THE Prisoner - A NOVEL

PENGUIN BOOKS

Written by Thomas M. Disch

Copyright Carlton International Media Limited, 1967, 2001 All rights reserved

Thomas M. Disch's The Prisoner is a novelization of the TV series The Prisoner, starring Patrick McGoohan. The book and TV series also inspired the TV update, The Prisoner, starring Ian McKellen and Jim Caviezel. The novelization is about a former retired British secret agent who is gassed and kidnapped from a train - and then brought to and detained in a place called The Village. The powers that be use psychological methods on the secret agent in order to convince him to reveal his secrets.

As much as I liked the original TV series, Disch's novelization is much more European in feeling compared to what I remember of the TV series as far as the narrative and characterization is concerned. While the lack of names in the TV series was acceptable, while reading the novelization, the lack of names was more of an irritating nuisance to me as you never really connect with anybody - especially with the main character in the beginning. You really want to know the real name of Number 6, so you can relate to him. The characters in The Village are more relatable as people in doing their professions, instead of as real characters. Granted you get to know the characters by their Numbers, but the characters happy acceptance of being numbers instead of as people with their own names is a little irritating. The ordered society of The Village is a little too Orwellian, especially when they reveal the films of Number 6's previous interrogations, which Number 6 is naturally upset about when he sees them. Number 6's liaisons with his girlfriend is interesting because you are never really sure if she really was his girlfriend - or was she a plant to gain his secrets. It would be too bad if she was a plant, as I fell in love with her.

Since the main character is known as Number 6, it was quite a nod to the reader that the character received his designation number 6 in Chapter 6 of the novelization.

Pancho
All people smile in the same language.

ANGEL - AFTER THE FALL - VOLUME ONE

IDW

Plotted by Joss Whedon and Brian Lynch

Scripted by Brian Lynch

Illustrated by Franco Urru

Angel created by Joss Whedon and David Greenwalt

Angel is copyright 2008 by Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. All rights reserved. Copyright 2008 Idea and Design Works, LLC. The IDW logo is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. All rights reserved.

In the graphic novel Angel - After the Fall - Volume One, writers Joss Whedon and Brian Lynch continues Wheedon's TV show Angel after the show's final season, Season Five. The city of Los Angeles has been sent to Hell by the demonic law firm Wolfram & Hart. Angel has lost his vampire powers as a result, although he has become friends with a dragon - who likes dropping off his cars. While Angel continues to try to help people, Angel's team has been scattered - and not all of his team have fared well at all.

With Angel being produced as a series of graphic novels, instead of as a TV show, creator Joss Whedon, writer Brian Lynch, and illustrator Franco Urru are able to expand on Angel's world in ways that were not possible with the limited budget of a TV show. There are more crowds of exotic demons, monsters, crowds in general, as well as dinosaurs. As Los Angeles has become hell for some time since the start of the graphic novel, the normal native humans in Los Angeles appear to have accepted what has happened to their home. Many of the surviving humans are fighting for their own survival, including a surviving cop in an arena. Gangs of demons are at war in this hell realm competing for control of Los Angeles.

While generally you can tell who all the major characters were from the show through the artwork, there were a couple of minor characters that I had no idea who they were until I read the Original Proposal that is at the end of the book. Even then, I can not tell which character is which as they were originally such minor characters and these characters look pretty much alike. I like what they have done with Wesley, although I do not really like the fact that he still has a job with Wolfram & Hart. You can tell the evil law firm Wolfram and Hart still has plans for Wesley and Angel. I am not too crazy about what has happened to Gunn, but I am looking forward to what they will do with Gunn in future graphic novels as there is potential for good storytelling to be done with him now. There is also an art and sketch gallery, as well as the script with the author's notes, at the end of the book.

Pancho
All people smile in the same language.

STAR TREK - THE LOST ERA- SERPENTS AMONG THE RUINS

POCKET BOOKS

Written by David R. George III

Copyright 2003 by Paramount Pictures. All rights reserved.



In Serpents Among the Ruins, the legendary Tomad Incident - in which thousands were killed - is finally told. Flight tests conducted for a prototype starship, the U.S.S. Universe with it's new engines, ends tragically in disaster close to the border space of the Romulan Star Empire. When the news of the observed disaster reaches the Romulans, the Romulans believe that the Federation is developing weapons of mass destruction to be used against them. As a military buildup ensues on all sides, which includes the Klingons - who want to regain the glory of their Empire - Captain John Harriman of the U.S.S. Enterprise confronts an old Romulan enemy aboard the Romulan flagship Tomad.

