For this review I chose one of my favorites, C.S. Lewis's The Space Trilogy! Ever a big Sci-Fi fan,
you will not often find writers as gifted as this man was. While he is more famous for his other works, which I also really like, this one hasn't had a lot of publicity that I have seen. And being a Trilogy, I bought a copy of all three books bound in one cover! Out of the Silent Planet, Perelandra, and That Hidious Strength are the actual names of each book.
In Out of the Silent Planet, Elwin Ransom is druged and pretty much shipped off to Mars, only it is called Malacandra. Mars, a planet everyone still talks about, but in C.S. Lewis's book, a planet that did have Adam, and had never been seperated from God! {What a wonderful perspective to write from, and one that some other incredible writers have used more recently.} However, while excaping from his fellow human captors, Ransom winds up on a wild tour of Malacandra and it inhabatants. Ransom indeed returns to Earth, but a changed man, and one who knows things aren't over yet. And while Ransom is quite like Lewis's real life, he was also patterned after non-other than J.R. Tolkien, who was a friend of C.S. Lewis's as well as a fellow proffessor and collage at Oxford. And I can't help but like the description of Satan as "The Bent One".
Once Ransom is back on Earth after this incredible trip and wonderful read, it is time for the next book.
Perelandra, once pulished as Voyage to Venus, finds Ransom being sent on a new mission by Oyarsa, who is the angel who rules Malacandra. {If you read the first book, you will know Oyarsa will by now.} This time, however, Ransom is sent to Perelandra. Here on this planet, it is like the Garden of Eden starting up all over agian, but with a green skined "Adam and Eve". Tinidril, who is the queen of this planet likes Ransom and tells him how they are not allowed to step on "fixed land" as they live in rafts in the air and there are many many other chunks of planet also in the air that they can walk on. It is absoulte paradise, and Ransom is there to learn and help, and never once was he attracted in any way he shouldn't have been to Tinidril. (We ladies find that refreshing in books from time to time!) And then Weston shows up!
Weston was one of the men who drugged Ransom and took him to Mars to start with. So here he is again, and as always, he has his own agenda that is simply evil. Weston winds up being demon possesd, and there is a huge chase scene that is quite good, of course. Its a huge fight, with several settings that I will not spoil, and has dire conciqunces for Weston, and once again Ransom gets sent back to Earth.
That Hidious Strength takes a huge change, this story is now on Earth! That alone took me by suprise, and yet it was the logical place to go next, home... where the battle is still raging and will not end till Jesus returns. But back to the book! Now we have a couple, in England. The husband is Mark Studdock, and his wife is Jane. Their marriage isn't doing well, and Jane, like most women, is rather upset about it. So here she sits reading the paper and then boom! There in the paper is the man she dreamed about the night before. That would unsettle most of us, and it sure didn't help Jane much. Jane isn't sure if she is crazy, or what. She soon learns that she is actually gifted, but thank you very much she would have rather not been gifted like that.
Meanwhile, Mark is getting sucked into N.I.C.E. And of course N.I.C.E isn't nice! It is actually the
National Institute of Coordinated Experiments, or a good cover for using human pride and greed to get what is wanted, and it isn't run by humans. I'll leave that part up to you to read who's running that show!
So Mark is all exctied that he can join N.I.C.E and Jane is coping with her new gift and finally meets Ransom. Ransom, of course is here to help her, and Mark hasn't a foggy clue what his wife is doing or who she does or doesn't know because he is totally involved in being in N.I.C.E.
It gets very involved and kind of convoluted, but several more things happen to Jane, and to Mark, and Jane winds up re-thinking things about God and where she stands and what she is suppose to be doing. At the same time she finds out she has to save Mark or he is going to be so totally used and sucked in she will not have a husband at all, not even an unhappy marriage because things are coming apart way too fast for that.
Mark figures out he is in trouble, and Jane is in trouble, and the world at large is in trouble, but before he can do anything much about it he, Jane and Ransom along with some other friends figure out they have to find Merlin. Yeah, you heard that right.. Merlin, the wizard Merlin.
