him wait til last to find his dhampir, his fated mate.
It's steamy, and that steam runs right through the book.
so, questions! What was the thing with the increased wine order?? That was mentioned and left hanging. And I wanna know!
Who is next?? Will each vampire be mated to a Divergent? Or will there be some surprises? OOOH Will Elouise get a book too??
Feelings?? You should know this is an m-preg world, and there is a male pregnancy in this book AND a vampire birth. (which was slightly faded to grey and I'm so glad it was! But now I know, I can prepare myself for next time, cos I have a feeling that the next one might not be quite so simple as using thrall!)
I feel this has been deliberately left sort of open ended. While there is the birth of Ledger's babies, the book ends there. And that is my biggest and strongest feeling: There is more to come for Thorn and Ledger.
And I want to be front and centre!!
4 very VERY good stars
*same worded review will appear elsewhere
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Connor Sheffield (293 KP) rated Assassin's Creed: The Secret Crusade in Books
May 15, 2017
Delve deeper into the story of Altaïr (2 more)
A familiar story with new and unfamiliar events
Opening up the world of Assassin's Creed even further
The Untold Story of Altaïr
Though this is actually the 3rd installment to the franchise of novels written by Bowden, it follows the story of the very first Assassin's Creed game and protagonist. The story begins with an older Altaïr, already set after the events of the video game, which means that he is wiser, and now a leader rather than a follower.
As he prepares to make an announcement, two young residents of Masyaf, the home of the Assassin's brotherhood at the time, as one of them claims that he is going to tell his brother assassin, the story of the great master assassin that approaches his pupils and the residents of Masyaf. This story, though it could be exaggerated through the tales of someone other than Altaïr himself, is one that is very thrilling as we follow a protagonist who we often question the actions of, as he questions himself also.
Altaïr is one of my favourite Assassin's because he often questions the creed and bends the rules to suit his needs, but as the days, weeks, and years pass, he grows wiser and becomes one with the creed. There are twists and turns within the story that are unexpected and very intriguing. His story is incredible to witness and very thrilling to read, even when it is only a sequence of him resting between his journeys. We learn more about the past of Altaïr, about his life as a child within Masyaf and then his life in training to become the Assassin we all know him as.
Though the game holds up with graphics to this day, the game play is not to everyone's enjoyment as we become use to the more slick controls of the later games, so if you do not wish to play the video game due to these reasons, then I highly recommend the book, and should you play the game at any point afterwards, your experience will not be the same.
As he prepares to make an announcement, two young residents of Masyaf, the home of the Assassin's brotherhood at the time, as one of them claims that he is going to tell his brother assassin, the story of the great master assassin that approaches his pupils and the residents of Masyaf. This story, though it could be exaggerated through the tales of someone other than Altaïr himself, is one that is very thrilling as we follow a protagonist who we often question the actions of, as he questions himself also.
Altaïr is one of my favourite Assassin's because he often questions the creed and bends the rules to suit his needs, but as the days, weeks, and years pass, he grows wiser and becomes one with the creed. There are twists and turns within the story that are unexpected and very intriguing. His story is incredible to witness and very thrilling to read, even when it is only a sequence of him resting between his journeys. We learn more about the past of Altaïr, about his life as a child within Masyaf and then his life in training to become the Assassin we all know him as.
Though the game holds up with graphics to this day, the game play is not to everyone's enjoyment as we become use to the more slick controls of the later games, so if you do not wish to play the video game due to these reasons, then I highly recommend the book, and should you play the game at any point afterwards, your experience will not be the same.
Lilyn G - Sci-Fi & Scary (91 KP) rated The Sleeper in Books
Feb 1, 2018
Interesting elements for a kids book
The Sleeper is a 96-page science fiction mystery early chapter book. It comes with a few accompanying discussion questions at the back, as well as with some writing prompts and a basic glossary. These writing prompts encourage the reader to continue to interact with the story on their own terms. It plunges the reader right into a world that is theoretically just a few days away from getting destroyed by aliens. But the viewpoint the story is being told from is different than you might expect.
The illustrations in The Sleeper are black and white and surprisingly creepy. The illustrator, Tom Percival, does a solid job doing things like showing how even a smile can be rather disturbing. Nothing is graphic or outright scary at all, and yet readers can definitely experience an unease just looking at the pictures.
The Sleeper introduces the concept of a sleeper agent to young readers. I thought this was interesting and wasn't expecting it even though the title should have been a dead giveaway. In my defense, the cover for The Sleeper and the two line synopsis don't exactly tell you what to expect other than aliens!
While there are several good points to The Sleeper, I can't say I particularly liked it. It felt too brief and even though the discussion questions invite the reader to continue the story, it ends on a massive cliffhanger regarding one of the kids' fate. This may be deliberate, and for younger readers, it may actually work out well. It enables the child to feel a sense of accomplishment that they finished a book, and yet provides the impetus for them to pick up the next one. (Still made me twitch as it reeks too much of the chop-job that some authors like to do to a plot to sell more books.)
Overall, The Sleeper was an okay read. If it gets even a handful of kids interested enough to pick up another book, then it is has done its job. And, as always, it's nice to see a beginning chapter book that focuses on science fiction!
The illustrations in The Sleeper are black and white and surprisingly creepy. The illustrator, Tom Percival, does a solid job doing things like showing how even a smile can be rather disturbing. Nothing is graphic or outright scary at all, and yet readers can definitely experience an unease just looking at the pictures.
The Sleeper introduces the concept of a sleeper agent to young readers. I thought this was interesting and wasn't expecting it even though the title should have been a dead giveaway. In my defense, the cover for The Sleeper and the two line synopsis don't exactly tell you what to expect other than aliens!
While there are several good points to The Sleeper, I can't say I particularly liked it. It felt too brief and even though the discussion questions invite the reader to continue the story, it ends on a massive cliffhanger regarding one of the kids' fate. This may be deliberate, and for younger readers, it may actually work out well. It enables the child to feel a sense of accomplishment that they finished a book, and yet provides the impetus for them to pick up the next one. (Still made me twitch as it reeks too much of the chop-job that some authors like to do to a plot to sell more books.)
Overall, The Sleeper was an okay read. If it gets even a handful of kids interested enough to pick up another book, then it is has done its job. And, as always, it's nice to see a beginning chapter book that focuses on science fiction!