This is an older John Harriman of the Enterprise than the one who was shown in the movie Star Trek: Generations.  Harriman is not the insecure bumbler that he was in the movie, but a mature experienced individual who is quite at home on the Enterprise B  - and is also an almost burned-out Captain approaching the end of his career. The diplomats deal with the tense strategic negotiations between the three major powers in order to prevent another Federation/Romulan war and having the Klingons fighting for peace. Harriman, in what is basically his final mission, is sent on a classified mission by Starfleet Special Operations - which includes a young Elias Vaughn. Harriman and Vaughn are snuck aboard the Romulan Flagship Tomad, commanded by Harriman's old enemy Admiral Aventeer Vokar, deep in Romulan space - while Harriman leaves Demora Sulu in command of the Enterprise as they rotate the personal in the outposts monitoring the Romulan Neutral Zone. Vokar's desire for vengeance against his old enemy Harriman makes Harrison's mission extremely dangerous as they perform sabatouge on Vokar's ship Tomad. This mission is also sad as Harriman must undertake the mission while his father Admiral Harriman was critically injured during the U.S.S. Universe disaster. You wish that Harriman and his father the Admiral would reconcile with each other after the Admiral's injury as Admiral Harriman has been disappointed with him ever since the events of Star Trek: Generations and the book Star Trek - The Captain's Daughter. It is also sad when Vaughn is forced to kill for the first time.

This book is basically the flash point where several parts of the Star Trek universe changes after the events in the book, at least in the Star Trek literature.

Pancho
All people smile in the same language.

STAR WARS - THE NEW JEDI ORDER - REBEL DREAM

A Del Rey Book

Written by Aaron Allston

Copyright 2002 by Lucasfilm Ltd. All rights reserved.

In Rebel Dream - the first of the Enemy Lines duology, written by Aaron Allston, and part of the New Jedi Order series - the surviving New Republic Advisory Council blackmails General Wedge Antilles into setting up a defense on the planet Borleias as a delaying tactic after the Yuuzhan Vong's invasion of Coruscant. Meanwhile, Han and Leia Solo travel to various worlds to instigate a rebellion against the New Republic's policies toward the Yuuzhan Vong war - and Luke Skywalker sneaks onto Coruscant with a team amidst the Yuuzhan Vong.

It is interesting that several key figures from the Star Wars universe form a group to set up independent resistance cells from the New Republic to fight the Vong. almost like a new rebellion bringing the story back to the beginning. Almost like the New Jedi Order series reinvented the Star Wars series. Meanwhile refugee documentarian Wolam Tser and his assistant Tam Elgrin arrive on Borleias - unbeknowance to everyone that survivor of Coruscant Tam Elgrin is secretly under control by former Kuati senator Viqi Shesh to be a spy for the Yuuzhan Vong. As a videographer, I could appreciate Wolam Tser wanting to document the rebellion and getting the rebels personal stories.

Wedge uses strategic planning as well as blackmailing the Advisory Council to get the resources he needs - including the use of the SuperStar Destroyer Lusankya in the space Battle for Borleais. This results in the lack of the Lusankya's mystique for me as the Lusankya is used just as a destroyer - instead of as the mysterious stronghold of the Empire as the Lusankya used to be.

Jaina Solo being used as a diversionary Trickster Goddess against the Yuuzhan Vong is both a good diversion and a disturbing idea for me, as it also separates her from the rest of the forces on Borleias to make the diversion against the Vong work. Of course the New Republic forces resent her special treatment, especially since they are unaware of her real mission of being a diversionary tactic for the Vong. This adds more to her isolation because the war has been taking away Jaina's loved ones - such as Chewbacca and her brother Anakin.

Pancho
All people smile in the same language.

THE LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN

POCKET STAR BOOKS

Novelization by
K. J. Anderson

Based on the Screenplay by
James Dale Robinson

Based on the Comic Books by
Alan Moore and Kevin O'Neill

Copyright 2003 by Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation.
All rights reserved.

Cover art Trademarked and Copyright 2003 by Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation.
All rights reserved.



In a novelization of the movie The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, novelization by K. J. Anderson, the novelization of the movie has famous Victorian Era literature characters being brought together to form a League to fight the leader of an evil organization that is bent on starting a World War at the end of the 19th Century.

Based on the comic books by Alan Moore and Kevin O'Neill,  this has the British Empire bringing together various characters - like explorer and adventurer Allan Quatermain; technological genius Captain Nemo of the submersible Nautilus; Dr. Henry Jekyll and his bestial alter ego Mr. Hyde who was terrorizing Paris; an Invisible Man Rodney Skinner, who makes his living as a thief; the ageless Dorian Gray, subject of the enchanted portrait; chemist Mina Harker, the surviving victim of Count Dracula, who received some of Dracula's abilities; and American Secret Service Agent Tom Sawyer to stop the criminal mastermind "The Fantom." As the League races across the globe determined to hunt down The Fantom = they must also deal with a traitor in The League.


While writer Kevin Anderson can write some interesting stories, this feels like a homogeneous version of the graphic novels and does not seem to have the bite that it should have. My god-niece tells me to ignore this book and read the original books by Alan Moore and Kevin O'Neill. While I have not read the graphic novels, or have seen the movie, the novelization is not that dark or appear to be as literate as it should be although I know Anderson added as much characterization as he could. It is a shame that Anderson basically has to stick to the script exactly because the book is a novelization.

I will say that, since this is a steam punk story, it was rather fun to see the submersible boat Nautilus as well as the technology surrounding the Nautilus that Captain Nemo uses, including a car, as well as the technology that The Fantom uses for his nefarious schemes. It is interesting that Tom Sawyer and Mina Harker develop a relationship, especially after Harker's former relationship with Dorian Grey. I would have liked to have enjoyed seeing more of that relationship if they ever did a sequel.