The end gets really fast paced and crazy, but good. Oh, Ransom has an injury from his prior trip, so they are going to have to figure out how to fix that, and you will like how that was decided I think. I am not going to tell you end of this, in case you decide to read it. I can tell you that it is very good, and very C.S. Lewis to the end.
Carol :)
Clive Staples Award – Readers’ Choice.
Voting for a 2010 CSA winner will last until the end of August.You can see the book introductions, voting instructions, and Readers’ Choice survey at http://clivestaplesaward.wordpress.com/
A voter must have read a minimum of two of the nominations.
Clive Staples Award voting information - http://clivestaplesaward.wordpress.com/2010/08/02/2010-clive-staples-award-voting/
Clive Staples List of Nominations - http://clivestaplesaward.wordpress.com/2010-nominations-complete-list/
Participants’ links:
Brandon Barr
Thomas Clayton Booher
Keanan Brand
Grace Bridges
Beckie Burnham
Morgan L. Busse
Jeff Chapman
CSFF Blog Tour
Stacey Dale
D. G. D. Davidson
Jeff Draper
George Duncan
April Erwin
Andrea Graham
Tori Greene
Ryan Heart
Timothy Hicks
Becky Jesse
Jason Joyner
Julie
Carol Keen
Krystine Kercher
Mike Lynch
Rebecca LuElla Miller
New Authors Fellowship
John W. Otte
Donita K. Paul
Chawna Schroeder
James Somers
Speculative Faith
Rachel Starr Thomson
Steve Trower
Jason Waguespac
Fred Warren
Dona Watson
Phyllis Wheeler
KM Wilsher
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Malacca Conspiracy by Don Brown
Hi All!
This book was so good that my Dad decided to take it and read it!
I am not going to spoil anything other than to say Wow, and I want more!
Carol
This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Malacca Conspiracy Zondervan (June 4, 2010)
by Don Brown
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
DON BROWN, a former U.S. Navy JAG Officer, is the author of Zondervan’s riveting NAVY JUSTICE SERIES. a dynamic storyline chronicling the life and adventures of JAG officer ZACK BREWER. In 2003, Don began writing Treason, his first novel in the NAVY JUSTICE SERIES.
Paying no homage to political correctness, DON BROWN’S writing style is described as “gripping,” casting an entertaining and educational spin on a wide-range of current issues, from radical Islamic infiltration of the military, to the explosive issue of gays in the military, to the modern day issues of presidential politics in the early 21st Century.
In November of 2009, four years after it was released, and in the wake of Fort Hood, TREASON rocketed to the top-selling in the nation on the Amazon.com bestseller list for fiction, and remained there for over a week. On Thanksgiving Day of 2009, all four of Don’s novels were ranked in the top 5 on the Amazon bestseller list for fiction!
DON BROWN graduated from the University of North Carolina in 1982, and after finishing law school, continued his post-graduate studies through the Naval War College, earning the Navy’s nonresident certificate in International Law.
During his five years on active duty in the Navy, Don served in the Pentagon, was published in the Naval Law Review, and was also a recipient of the Navy Achievement Medal, the Navy Commendation Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal.
ABOUT THE BOOK
A rogue Indonesian general and his army of terrorists attack oil tankers in the Strait of Malacca in order to profit from oil futures and buy nuclear weapons to establish an Islamic superpower.
Navy JAG officers Zack Brewer and Diane Colcernian race against the odds and a 24-hour deadline before nuclear attacks hit the United States. Departing from the sea of books barely better than soap opera romance and using the frantic pacing of suspense fiction, Brown glides flawlessly among global hotspots of terrorism--including the United States--and the book's principal settings in Singapore, Indonesia, and Malaysia.
The President of the United States orders ships of the U.S. Seventh Fleet towards the Malacca Straits to reassert control over the sea lanes, but with time quickly ticking away, will they arrive in time for Zack and Diane to survive this dangerous and final high-stakes drama of life and death?
