The Twin Paradox (Charles Wachter) – Review

Posted on June 14, 2021 by John

The Twin Paradox (Charles Wachter)The Twin Paradox
Charles Wachter

Trevaney Bay (August 23, 2020)
ISBN-10 : 1735361224
ISBN-13 : 978-1735361222

SYNOPSIS:

With ten years passing for every three minutes on a remote stretch of Texas coast, planes fall out of the sky, evolved species are on the hunt, and people die inside one of the most vicious ecosystems ever grown—all a result of the government’s efforts to slow down time.

A lot can happen in ten years. That’s the point.

Governments are always racing for supremacy, for scientific breakthroughs, for technological advantages—and these things take time.

Until something goes wrong.

With the grounded yet massive world-building of READY PLAYER ONE, thrilling scientific questions of JURASSIC PARK, and the time-bending teen drama of BEFORE I FALL, Wachter’s THE TWIN PARADOX is a brilliantly plotted tale that is both intimate and massive, relentless yet deliberate, and explores the themes of self-acceptance, self-confidence, and natural selection in a richly hued and unforgettable world. Ultimately the eternal question of Nature versus Nurture is boiled down into this fast-paced thriller told over the course of five days and culminates in one single question:

Do we get to choose who we are?

REVIEW:

Wachter’s debut novel, The Twin Paradox, boasts a lot of interesting, exciting and innovative ideas in a fast-paced SF thrill-ride that reintroduces famous and infamous people from history—in various incarnations. There’s some YA angst as several young characters discover shocking truths about their identities, political intrigue as multiple governments jockey for power in a new type of arms race, and the makings of a predatory dystopia by way of an extremely evolved and deadly ecosystem that may escape confinement. And not only is time not a constant in this tale, it is used in various intriguing ways as a deadly weapon. As the story opens, the reader might expect a sobering tale of (recycled) fate and shaded musings on the nature-vs-nuture debate, but Wachter skillfully veers away from those expectations to deliver one clever surprise after another.

Needless to say, I’m looking forward to Divine Paradox, the book two in The Twin Paradox Series, arriving January 2022.

 

 

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The Last Christmas (F Paul Wilson) – New eGalley Received (Update: Review)

Posted on October 5, 2019 by John

REVIEW: I’ve read all of the Repairman Jack novels in the main timeline of the Adversary Cycle (and have a lot of them in the original hardbound editions), though I admit I haven’t read the young Jack YA novels. My favorite novel in the Adversary Cycle series is probably The Haunted Air. I was curious to see how Wilson would treat a new novel within the existing timeline and, it occurred to me, that Wilson’s approach is a bit how I (as a more-than-occasional original media tie-in novelist) work on tie-in novels.

The Last Christmas doesn’t change what has already happened (naturally) but also can’t alter what is to come in the future novels. Also, Jack’s personal relationships and the status of the world at large remains where it was at that moment in time. In this respect, it’s kind of a “lost story” or “lost episode” out of Jack’s life as the Heir. If you are reading the Repairman Jack novels for the first time, you can slot this one in right in the middle of the timeline after Ground Zero and before Fatal Error.

It’s been a while since I read the conclusion of the Adversary Cycle, so I can’t say that this story breaks new ground or reveals anything we don’t eventually discover by the end, but what I can say is that it’s a familiar and enjoyable tale of Jack working a fix (finding a missing not-so-human person) in the middle of apocryphal happenings. If you have fond memories of reading the Repairman Jack novels, then The Last Christmas feels a bit like time-traveling to visit an old (and highly-competent) friend.

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As a big Repairman Jack fan, I was pleased to get my (virtual) hands on an eGalley of F. Paul Wilson’s upcoming Repairman Jack novel, THE LAST CHRISTMAS. Have not read this one yet, but here are some details if you’re interested.

The Last Christmas - A Repairman Jack Novel by F. Paul WilsonTHE LAST CHRISTMAS
A Repairman Jack Novel
by F. Paul Wilson
Crossroad Press
Gordion Knot
Mystery & Thrillers , Sci Fi & Fantasy
Pub Date 15 Nov 2019

SYNOPSIS:

Jack is back.

Wilson never said he was through with Repairman Jack. He said he was through turning in a new novel every year. He also said when a story came along that was right for Jack, he’d write it.