Pancho
All people smile in the same language.

FANTASTIC 4: RISE OF THE SILVER SURFER

POCKET STAR BOOKS

A Novelization by Daniel Josephs * Based on the Motion Picture

Screenplay by Don Payne * Story by Mark Frost

Copyright 2007 by Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation and Dune Entertainment LLC. All rights reserved.

MARVEL, Fantastic Four, Silver Surfer, and all related character names and likenesses thereof are trademarks of Marvel Characters, Inc. All rights reserved.

Motion Picture Artwork and Photography: Copyright 2007 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation and Dune Entertainment LLC. All rights reserved.

Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer, the novelization of the movie Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer, has Reed Richards of the Fantastic Four about to marry Sue Storm - when the Silver Surfer arrives on Earth causing havoc and destruction.

While the fun part of the book is the continually dashed wedding plans of Sue and Reed at their home, and Johnny's continual marketing efforts to brand the Fantastic Four's name - Gah Lak Tus, the force from space that the Silver Surfer is the herald for so that Gah Lak Tus can consume planets for sustenance, does not seem as menacing as he should be despite the fact that the fate of the world is at stake. It is a galactic cloud and does not seem to have any intelligence behind it. It is good that there are actual events around the world to give the story a sense of actual peril. Victor Von Doom seems more menacing than Gah Lak Tus as the Silver Surfer, Norrin Radd from the planet Zenn-La, causes destruction around the world. The fact that Von Doom actually acquires the power of the Silver Surfer's surfboard makes the unsavory Von Doom goes on a rampage of his own to facilitate the destruction of Earth. It is sad that the military general does not respect Reed Richards enough to truly accept him and his theories on their quest to stop the Silver Surfer.

It is sad when you finally learn the reason the Silver Surfer does what he does, but it still puts the planet Earth in jeopardy.

Pancho
All people smile in the same language.

GALACTIC CORPS

EOS

Written by Ian Douglas

Copyright 2008 by William H. Keith, Jr.

Cover art by Fred Gambino

In Galactic Corps, Book Two of The Inheritance Trilogy, after searching for centuries, intelligence has found the home world of Earth's foe. The Xul, otherwise known as The Hunters of the Dawn, has been found deep in the Galactic Core. The 1st Marine Interstellar Expeditionary Force is sent to strike at the Xul, but political forces on Earth do not support the Marines and their mission.

Because the people of Earth have forgotten that the human race was nearly destroyed centuries before by the Xul from an asteroid attack from space, political groups have a different approach and are more concerned with the various human space governments being at war with each other. The current administration is more intent on exploiting the Marines for their own military agenda. As a result, they want to stop the Marine strike force from engaging the Xul, and bringing them home to use on the other governments, by creating a compromise which ensues that the 1st Marine Interstellar Expeditionary Force become part of a Peace Mission with the Xul. It is fortunate that the Marines have a strong sense of Marine history, which includes various Marine offensives against the Xul - including a star ship full of Marines that was absorbed by the Xul.

It is amazing how the Internet and computer usage has changed over the centuries. When you consider how much you can do on your phone, having virtual reality conferences through Marine-issued artificial-intelligence implants is mind-boggling.

Pancho
All people smile in the same language.

STAR WARS - 501st

A Del Rey Mass Market Original

Written by Karen Traviss

Copyright 2009 by Lucasfilm Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

501st, an Imperial Commando novel, has, after the Great Purge of the Jedi, several clones deserting the Grand Army of the Republic and joining former clone trainer Kal Skirita's group of adopted clones at a secret hideout on the planet Mandalore who is making a safe haven for the clones. While Kal has the best scientists in the galaxy trying to find a cure to the clones rapid aging. A couple of clones formally of Kal's group are now serving as Imperial Commandos in the 501st Legion searching for refugee Jedi survivors after the infamous Order 66.

What is sad is that the book really is not about the 501st, but more about Kal Skirata and his clones. Even with Darman and Niner in the 501st, the story really is about them than the 501st. As much as I love Kal's clones, the title can be misleading if you wanted to learn a lot more about the 501st Legion.

The Jedi are not as well loved in this book with many ordinary people having grievances with the Jedi as well as believing the Jedi are traitors to the Republic. The Jedi also are not portrayed as being very enlightened either. As much as the clones were originally bred to serve the Jedi, the clones have grown not to trust the Jedi. It is rather disconcerting that the Jedi are not the heroes of the galaxy that we always believed them to be. Having Darman actively hating Jedi and trying to capture/kill refugee Jedi is also rather tragic as he is trying to protect his Jedi son from being taken by the Jedi. This also seems contradictory since he was married to a Jedi and refuses to return home to his son.

It is sad that this is the last of Karen Traviss's books for the Star Wars books. I was hoping that she would be able to finish her clone series, at least one more book with Darman and Niner eventually getting out of the 501st Legion and returning home.

Pancho
All people smile in the same language.

STAR FIST - STEEL GAUNTLET

A Del Rey Book

Written by David Sherman and Dan Cragg

Copyright 1999 by David Sherman and Dan Cragg

In Steel Gauntlet, Book III of the Starfist series, the planet Diamunde has been taken over from the corporations by industrialist Martin St. Cyr with an army of tanks in a form of civil war. The Confederation Marines must take back the planet with weapons 300 years out of date.