Sign up for the contest above! And if you would like to read the first chapter of Malacca Conspiracy, go HERE.
The book link is: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0310272157
This book was so good that my Dad decided to take it and read it!
I am not going to spoil anything other than to say Wow, and I want more!
Carol
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Paying no homage to political correctness, DON BROWN’S writing style is described as “gripping,” casting an entertaining and educational spin on a wide-range of current issues, from radical Islamic infiltration of the military, to the explosive issue of gays in the military, to the modern day issues of presidential politics in the early 21st Century.
In November of 2009, four years after it was released, and in the wake of Fort Hood, TREASON rocketed to the top-selling in the nation on the Amazon.com bestseller list for fiction, and remained there for over a week. On Thanksgiving Day of 2009, all four of Don’s novels were ranked in the top 5 on the Amazon bestseller list for fiction!
DON BROWN graduated from the University of North Carolina in 1982, and after finishing law school, continued his post-graduate studies through the Naval War College, earning the Navy’s nonresident certificate in International Law.
During his five years on active duty in the Navy, Don served in the Pentagon, was published in the Naval Law Review, and was also a recipient of the Navy Achievement Medal, the Navy Commendation Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Navy JAG officers Zack Brewer and Diane Colcernian race against the odds and a 24-hour deadline before nuclear attacks hit the United States. Departing from the sea of books barely better than soap opera romance and using the frantic pacing of suspense fiction, Brown glides flawlessly among global hotspots of terrorism--including the United States--and the book's principal settings in Singapore, Indonesia, and Malaysia.
The President of the United States orders ships of the U.S. Seventh Fleet towards the Malacca Straits to reassert control over the sea lanes, but with time quickly ticking away, will they arrive in time for Zack and Diane to survive this dangerous and final high-stakes drama of life and death?
Sign up for the contest above! And if you would like to read the first chapter of Malacca Conspiracy, go HERE.
The book link is: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0310272157
Monday, August 9, 2010
The Gathering Storm by Bodie and Brock Thoene
Hi Everyone,
The Gathering Storm will not disappoint any of Bodie and Brock Thoene's fans! When I was younger I read all of The Zion Covenant, and The Zion Chronicles. I don't know how, but if it is possible the Zion Diaries are even better! Brock and Bodie's writing just grows strong and stronger the more they write together. This book has some really good surprises in it, and reminds us of our ever present need for our Savior.
Carol :)
This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
The Gathering Storm Summerside Press (August 1, 2010)
by Bodie and Brock Thoene
ABOUT THE AUTHORS:
Bodie and Brock Thoene (pronounced Tay-nee) have written over 50 works of historical fiction. Over twenty million of these best-selling novels are in print. Eight ECPA Gold Medallion Awards affirms what millions of readers have already discovered—the Thoenes are not only master stylists but experts at capturing readers’ minds and hearts.
Bodie began her writing career as a teen journalist for her local newspaper. Eventually her byline appeared in prestigious periodicals such as U.S. News and World Report, The American West, and The Saturday Evening Post. She also worked for John Wayne’s Batjac Productions (she’s best known as author of The Fall Guy) and ABC Circle Films as a writer and researcher. John Wayne described her as “a writer with talent that captures the people and the times!” She has degrees in journalism and communications.
Brock has often been described by Bodie as “an essential half of this writing team.” With degrees in both history and education, Brock has, in his role as researcher and story-line consultant, added the vital dimension of historical accuracy. Due to such careful research, The Zion Covenant and The Zion Chronicles series are recognized by the American Library Association, as well as Zionist libraries around the world, as classic historical novels and are used to teach history in college classrooms.
Bodie and Brock have four grown children—Rachel, Jake, Luke, and Ellie—and seven grandchildren. Their sons, Jake and Luke, are carrying on the Thoene family talent as the next generation of writers, and Luke produces the Thoene audiobooks.
Bodie and Brock divide their time between London and Nevada.