The Last Christmas is that story.

It’s late December between Ground Zero and Fatal Error, a winter of discontent for Jack who’s perhaps spending too much time hanging at Julio’s. An old contact, Edward Burkes, convinces him to take on a missing-person fix.

As usual, nothing is as it seems and the missing person isn’t exactly a person. In fact, it’s like nothing anyone has ever seen.

And in the middle of all this, the mysterious Madame de Medici hires him to safeguard a valuable object. Simple, right?

Not even close.

Yep, Jack is back and, as usual, weird trouble is on his heels.

Trade Paperback: $19.99 ISBN: 978-1-950565-82-5 November 15th ebook: $5.99 ISBN: 978-1-950565-66-5 – Pre-order starts November 15th – release date is December 19

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: F. PAUL WILSON is the award-winning, NY Times bestselling author of sixty books and numerous short stories spanning medical thrillers, sf, horror, adventure, and virtually everything between. More than 9 million copies of his books are in print in the US and his work has been translated into 24 languages. He also has written for the stage, screen, comics, and interactive media. He is best known for is notorious urban mercenary, Repairman Jack. He currently resides at the Jersey Shore.

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Please note: links to various book titles in this blog are Amazon affiliate links, which may result in a small portion of referral income to help offset the cost of maintaining the site.

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Halloween Movie Novelization – Signed Foamboard Cover Contest

Posted on November 26, 2018 by John
Halloween (2018) novelization book cover

Cover Image © 2018 Universal Studios.
All Rights Reserved.

UPDATE: Congratulations to Elwin M, winner of the signed foamboard cover poster!

For those who enjoyed my official novelization of the Halloween (2018) movie, I’m running a contest to win a SIGNED foamboard poster of the book cover. This foamboard cover sat on the table at my Claymont, DE book signing at Between Books 2.0. (Some clear tape remains on back.)

If you’d like to win this foamboard cover (Maybe to frame and hang in your home office or reading room? Michael Myers always watching you …?), the rules are simple:

(1) Winner will be selected in a random drawing of contest entries

(2) Earn one contest entry by joining my author newsletter (sign up form here: http://www.passarella.com/contact.htm ); if you are already signed up, let me know which email address you are using for the newsletter to get an entry.

(3) Earn additional contest entries (up to 3) by posting a book review of my Halloween novelization on Amazon.com, BarnesAndNoble.com (bn.com),  and GoodReads.com (Be sure to send links to each review to author@passarella.com)

(4) No purchase necessary. Contest ends Saturday December 15 by midnight, Eastern Time

(5) Winner will be selected December 16 and notified by email, with an announcement here and on Facebook & Twitter.

Any questions? Email me for clarification. I’m hoping to mail the foamboard to the winner in time for Christmas in case it’s intended as a gift.

Thanks,

John Passarella

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The Bone Witch (Rin Chupeco) – Review

Posted on July 17, 2017 by John

The Bone Witch, Rin ChupecoThe Bone Witch
Rin Chupeco

Sourcebooks Fire
Sci Fi & Fantasy, Teens & YA

SYNOPSIS: When Tea accidentally resurrects her brother from the dead, she learns she is different from the other witches in her family. Her gift for necromancy means that she’s a bone witch, a title that makes her feared and ostracized by her community. But Tea finds solace and guidance with an older, wiser bone witch, who takes Tea and her brother to another land for training. In her new home, Tea puts all her energy into becoming an asha—one who can wield elemental magic. But dark forces are approaching quickly, and in the face of danger, Tea will have to overcome her obstacles…and make a powerful choice.

REVIEW: The Bone Witch wasn’t quite what I was expecting but then again, I probably couldn’t adequately describe what I was expecting. Inside this YA fantasy tale, the reader will find a heady mix of genres: supernatural thriller, coming of age tale, political intrigue, witchcraft with a well-crafted magic system, zombie raisings, espionage intrigue, mystery and a few others I’m probably forgetting at the moment. The book also includes post-chapter flash-forwards which hint at what’s to come in future volumes, including revenge and epic battles—conclusions based upon events we aren’t quite privy to in the first book but can anticipate learning about in the next book. It’s quite a juggling act. Chupeco is a skilled author, adept at world building.