St. Cyr is a sadistic tyrant who graphically deals with the people in his way - even the alien Woos, which is almost like child abuse against the Woos. As tanks with their artillery have not been used in 300 years, the Confederate Marines must learn old/new tactics to defeat the tanks - along with learning how to use the 300 year old rocket weapons that made tanks obsolete in the first place. The lack of these shoulder-launched rockets puts a damper on the Marines ability to deal with a planet full of tanks.

With the Army waiting in space for the Marines to secure a planetary beachhead for the Army to land, the Marines are getting their butts kicked in what was supposed to be an easy beachhead, according to the military planners, for the Marines to take.

The ambassador sent to broker a peace treaty with St. Cyr has a disdain for Marines in general. Arrogant Ambassador Wellington-Humphreys was so sure of her being able to broker a peace treaty - until St. Cyr has her and her Marine guard kidnapped. The Marines desperately want to get the ambassador and the Marines back, and get St. Cyr - especially after the way he killed his Marine prisoners.

Pancho
All people smile in the same language.

STAR TREK - DEEP SPACE NINE - THE SOUL KEY

POCKET BOOKS

Written by Olivia Woods

Copyright 2009 by CBS Studios Inc.

The Soul Key, has insane Cardassian agent Iliana Ghemor from an alternate universe - who was trained to be the double for Kira Nerys - dreaming to be the one true Emissary of the alternate universe.

When reading about the Mirror/alternate Universe, it is often difficult to remember which universe you are in. What makes it even more difficult to keep track of which universe you are in, is that Iliana wants to conquer and eliminate all the other Kira Nerys/Iliana Ghemor in the other universes as well. With this messiah complex, Iliana also wants to gain access to the Celestial Temple so the Prophets can make her the one true emissary. Insane, power-hungry Iliana has Intendant Kira from the Mirror Universe killed and takes her place. While you recognize the other characters, it can be disorienting to see them performing in other roles. These roles are often roles that would have been appropriate for the characters if the series were revamped. We have good guys being bad guys and bad guys being good guys in the alternate universes. The crew of Deep Space Nine are now resistance fighters, with Deep Space Nine/Terok Nor targeting Cardassian cities on Bajor.

After a method of communication with the Mirror Universe is developed, Commander Vaughn is sent from our home universe to the Mirror universe to go after the insane Iliana. It is painful to see his relationship with his Mirror Universe's daughter - especially after meeting his infirmed self in the Mirror Universe. A sane Iliana Ghemor from the Mirror Universe tries to help our universe's Captain Kira Nerys in stopping her insane counterpart, despite Kira's mistrust of Iliana.

Pancho 
All people smile in the same language.

STAR WARS - THE JEDI ACADEMY TRILOGY - DARK APPRENTICE

BANTAM SPECTRA

Written by Kevin J. Anderson

Copyright 1994 by Lucasfilm Ltd.

Cover art by John Alvin.

In Dark Apprentice, Volume 2 of the Jedi Academy Trilogy, the New Republic wonders what to do with the captured super-weapon the Sun Crusher - while rogue Imperial Admiral Daala, in retaliation for the New Republic stealing the Sun Crusher from her, attacks Admiral Ackbar's watery homeworld from space. Meanwhile, at the Jedi Academy, a brilliant Jedi student is influenced by an ancient Sith Master.

Admiral Ackbar, after coming out of voluntary exile when he accidentally destroyed the holy Cathedral of Winds and killing numerous Vors with his starfighter on the planet Vortex, defends his homeworld from Imperial Admiral Daala' Star Destroyers. Since both Ackbar and Daala were under the influence of the late Gran Moff Tarkin, Ackbar was able to defeat Daala's tactics of using her Imperial Star Destroyers against his Mon Calamari homeworld.

It is nice to see the students at the Jedi Academy that Luke Skywalker created for learning about the ways of the Force. Mara Jade has decided to join them at the Academy for a short time, but you can see that Jedi student Kyp Durron becoming dissatisfied with Master Luke's limited teachings on Kyp's quest for power. Kyp then becomes a student of the spirit of an ancient Sith Lord Exar Kun. Determined in his quest for power, and vengeance for the loss of his parents, Kyp recovers the super-weapon The Sun Crusher with the Force from inside the gas giant planet Yavin for vengeance against the Empire. He soon declares himself the new Dark Lord of the Sith. After encountering Exar Kun, what happens to Luke is very ominous.

Watching Wedge fall in love was nice to see - until Kyp gets to Wedge's scientist charge, Doctor Qwi Xux. Kyp mentally rapes her as a form of capital punishment, which is understandable since Qwi was the weapons scientist whose research designed the Sun Crusher - as well as designing the Death Star. As a result of this loss of memory, Qwi can never construct a superweapon again.

Pancho
All people smile in the same language.

