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The Trail in the Woods
Book
The story begins at an abandoned overgrown trail with the scary name of 'The Devils Tail'. The trail...
science fiction thriller Stanley C. Straub Stanley C Straub Stanley Straub The Trail in the Woods
David McK (3496 KP) rated Dauntless (The Lost Fleet, #1) in Books
Jan 30, 2019
While I doubt this novel is going to win any awards for literature, I have to say that it is a good enough read: not brilliant, but not terrible either.
Written by a ex-navy man, it's easy to see the influnece of his career in the pages: this is 'real' science-fiction, not science-fantasy, with the space battles obeying the laws of physics as we know them. The plot outline is also somewhat remniscient of the new series of BattleStar Galactica, with a smaller rag-tag force being chased by a numerically superior foe. Ironically, this book was first released at around the same time as that series came on TV, with (in this edition) the author claiming that that WAS NOT an inspiration (in the interview at the end), as if he'd been thinking of BSG it woud've been the older series.
With the way the book opens I must also admit that, at first, I thought I'd missed something: the best corollary I can think of is as if the film Aliens (that's the one with the 'S') had started without the whole prologue of them finding Ripleys life pod: you'd be able to infer what had happened, but would be feeling a bit lost at first.
Written by a ex-navy man, it's easy to see the influnece of his career in the pages: this is 'real' science-fiction, not science-fantasy, with the space battles obeying the laws of physics as we know them. The plot outline is also somewhat remniscient of the new series of BattleStar Galactica, with a smaller rag-tag force being chased by a numerically superior foe. Ironically, this book was first released at around the same time as that series came on TV, with (in this edition) the author claiming that that WAS NOT an inspiration (in the interview at the end), as if he'd been thinking of BSG it woud've been the older series.
With the way the book opens I must also admit that, at first, I thought I'd missed something: the best corollary I can think of is as if the film Aliens (that's the one with the 'S') had started without the whole prologue of them finding Ripleys life pod: you'd be able to infer what had happened, but would be feeling a bit lost at first.
Simon Theo Cutter (2 KP) rated Alita: Battle Angel (2019) in Movies
Feb 10, 2019
Amazing world building (1 more)
Jaw dropping special effects
A master class in science fiction
So I saw this movie Friday and I loved it ,this is the kind of movie you have to see on the biggest screen possible ,and beautiful to look at ,I completely forgot that the character of ALITA is completely rendered in I computer there are times where you swear that ALITA is a real human being ,the action is top notch it has some of the most exciting action set pieces I've seen in a movie period especially the motor ball scene ,it was a joy to watch that entire scene play out and my mouth was on the floor the entire time ,that scene alone is worth the ticket admission,the acting is great across the board you could tell that everyone involved was passionate about this project and they wanted to make the best movie possible ,there is however an aspect of this movie I thought didn't work and that was the love story it felt it was unnecessary but it did pay off in the end ,I'm not going to go into spoilers because I believe the best way to see this spectacular movie is to go in knowing next to nothing and just experience it ,I will say this Alita battle angel is a fast paced ,epic ,science fiction adventure and I came out of the screening wanting more ,this movie is a passion project for James Cameron and you can really tell ,after seeing this I can't wait to see what he brings to the table with his avatar sequels..I loved this movie !!!!
Phil Leader (619 KP) rated I am Number Four (Lorien Legacies #1) in Books
Nov 15, 2019
When the planet Lorien is destroyed by invading aliens 9 refugee children who are bound by fate and will develop mystical powers come to Earth with their mentors. Each is given a number and they can only be killed in sequence. After Number Three is killed Number Four knows he is the next on the list, but he has a lot on his plate with not only his powers developing but his teenage school life becoming complicated. With the predatory aliens closing in he must rely on both friends and enemies to survive.
The basic outline is that of a good book but the detail and the execution somewhat let it down; too much of the back story is paper thin and invented for dramatic convenience. The killing in order thing is just hokey and absurd and that's just the start. The 9 aren't supposed to meet each other but that makes no sense as they would be stronger together. 'Henri', the mentor of Number Four is obseessed with secrecy yet sends him to school just when his powers are going to manifest in an obvious way. The plot itself doesn't quite hold together and the final showdown at the end of the book is over the top to the point of ridiculousness.
There are good bits, but they are generally unrelated to the whole Lorien part of it. The story of the new boy at school who gets on the wrong side of the school bully and befriends the previously friendless is good and works well with some good characters. This may have been better as a standard story of teenage life without all the science fiction trimmings.
I was disappointed with this book. I expected a lot more than it delivered. There are far far better science fiction books for young adults out there.
The basic outline is that of a good book but the detail and the execution somewhat let it down; too much of the back story is paper thin and invented for dramatic convenience. The killing in order thing is just hokey and absurd and that's just the start. The 9 aren't supposed to meet each other but that makes no sense as they would be stronger together. 'Henri', the mentor of Number Four is obseessed with secrecy yet sends him to school just when his powers are going to manifest in an obvious way. The plot itself doesn't quite hold together and the final showdown at the end of the book is over the top to the point of ridiculousness.
There are good bits, but they are generally unrelated to the whole Lorien part of it. The story of the new boy at school who gets on the wrong side of the school bully and befriends the previously friendless is good and works well with some good characters. This may have been better as a standard story of teenage life without all the science fiction trimmings.
I was disappointed with this book. I expected a lot more than it delivered. There are far far better science fiction books for young adults out there.
Markswoman: Asiana Book 1
Book
An order of magical-knife wielding female assassins brings both peace and chaos to their...
science fiction
The Mammoth Book of Best New SF 27: 27
Book
For decades now Gardner Dozois has been presenting his annual selection of the very best of recently...
Breach of Containment
Book
A reluctant hero must prevent war in space and on Earth in this fast-paced military science fiction...
Science fiction
Dreaming of a Hopeful Death
Book
"Our civilization, despite all its achievements, is hopelessly unaware of the dangers that lurk...
science fiction
It Devours!: A Night Vale Novel
Joseph Fink and Jeffrey Cranor
7.0
Rate It
Book
A new page-turning mystery about science, faith, love and belonging, set in a friendly desert...
Fiction
Suswatibasu (1702 KP) rated The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy in Books
Oct 24, 2017 (Updated Oct 24, 2017)
Ridiculously amusing
This has been part of my to-read list since forever. And I can now assuredly say that the meaning of life is 42. It's hilariously silly and outright bonkers.
It begins with the end of the earth (sadly), with a sole survivor Arthur Dent, or that's what we think, until he discovers Trillion, the other survivor. Whisked away on the Heart of Gold ship with his friend Ford Prefect (an alien) and his cousin, they gallivant across the universe attempting to find answers. And thus begins an epic adventure.
So it's not as sophisticated as Arthur C. Clarke's status of science fiction, or Andy Weir's level of technical details, and its not supposed to be. It's light hearted, and fun, as Douglas Adams creates a detailed and splendid look at our insignificant existence in the most humorous way possible.
It begins with the end of the earth (sadly), with a sole survivor Arthur Dent, or that's what we think, until he discovers Trillion, the other survivor. Whisked away on the Heart of Gold ship with his friend Ford Prefect (an alien) and his cousin, they gallivant across the universe attempting to find answers. And thus begins an epic adventure.
So it's not as sophisticated as Arthur C. Clarke's status of science fiction, or Andy Weir's level of technical details, and its not supposed to be. It's light hearted, and fun, as Douglas Adams creates a detailed and splendid look at our insignificant existence in the most humorous way possible.