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Counterpart (Machinations Book Two) by Hayley Stone – Review

Posted on January 4, 2017 by John

Counterpart (Machinations Book 2)Counterpart (Machinations Book Two) by Hayley Stone

Publisher: Hydra (Random House LLC)
Now Available

From the Description: The high-intensity sci-fi thriller series that began with Machinations continues as reincarnated insurgent Rhona Long faces off against the one enemy she can’t outwit: her own clone…. [V]ictory is elusive. The machines have a new technology designed to overcome humanity’s most advanced weaponry. Despite Rhona’s peacekeeping efforts, former nations are feuding over resources as old power struggles resurface. Worse, someone inside the resistance is sabotaging the human cause—someone who, from all appearances, seems to be Rhona . . . or her exact replica.

My Review: I enjoyed Machinations which, compared to the sequel, Counerpart, was more focused. While I continue to enjoy Stone’s writing, graceful metaphors and her resistance-leader protagonist, I had hoped for more interactions with the machines in book two, which led to a bit of frustration. The story does, however, build to a big confrontation with the enemy. In the meantime, Rhona deals with the implications of her clones and how they undermine her position in the resistance no matter if she reveals or conceals their existence. Either she is guilty of traitorous actions or she is, herself, no longer trustworthy. Additionally, she begins to doubt her place as the one-true-clone/heir to the original Rhona Long with a few humorous Highlander references tossed into the mix. In hindsight, Counterpart feels like a table-setter for the third book in a trilogy (though these books are billed as a series), where the machines won’t be her only adversary, because the greatest enemy she’ll eventually have to face is a version of herself.

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Latest Galley Received: The Bone Witch (Rin Chupeco)

Posted on December 31, 2016 by John

The Bone Witch, Rin ChupecoThe Bone Witch
by Rin Chupeco
Sourcebooks Fire
Genre: Sci Fi & Fantasy, Teens & YA
Pub Date: March 7, 2017

Description:  In the captivating start to a new, darkly lyrical fantasy series for readers of Leigh Bardugo and Sabaa Tahir, Tea can raise the dead, but resurrection comes at a price…

Let me be clear: I never intended to raise my brother from his grave, though he may claim otherwise. If there’s anything I’ve learned from him in the years since, it’s that the dead hide truths as well as the living.

When Tea accidentally resurrects her brother from the dead, she learns she is different from the other witches in her family. Her gift for necromancy means that she’s a bone witch, a title that makes her feared and ostracized by her community. But Tea finds solace and guidance with an older, wiser bone witch, who takes Tea and her brother to another land for training.

In her new home, Tea puts all her energy into becoming an asha—one who can wield elemental magic. But dark forces are approaching quickly, and in the face of danger, Tea will have to overcome her obstacles…and make a powerful choice.

Memoirs of a Geisha meets The Name of the Wind in this brilliant new fantasy series by Rin Chupeco!

Advance Praise for The Bone Witch:

“Readers who enjoy immersing themselves in detail will revel in Chupeco’s finely wrought tale. Game of Thrones fans may see shades of Daenerys Targaryen in Tea, as she gathers a daeva army to unleash upon the world. Whether she is in the right remains a question unanswered, but the ending makes it clear her story is only beginning.” -Booklist

“Chupeco craftily weaves magic, intrigue, and mystery into a captivating tale that will leave readers begging for the promised sequel.” -School Library Journal

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Recently Received Galleys: Counterpart, God of the Internet, The Delphi Effect

Posted on September 6, 2016 by John

Counterpart (Machinations Book 2)Counterpart (Machinations Book Two) by Hayley Stone

Description

The high-intensity sci-fi thriller series that began with Machinations continues as reincarnated insurgent Rhona Long faces off against the one enemy she can’t outwit: her own clone.

The machines believed their extermination of the human race would be over as quickly as it began. They were wrong. As the war against extinction intensifies, people are beginning to gain the upper hand.

Commander Rhona Long understands survival better than most. Killed in combat, she was brought back to life using her DNA, and she’s forged a new, even more powerful identity. Now the leader of the resistance, she’s determined to ensure the machines are shut down for good.

But victory is elusive. The machines have a new technology designed to overcome humanity’s most advanced weaponry. Despite Rhona’s peacekeeping efforts, former nations are feuding over resources as old power struggles resurface. Worse, someone inside the resistance is sabotaging the human cause—someone who, from all appearances, seems to be Rhona . . . or her exact replica.