STAR WARS - THE NEW JEDI ORDER - DARK TIDE II: RUIN

LUCAS BOOKS
A Del Rey Book
Publishing by The Ballantine Publishing Group

Written by Michael A. Stackpole

Copyright 2000 by Lucasfilm Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

In Michael A. Stackpole's  STAR WARS - THE NEW JEDI ORDER - DARK TIDE II: RUIN, the sequel to Onslaught, has Jedi Knights Corran Horn and Jacen Solo going on a scouting mission to the planet Garqi, a world occupied by the Yuuzhan Vong, "The Choosen Race" - a race that has no Force presence that the Jedi can sense. The Caamasi Senator, Elegos, is a political prisoner of the Yuuzhan Vong as they invade the galaxy, and Luke and Anakin go after a vengeful Jedi.

With the discovery of bafforr tree pollen as a biological defense against the Yuuzhan Vong living armor found on Gargi, the Jedi destroy the biological defense on Gargi before the Vong realizes what and where the bafforr tree pollen came from. Having a biological defense against the Yuuzhan Vong is most apropos as the Vong only use organic weapons, creatures that were born and bred for their tasks, since they fanatically abhor machines. Imperial Remnant Admiral Pellaeon joins forces with Republic Admiral Kre'fey in New Republic space for the global defense of Ithor, the the lush jungle planet that would help grow and develop the new biological defense against the Yuuzhan Vong. The fact that Ithor was also in the direct path of the Yuuzhan Vong invasion was also a factor in the Vong attack against Ithor.

As a result of Corran Horn's possession of the ancestor's bones of Shedao Shai, the leader of the Yuuzhan Vong forces, Elegos is returned home. Angered at what has happened to Elegos, Jedi Knight Corran Horn duels Shedao Shai - with the planet Ithor at stake. One wonders how all of this will eventually effect Horn with the high cost of victory against Shedao Shai.

Pancho
All people smile in the same language.

9-11 SEPTEMBER 11TH 2001 THE WORLDS FINEST COMIC BOOK WRITERS & ARTISTS TELL STORIES TO REMEMBER VOLUME 2

DC Comics

Written and Illustrated by Various Writers and Artists

Except as noted, Copyright 2002. All rights reserved.

"The Real Thing" Copyright 2002 by
Will Eisner. All rights reserved.
STATIC SHOCK: "Wednesday Afternoon" Copyright 2002 by Milestone Media, Inc. All rights reserved.
ASTRO CITY: "Since the Fire" Copyright 2002 by Juke Box Productions. All rights reserved.
I PAPPARAZI: Copyright 2002 by Pat McGreal, Stephen John Phillips and Steven Parke. All rights reserved.
SCENE OF THE CRIME: "Still Life" Copyright 2002 by Ed Brubaker and Michael Lark. All rights reserved.


In the graphic novel 9-11 SEPTEMBER 11TH 2001 THE WORLDS FINEST COMIC BOOK WRITERS & ARTISTS TELL STORIES TO REMEMBER VOLUME 2 various comic book writers and artists tell stories about 9/11.

I purchased this book when the book first came out soon after 9/11, but it was too painful for me to read at the time. After all these years, I have just finished reading the book. These are wonderful stories, most of which are 2-4 pages long. Some of these stories are painful to read and they have powerful images. As a result they still make me tear up, but the stories have a positive attitude behind them. For a graphic novel, there are hardly any "super-heroes" in the book and those super-heroes that are depicted are usually in the story after the fact of the event. In one story depicted, Superman laments that he is not real and can not do anything.

When I recently started to finally read this book, I did not realize the 10th anniversary was coming up. I think it took that long for me to heal enough for me to read the book without it becoming too painful. To finish the book just in time for the 10th anniversary is a poignant coincidence. I only got Volume 2 of the series at the time because the cover appealed to me more than Volume 1 did. The cover is reminiscent of an old Justice League of America cover with a boy and his dog looking up at a billboard of super-heroes. Superman and his superdog Krypto looking up at a billboard of real-life heroes is a much more poignant cover than the cover for Volume 1. God Bless Them All.

Originally all proceeds for this book went to various 9-11 charity organizations, which are listed at the back of the book. I do not know if this is still true that proceeds still go to the charities if one buys the book today, or how well the response was, but it was a very generous gesture by a united comic book industry after a terrorist attack on our home shores. With contributions from the comic industry's writers and artists, which includes such people as Neil Gaiman, Michael Moorcock, Stan Lee, Sergio Aragones, and Will Eisner - the father of the graphic novel, this is a great book to have in your collection.

Pancho
All people smile in the same language.

THE LOST FLEET - DAUNTLESS

An ACE Book/published by arrangement with the author

Written by John G. Hemry writing as Jack Campbell

Copyright 2006 by John G. Hemry writing as Jack Campbell

Cover art by Pat Turner
Cover design by Annette Fiore
Interior text design by Kristin del Rosario

In Jack Campbell's Dauntless, the first book of The Lost Fleet series - John "Black Jack" Geary is a space navy hero who, after being rescued from suspended animation in an escape pod for a hundred years after being in an historical battle in which he was made into a hero, is reluctantly given command of an Alliance space fleet after a peace accord betrayal with the Syndicate Worlds - and goes on the run from the Syndics in the middle of enemy Syndic territory.