ABOUT THE BOOK
As Nazi forces tighten the noose, Loralei Kepler, daughter of a German resistance leader, must flee her beloved Germany. But is any place safe from Adolf Hitler's evil grasp? Loralei's harrowing flight leads her into the arms of needy child refugees, who have sacrificed everything in exchange for their lives, and toward a mysterious figure, who closely guards an age-old secret.
Explore the romance, the passion, and the danger of the most anticipated series of the last twenty years.
Born from the highly acclaimed and best-loved novels of three generations of readers -- The Zion Covenant series and The Zion Chronicles series -- Zion Diaries ventures into the lives of the inspiring and intriguing characters who loved intensely, stood up for what was right, and fought boldly during Hitler's rise to power and the dark days of World War II.
If you would like to read the first chapter of The Gathering Storm, go HERE
The book link is: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1609360338
The Gathering Storm will not disappoint any of Bodie and Brock Thoene's fans! When I was younger I read all of The Zion Covenant, and The Zion Chronicles. I don't know how, but if it is possible the Zion Diaries are even better! Brock and Bodie's writing just grows strong and stronger the more they write together. This book has some really good surprises in it, and reminds us of our ever present need for our Savior.
Carol :)
ABOUT THE AUTHORS:
Bodie began her writing career as a teen journalist for her local newspaper. Eventually her byline appeared in prestigious periodicals such as U.S. News and World Report, The American West, and The Saturday Evening Post. She also worked for John Wayne’s Batjac Productions (she’s best known as author of The Fall Guy) and ABC Circle Films as a writer and researcher. John Wayne described her as “a writer with talent that captures the people and the times!” She has degrees in journalism and communications.
Brock has often been described by Bodie as “an essential half of this writing team.” With degrees in both history and education, Brock has, in his role as researcher and story-line consultant, added the vital dimension of historical accuracy. Due to such careful research, The Zion Covenant and The Zion Chronicles series are recognized by the American Library Association, as well as Zionist libraries around the world, as classic historical novels and are used to teach history in college classrooms.
Bodie and Brock have four grown children—Rachel, Jake, Luke, and Ellie—and seven grandchildren. Their sons, Jake and Luke, are carrying on the Thoene family talent as the next generation of writers, and Luke produces the Thoene audiobooks.
Bodie and Brock divide their time between London and Nevada.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Explore the romance, the passion, and the danger of the most anticipated series of the last twenty years.
Born from the highly acclaimed and best-loved novels of three generations of readers -- The Zion Covenant series and The Zion Chronicles series -- Zion Diaries ventures into the lives of the inspiring and intriguing characters who loved intensely, stood up for what was right, and fought boldly during Hitler's rise to power and the dark days of World War II.
If you would like to read the first chapter of The Gathering Storm, go HERE
The book link is: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1609360338
Friday, August 6, 2010
Fatal Loyalty by Sue Duffy
Hi Everyone!
Fatal Loyalty was very good to read! I loved the details of the settings, they were vivid enough to make you feel like you were there, or could see them. A strong story of love, life and death was skillfully woven into this book. Very large scale battles between good and evil are bought down to a personal level in the lives of all of the main characters. I liked the way that Sue Duffy put things in that were real when anyone was praying in this book. To me it just made it more real life, because in my life that is how prayers are. You are doing things and while you are doing them, you are praying too.
This book's back cover write up doesn't do it complete justice. I don't think anyone reading it would be disappointed in this book.
Carol
This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Fatal Loyalty Kregel Publications (April 23, 2010)
by
Sue Duffy
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Sue Duffy is an award-winning writer whose work has appeared in Moody magazine, The Presbyterian Journal, Sunday Digest, and The Christian Reader. Her first novel Mortal Wounds was published in 2001 and she has also contributed to Stories for a Woman’s Heart (Multnomah). She and her husband, Mike, have three grown children. Find out more at http://www.sueduffybooks.com/
ABOUT THE BOOK
Where do you run when you know you cannot hide?