God of the Internet (LipinskiGod of the Internet by Lynn Lipinski

Description

When a hacker known as G0d_of_Internet hijacks millions of computers to do the bidding of an Islamic jihadist group, their first act is to disrupt the water treatment systems in Boston, Dallas and Los Angeles. Next, the power grids go down. Is this the start of a digital world war?

The only thing standing between the terrorists and their goal to weaponize the internet is a small band of white hat hackers, including cybersecurity guru Mahaz Al-Dossari and his wife Juliana.

The search is on for a couple hundred lines of code and a global hacker network before they can make good on their ultimate threat to divert money from the world’s banks. But G0d_of_Internet has been tracking their every move. And it’s Juliana, a PR manager lacking in technical skills, who may hold the key to unmasking the hacker.

 

The Delphi Effect (Rysa Walker)The Delphih Effect by Rysa Walker

Description

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The Hatching (Advance Reader Copy Review)

Posted on August 15, 2016 by John

The Hatching by Ezekiel BooneThe Hatching: A Novel (The Hatching Series)
Ezekiel Boone
Atria Books
Atria/Emily Bestler Books

Synopsis:

An astonishingly inventive and terrifying debut novel about the emergence of an ancient species, dormant for over the thousand years, and now on the march.

Deep in the jungle of Peru, where so much remains unknown, a black, skittering mass devours an American tourist whole. Thousands of miles away, an FBI agent investigates a fatal plane crash in Minneapolis and makes a gruesome discovery. Unusual seismic patterns register in a Kanpur, India earthquake lab, confounding the scientists there. During the same week, the Chinese government “accidentally” drops a nuclear bomb in an isolated region of its own country. As these incidents begin to sweep the globe, a mysterious package from South America arrives at a Washington, D.C. laboratory. Something wants out.

The world is on the brink of an apocalyptic disaster. An ancient species, long dormant, is now very much awake.

Review:

Due to the global scope of the narrative, the first half of The Hatching feels slightly disjointed. I began to wonder if certain characters would appear later in the story or if they were of the one-and-done variety. Early longer chapters contribute to this sense of disconnection. But the latter half of the novel picks up steam with shorter chapters and a much faster pace, bringing all the plot threads together into a cohesive web. (See what I did there?) The Hatching plays out like an international monster movie thriller and I can easily imagine this story on the big screen. The Hatching delivers an enjoyable and creepy ride. [Warning to the intensely arachnophobic: Avoid at all costs.] Be aware though, that the story is not complete and ends on a cliffhanger of sorts — a pause in the unfolding horror rather than a true cliffhanger. I’m not sure when the next installment in “The Hatching Series” comes out, but consider it a chance to catch your breath. [4 out of 5 Stars]

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Machinations by Hayley Stone (Review)

Posted on July 18, 2016 by John

Machinations (HayleyStone)Machinations
Hayley Stone
Print Length: 343 pages
Publisher: Hydra (Random House LLC)
Publication Date: July 26, 2016

 

My Review: Hayley Stone’s MACHINATIONS begins after the Robot/Artificial-Intelligence apocalypse has nearly wiped humanity from the planet. And shortly after the story begins, Rhona Long, the heroine of the novel, dies. Before this,  however, she had set in motion plans to have herself (and possibly others) cloned in the event of her death. She returns with her DNA and most of her memories intact. But she needs to win back the trust of the human resistance leaders and her friends, specifically those in her inner circle who know she is a replacement, including her boyfriend, Camus.

MACHINATIONS is a smooth, enjoyable read, well-written in a confident style that doesn’t get in the way of the narrative. Although the scope of the story is global, the focus of the narrative remains on Rhona’s life, post-resurrection and her place in the resistance. I’m looking forward to seeing more of the machines—and more of this dystopian world—in future volumes. [Note: Counterpart, the sequel, is due out OCT 11, 2016.]

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Latest Galley Received: Machinations (Hayley Stone)

Posted on June 6, 2016 by John

Just received an eGalley of Machinations by Hayley Stone. Looks interesting! I’ll let you know what I think of it soon. . . .

Machinations (HayleyStone)Description

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