After a supposedly "last stand" against a Syndic fleet in the early days of the war and his disappearance, Captain John "Black Jack" Geary feels very uncomfortable with the reverence that the Alliance fleet has for him since he was revived after being discovered in suspended animation in his escape pod. With the Alliance being at war for so long, Geary discovers the officers do not have the experience or honor that the Alliance had at the beginning of the hundred years war with the Syndics at the time of Geary's disappearance. Geary conducts naval maneuvers and codes of conduct against the Syndics that alienates some of the officers of the fleet - which goes against all that they believed from "Black Jack's" exploits. As the fleet try to make their roundabout way back home to the Alliance with a Syndic "hypernet key" - which will allow them to attack the Syndic homeworld - the Syndics send all their military might to search for them.

What is sad is that Geary's grandnephew is very upset with him and his reputation as Geary's grandnephew had to grow up in the shadow of Geary's reputation, and had to live up to those high standards while his grandfather - Geary's brother - lived in the glow of "Black Jack" Geary. Geary, of course, is just a man and does not feel that his grand flawless reputation is deserved.

The scientific realities of space battles are very believable as they deal with the the various intricacies of how far light travels and tracking the positions of various ships from their light signatures. As the fleet raids Syndic worlds for supplies.

Pancho
All people smile in the same language.

DOCTOR WHO - VENGEANCE ON VAROS

A Target Book

Written by Philip Martin

Novelization copyright Philip Martin 1988
Original script copyright Philip Martin 1985
'Doctor Who' series copyright British Broadcasting Corporation 1985,1988

The role of the Doctor was played by Colin Baker

In Vengeance on Varos, when the TARDIS engine gets stalled in time and space, the Doctor and Peri land on the planet Varos which is the only source for the ore he needs to fix the TARDIS.

When the Doctor saves a rebel leader,the Doctor earns the wrath of the representative of the Galatron Mining Corporation. Concerned that his Corporation's business operations will be compromised - Sil, the representative, orders the Doctor's death. Soon, the breaking news of the Doctor and Peri's escape attempts are broadcast across the planet as the guards search for them as part of the population's entertainment. As a by-product of the broadcasts - the life of the leader of Varos depends on the popularity of his decisions, with the population voting like or dislike from the comfort of their own homes. This was demonstrated by an old married couple constantly bickering to each other about the consequences of each decision. So you wonder in which direction the leadcr of Varos will decide the Doctor's fate - despite the pressure of Sil's threats of withdrawing his Corporation's operations from the planet, thus threatening the planet's economy.

Media popularity has been a major factor in modern-day politics. You wonder how our President would fair under similar media popularity polls the Varos leader underwent.

Pancho
All people smile in the same language.

STAR TREK - AVENGER

POCKET BOOKS

WILLIAM SHATNER with Judith Reeves-Stevens & Garfield Reeves-Stevens

Copyright 1997 by Paramount Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

In Avenger, a deadly virus is endangering the Federation. James T. Kirk, long believed dead, leaves his home and goes on a quest in Federation space to find a cure. Meanwhile, Spock must deal with his father's mysterious death.

With Kirk and Spock on the scene, it was inevitable that they would eventually find each other - along with new associates similar to their old crew. Working together, Kirk and Spock seek to fight against common old foes. And being in the 24th century, they would eventually meet up with Picard and the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise, also looking for the cure to the virus. Spock becomes more emotional after his father Sarek's death. While there is a logical explanation for this, it is quite disconcerting to see our beloved Spock act in this manner. Although on the same side, Kirk and Picard have different agendas and go into conflict with each other. Vulcan officials are not exactly crazy about Kirk and his actions either.

While it is nice to see Sarek earlier in his career during the flashbacks, it also shows that there is more to Sarek than you ever suspected. You also see a young Kirk struggling to survive while he was at Tarsus IV - which also suffered from an exotic fungus.

Pancho
All people smile in the same language.

STAR TREK - ENTERPRISE LOGS

POCKET BOOKS

Edited by Carol Greenburg
Introduction and Concept by Robert Greenberger

Copyright 2000 by Paramount Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

Enterprise Logs is a Star Trek anthology of ten stories about all of the Captains of the Enterprise throughout a legacy of six centuries of history for as far back as the Revolutionary War.

It is great to get a sense of history through the genealogy of all the ships named Enterprise. While the stories on the American Sloop-of-War Enterprise during the Revolutionary War and the Aircraft Carrier Enterprise during World War II with a Japanese captive were good, you almost expected more of a science fiction/supernatural element connecting the stories to the rest of the Enterprise history as their Captains had their stories told - although there is more of a supernatural element on the Revolutionary War story.

Once the stories got into the stories of Starfleet as we know it, you could relate much better to the stories. The Enterprise goes out into space defending the Federation, starting with Captain Robert April - all the way up to Captain Jean-Luc Picard. The captains also include little-known woman Captain Rachel Garrett, as well as Captain Will Decker - who spent most of his captaincy of the Enterprise in dry dock. It is a shame the book was published before the TV series Enterprise aired, as I am sure a Jonathan Archer story would have been included as well.

Pancho
All people smile in the same language.

STAR TREK - DEEP SPACE NINE - FEARFUL SYMMETRY

POCKET BOOKS

Written by Olivia Woods

Copyright 2008 by CBS Studios Inc. All Rights Reserved.

