Book Review: The Time Machine by H.G. Wells H.G Wells (1866-1946) was not the first science fiction author, nor even the first one to write about time travel. But he was the first writer in English to produce multiple important works in what would become the science fiction genre. The Time Machine was published in… Continue reading Book Review: The Time Machine
Month: February 2015
Manga Review: Yukarism
Manga Review: Yukarism by Chika Shiomi Teen author Yukari Kobayakawa was born with a birthmark that resembles a sword wound. His books set in the Edo period of Japan are best-sellers; but curiously he never does any research for them. It’s as though that knowledge is his birthright. Yukari’s life goes from odd but… Continue reading Manga Review: Yukarism
Book Review: Life Learned Abroad: Lessons on Humanity from China
Book Review: Life Learned Abroad: Lessons on Humanity from China by Brandon Ferdig Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book free from the author in the expectation that I would write a review. No other compensation is involved. The traveler’s tale is one of the oldest forms of narrative; going to a faraway place… Continue reading Book Review: Life Learned Abroad: Lessons on Humanity from China
Book Review: The Silence of the Loons
Book Review: The Silence of the Loons edited by The Minnesota Crime Wave The long-time reader may by now have realized that I have something of a weakness for anthologies. Collections of short fiction are an excellent use of limited lunch reading time. And I am also a faithful son of Minnesota. So this book… Continue reading Book Review: The Silence of the Loons
Book Review: The Players of Null-A
Book Review: The Players of Null-A by A.E. van Vogt (Also published as The Pawns of Null-A) Note: This book is a direct sequel to The World of Null-A and this review will spoil elements of that first novel. Like, immediately after this paragraph. With the death of the mighty Thorson, the plans of the Greatest Empire… Continue reading Book Review: The Players of Null-A
Manga Review: Batman: the Jiro Kuwata Batmanga
Manga Review: Batman: the Jiro Kuwata Batmanga by Jiro Kuwata In the mid-1960s, the Batman TV show was a huge hit not just in America, but also in Japan. As a tie-in, 8-Man creator Jiro Kuwata was hired to create a manga version of Batman for the local market. While the television show was more based on… Continue reading Manga Review: Batman: the Jiro Kuwata Batmanga
Magazine Review: High Adventure #126 Adventure Fiction Spectacular
Magazine Review: High Adventure #126 Adventure Fiction Spectacular This issue of the pulp reprint magazine concentrates on stories of adventure around the world. Three of the stories are by “Major” George Fielding Eliot, who was born in Brooklyn, raised in Australia, fought at Gallipoli and was a Canadian Mountie before settling down in the U.S.… Continue reading Magazine Review: High Adventure #126 Adventure Fiction Spectacular
Manga Review: Bokurano (Ours)
Manga Review: Bokurano (Ours) by Mohiro Kitoh Fifteen middle-schoolers are at summer camp when they discover a seaside cave and decide to investigate. Inside, they find a man called Kokopelli, who is surrounded by electronic gear. He claims to be developing a new game where you pilot a giant robot to defend the Earth against… Continue reading Manga Review: Bokurano (Ours)
Comic Book Review: Essential Sub-Mariner Vol. 1
Comic Book Review: Essential Sub-Mariner Vol. 1 Edited by Stan Lee Namor, the Sub-Mariner, first appeared in Marvel Comics #1 in 1939. The son of Captain Robert McKenzie, an icebreaker commander assigned to the Antarctic area, and Princess Fen of Atlantis, Namor possessed hybrid vigor that made him stronger than any ten humans or Atlanteans, the… Continue reading Comic Book Review: Essential Sub-Mariner Vol. 1
Book Review: The Dead Riders
Book Review: The Dead Riders by Elliott O’Donnell Burke Blake is at loose ends in China when he hears of an expedition to the Gobi desert, reputedly near the site of Genghis Khan’s tomb. He invites himself along on the journey to try to steer it into treasure hunting. Several misadventures later, Burke and several… Continue reading Book Review: The Dead Riders