Andie Ryborg has nowhere else to go. Her father's campaign for governor and his aggressive war on drugs has chased her from their family home. Drawn to Miami's exotic Coconut Grove, Andie hopes to find a quiet refuge where she can discover herself apart from the public eye. But even in that seclusion, even with an officer assigned to protect her, Andie's privacy has been violated. Someone is watching.
Evan Markham's entire life has been a tug-of-war between what is and what could be. He is drawn to a life that is beyond his reach and emotions have clouded his judgment. Evan knows that earning someone's trust isn't easy, especially when he plans to break it. But in the secret corridors of the criminal underworld, he knows what must be done, and he is determined to see it through. Whatever the cost.
When enemies close in, a sudden turn of events leaves them both questioning. Where is God in all of this? Who is this enigmatic stranger who offers to help? They both know their lives are in danger. But what about their hearts?
If you would like to read the Prologue of Fatal Loyalty, go HERE.
The book link is: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0825425948
Fatal Loyalty was very good to read! I loved the details of the settings, they were vivid enough to make you feel like you were there, or could see them. A strong story of love, life and death was skillfully woven into this book. Very large scale battles between good and evil are bought down to a personal level in the lives of all of the main characters. I liked the way that Sue Duffy put things in that were real when anyone was praying in this book. To me it just made it more real life, because in my life that is how prayers are. You are doing things and while you are doing them, you are praying too.
This book's back cover write up doesn't do it complete justice. I don't think anyone reading it would be disappointed in this book.
Carol
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Sue Duffy is an award-winning writer whose work has appeared in Moody magazine, The Presbyterian Journal, Sunday Digest, and The Christian Reader. Her first novel Mortal Wounds was published in 2001 and she has also contributed to Stories for a Woman’s Heart (Multnomah). She and her husband, Mike, have three grown children. Find out more at http://www.sueduffybooks.com/
ABOUT THE BOOK
Andie Ryborg has nowhere else to go. Her father's campaign for governor and his aggressive war on drugs has chased her from their family home. Drawn to Miami's exotic Coconut Grove, Andie hopes to find a quiet refuge where she can discover herself apart from the public eye. But even in that seclusion, even with an officer assigned to protect her, Andie's privacy has been violated. Someone is watching.
Evan Markham's entire life has been a tug-of-war between what is and what could be. He is drawn to a life that is beyond his reach and emotions have clouded his judgment. Evan knows that earning someone's trust isn't easy, especially when he plans to break it. But in the secret corridors of the criminal underworld, he knows what must be done, and he is determined to see it through. Whatever the cost.
When enemies close in, a sudden turn of events leaves them both questioning. Where is God in all of this? Who is this enigmatic stranger who offers to help? They both know their lives are in danger. But what about their hearts?
If you would like to read the Prologue of Fatal Loyalty, go HERE.
The book link is: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0825425948
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
The Bishop by Steven James
Hello Readers!
WOW! What a thrilling book this was! I pretty much read it non-stop. Steven James delivered a high powered message with a well paced plot, and some very sad messed up evil killers. While probably not for the "faint of heart" I don't fit into that catagory at all. I found this book to be very real, in some ways almost too real. While this book is in a series, this one book stands alone quite well! All refernces to prior books or past history were tight enough to never get the reader lost.
I think the full impact of this book is still working on me. There are things in there that come back to my mind and cause me to think. I like that, no frankly, I love it!
I highly recommened this book to anyone who likes anything like Bones, or CSI, or anything of that kind.
It is even better than those because of Christ showing in this book in so many areas, in so many ways.
Carol
The Bishop by Steven James Bestselling author Steven James delivers another high-octane, adrenaline-laced suspense thriller that his fans have been clamoring for.
This time, a congressman’s daughter is found dead—as her killers launch a spree of perfect murders in the Washington DC metro area. With nothing to link the crimes together, FBI special agent Patrick Bowers’ skills are pushed to the limit. Using his impeccable logic and innovative investigation techniques, Bowers is in a race against time to find the killers before they strike again, even as his personal life becomes more complicated than ever.
Although this is book 4 in The Bowers Files series, this book can be read as a stand-alone. Steven James’ masterful writing and mind-bending twists will have you on the edge of your seat!