In Fearful Symmetry, the Jem'Hadar Taran'atar, sent by Odo, has attacked Captain Kira Nerys and has fled Deep Space Nine. Apparently he was being controlled by Iliana Ghemor from the Mirror universe. Of course Kira and the Deep Space Nine crew does not trust our universe's Iliana who wants to help Kira. After establishing contact with their counterparts in the Mirror universe, Commander Elias Vaughn and a recently healed Kira travel to the Mirror universe to stop Iliana.

This book actually has two stories. This is what I like to call for this publication branding a media flip-book - where you read the first half of the book, then flip the book over and read the second half of the book, which contains a different story. This is why there is a double cover with the back cover upside-down for the Marketing. Writer Olivia Woods replaced writer Leanna Morrow, hence the different writers on the covers. Actually I was expecting the second half of the book to be the same story told from a different point of view, but that is not the case.

The second half of the book does contain a different story still set in the Deep Space Nine universe. Iliana Ghemor is a Cardassian non-clone look-alike artist-turned-spy for Kira Nerys, so she has become a major character targeting Kira in the books set after the TV series. As a result of her prestigious parents, artist Iliana Ghemor is pursued to be recruited by the covert Cardassian intelligent agency - the Obsidian Order. After her fiance, who served in the military to sustain order as the Cardassians occupy Bajor, gets killed by Bajoran terrorists - Iliana joins the Obsidian Order. After undergoing surgery to make her look even more Bajoran, Iliana's character in the Mirror universe has been made insane by Gul Dukat manipulations and the Iliana in our home universe wants to stop her.

With two universes and several Kira/Ilianas in the stories, I get a little confused as to which universe and characters I am keeping track of, especially in the other books concerning this story.

Pancho
All people smile in the same language.

DRAGONHEART

DEL REY

Written by Todd McCaffrey

Copyright 2008 by Todd McCaffrey and Anne McCaffrey

In Anne McCaffrey's  Dragonheart, a plague-like sickness is spreading amongst the fire lizards and the dragons of Pern. With the flying fire-breathing dragons the only defense of Pern against the ravishing Thread from space, Fiona - former Lady, who is now the young dragonrider of golden queen dragon Talenth - joins a desperate expedition to heal the dragons wounded from fighting Thread before the surviving dragons get overwhelmed and die or suicide from the disease.

While the book starts out with harper Kindan, who was a major character in the last few books, this is mostly the story of Fiona as she basically becomes a Weyrwoman. While it is nice to see Fiona accept the responsibility of becoming a Weyrwoman as she organizes a new Weyr, the relationships that you think of do not turn out the way you thought it would be - especially as she is basically one of only two women on the expedition. You would expect some kind of resolution at the end of the book, which you would think is more than just the expedition coming home, but that is not the case.

Pancho
All people smile in the same language.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer - THE LONG WAY HOME

Dark Horse Books

Script JOSS WHEDON

Pencils GEORGES JEANTY

Copyright 1998, 2007

In The Long Way Home, Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 8 begins in graphic novel form written by Joss Whedon and pencils by Georges Jeanty. The graphic novels of Season 8 are the official continuation of the Buffy series and has Buffy leading and training several squads of new Slayers to fight the supernatural. In The Long Way Home,  the Military consider Buffy and her army of Slayers too dangerous, since she destroyed her home town, and brings back an old enemy to take down Buffy and her Slayer force.

In a continuation from the TV series, the graphic novels of Season 8 begins with The Long Way Home. Not constrained by a television budget, a more epic and graphic scale can be depicted in the visual story telling. The Slayers are more of an army now than they were in the last season of the TV series. Dawn has turned into a giant, Willow returns, and Xander is in command of Slayer Central. The closest to a normal life Buffy has is dealing with her sister-turned-giant. The graphic novel does mention other Buffys who were created to protect the original Buffy from being a target, including the Buffy in Italy running around with The Immortal, mentioned in the last season of Angel and in the book Queen of the Slayers. The last issue in the graphic novel begins a new story, in which Giles appears, that obviously continues in the next novel.

Pancho
All people smile in the same language.

STAR WARS: EPISODE II - ATTACK OF THE CLONES

LUCAS Books
A Del Rey Book

Written by R. A. Salvatore

Copyright 2002 by Lucasfilm Ltd. All rights reserved.

In Attack of the Clones, Anakin Skywalker is an older Padawan learner who becomes reunited with Senator Padme Amidala on the galactic capitol world of Coruscant. With an attempt on her life, Anakin is assigned to protect Padme as Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi goes on a quest through the Jedi Archives database to try to discover why on a hidden planet in space called Kamino, an army of clones is being created.

A lot has changed since The Phantom Menace. Padme has gone from being Queen of Naboo to being a Senator in the Galactic Republic. Padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi is now a Jedi Knight and Anakin is now Kenobi's Padawan. You see more of Anakin's mother Shmi, and her new husband and adopted son Owen. While it was great to see Anakin returning home to the desert world of Tatooine to meet his step-brother Owen, you feel their pain when Shmi gets kidnapped by the Tuskin Raiders. With Anakin protecting Padme from Trade Federation assassins as the conflict with the Separatist movement increases, their relationship grows until Anakin and Padme finally wed in secret. Meanwhile, the Clone Wars begin....