WARNING: This book contains violence and graphic descriptions of disturbing crime scenes. It takes the reader inside the minds of psychopathic killers.
In my books I want people to look honestly at what our world is like, both the good and the evil. The evil in my books is not senseless; people’s lives are treated as precious and I want my readers to hurt when an innocent life is taken. The only way to do that is to let them see it on the page and then reflect on its meaning.
I think that an effective way of dissuading someone from doing something is to make them see it as deeply disturbing. And the only way to make people disturbed by evil is to show it to them as what it really is. I believe that including graphic material within the broader context of a redemptive story, just as the Bible does, is appropriate when trying to reveal the truth about human nature and our relationship with the Divine.
For the record, when I write my novels I strive to: uphold the dignity and worth of human life,
as much as possible avoid showing violence on the page (most of it occurs off the page, in the mind of the reader), show that ultimately, hope does not come from inside ourselves, but from God,
honestly portray the universality of evil, celebrate life, love, imagination, beauty, and family,
validate the purpose and meaning of life within the context of the broader scope of God's story, and
tell the truth about the world--exposing the grief and horror as well as championing the hope and joy.
I believe that the Bible includes graphic material to show how far we as a race can fall, and how far God came to rescue us from ourselves. That's what I hope to do in my novels as well.
To read the entire article from Steven James on this topic, visit his blog.
Find a copy of The Bishop HERE!
WOW! What a thrilling book this was! I pretty much read it non-stop. Steven James delivered a high powered message with a well paced plot, and some very sad messed up evil killers. While probably not for the "faint of heart" I don't fit into that catagory at all. I found this book to be very real, in some ways almost too real. While this book is in a series, this one book stands alone quite well! All refernces to prior books or past history were tight enough to never get the reader lost.
I think the full impact of this book is still working on me. There are things in there that come back to my mind and cause me to think. I like that, no frankly, I love it!
I highly recommened this book to anyone who likes anything like Bones, or CSI, or anything of that kind.
It is even better than those because of Christ showing in this book in so many areas, in so many ways.
Carol
From award-winning author STEVEN JAMES
The Bishop
The Bishop by Steven James Bestselling author Steven James delivers another high-octane, adrenaline-laced suspense thriller that his fans have been clamoring for.
This time, a congressman’s daughter is found dead—as her killers launch a spree of perfect murders in the Washington DC metro area. With nothing to link the crimes together, FBI special agent Patrick Bowers’ skills are pushed to the limit. Using his impeccable logic and innovative investigation techniques, Bowers is in a race against time to find the killers before they strike again, even as his personal life becomes more complicated than ever.
Although this is book 4 in The Bowers Files series, this book can be read as a stand-alone. Steven James’ masterful writing and mind-bending twists will have you on the edge of your seat!
WARNING: This book contains violence and graphic descriptions of disturbing crime scenes. It takes the reader inside the minds of psychopathic killers.
A Word from the Author: “Why I Write about Evil”
I think that an effective way of dissuading someone from doing something is to make them see it as deeply disturbing. And the only way to make people disturbed by evil is to show it to them as what it really is. I believe that including graphic material within the broader context of a redemptive story, just as the Bible does, is appropriate when trying to reveal the truth about human nature and our relationship with the Divine.
For the record, when I write my novels I strive to: uphold the dignity and worth of human life,
as much as possible avoid showing violence on the page (most of it occurs off the page, in the mind of the reader), show that ultimately, hope does not come from inside ourselves, but from God,
honestly portray the universality of evil, celebrate life, love, imagination, beauty, and family,
validate the purpose and meaning of life within the context of the broader scope of God's story, and
tell the truth about the world--exposing the grief and horror as well as championing the hope and joy.
I believe that the Bible includes graphic material to show how far we as a race can fall, and how far God came to rescue us from ourselves. That's what I hope to do in my novels as well.
To read the entire article from Steven James on this topic, visit his blog.
Find a copy of The Bishop HERE!