Pancho
All people smile in the same langauge.

JAILBAIT ZOMBIE

EOS
An Imprint of HarperCollins Publishers

Written by Mario Acevedo

Copyright 2009 by Mario Acevedo

In Jailbait Zombie, a Felix Gomez novel, a crow delivers a message from the Araneum to vampire private investigator Felix Gomez. Vampire Gomez is sent on a mission by the Araneum to search for who is creating an army of zombies before the zombies reveal the existence of the supernatural to humans. Along the way, Felix is forced to be accompanied by a clairvoyant teenage girl who demands that Felix make her a vampire.

Due to their decomposition, it is easier than one might think to locate zombies because of their smell - which turns off undead vampires like Felix. Since teenager Phaedra is related to organized gangsters, it is funny that Felix gets some reluctant help from the gangsters as part of their business - as the gangsters become unwitting victims of the zombies. Phaedra's terminal condition is rather sad and makes you understand why she wants Felix to make her a vampire. Felix is reluctant to turn her into a vampire, and all the curse that goes with it, but Phaedra's psychic clairvoyant powers make it hard to resist.

Pancho
All people smile in the same language.

A World of Difference

Del Rey Mass Market Edition

Written by Harry Turtledove

Copyright 1990 by Harry Turtledove

In A World of Difference, a Viking lander is destroyed on the planet Minerva just as it sends pictures of it's destroyer - an alien life form. The United States and the Soviet Union then launch a manned space mission to Minerva.

This novel takes place in an alternate universe where a life-bearing planet, Minerva, takes the place of the red planet Mars in our universe. Despite Minerva being a near neighbor of Earth, the aliens and humans have never met before. The aliens have two domains that are at war with each other but they are separated by a vast chasm. With the human's technology, one domain is able to cross the chasm and the deadly ice floes to invade the other domain - and the Americans and Soviets wind up on opposite sides of an alien war.

One of the major differences with the aliens, aside from the extra arms, are the fact that the females bleed to death when giving birth so the females are very child-like because they do not live long enough to mature.

Pancho
All people smile in the same language.

STAR TREK - STARGAZER: OBLIVION

POCKET BOOKS

Written by Michael Jan Friedman

Copyright 2003 by Paramount Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

In Stargazer: Oblivion, USS Stargazer Captain Jean-Luc Picard is on an undercover operation to meet with a defector on a planet in Ubarrak space - when the meeting goes wrong and Picard is accused of terrorism. While in jail, Picard meets someone who will help him - Guinan.

This is the first time Picard meets Guinan. Picard appreciates her talents, like freeing them from jail, while Guinan keeps the secret of them meeting before - as well as holding in the pain she has from being released from the Nexus. The chief of security takes it personally when Picard and Guinan escape from jail and leads the manhunt for them. With the Cardassians searching for Picard and the defector, their running from the law leads them on quite a hunt.

Pancho
All people smile in the same language.



















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ORPHAN'S ALLIANCE

Orbit

Written by Robert Buettner

Copyright 2008 by Robert Buettner

In Orphan's Alliance, with more humans now inhabiting the Outworlds in space, the army sends Jason Wander to act as an emissary to the Outworlds.

As an emissary, Jason tries to secure the resources of an alliance planet to help secretly build a moon as a forward operating base to defend their home  Earth against the Slugs. When an old friend arrives as part of a senate task force determined to find out about the use of the black funds they used to build the classified base, tensions mount as the Slugs find the base - and a major character dies.

It is interesting and rather frustrating to see soldier Jason to be an emissary as well as hiding the real reason for the use of the black funds, especially from his Congresswoman friend Munchkin - the mother of his Godson. With the misappropriating of government funds as a felony, Jason and his people scramble to hide the real reason of their use of the moon - as the government will not admit the base's existence. While there are loose controls over the use of black funds, suborning human rights violations is a felony and the congressmen investigate Jason's dealings with the planet's people.

Pancho
All people smile in the same language.

STARGATE UNIVERSE - AIR

An original publication of Fandemonium Ltd, produced under license from MGM Consumer Products.

Written by James Swallow

Copyright 2009 by MGM Global Holdings Inc. STARGATE UNIVERSE is a trademark of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Photography and cover art: Copyright 2009 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. All Rights Reserved.

In Air, a novelization of the TV show Stargate Universe, a group of scientists and soldiers accidentally travel through a Stargate onto an Ancient starship in deep space with no way home.

A spin off of the TV shows Stargate-SG1 and Stargate: Atlantis, this novelization is based on the 3-part pilot episodes for the show Stargate Universe. When they discover the secret to the ninth chevron on the Stargate created by the Ancients, the planet the scientists and soldiers are on get attacked and they are forced to evacuate through the Stargate without knowing where they are going. The Ancient starship they wind up on has limited resources and they desperately search for a planet to replenish themselves before they all die.

The driven scientist Rush has his own determined agenda of discovering everything about the starship of the Ancients - the people who built the Stargates - with no regard to the wishes of everyone else of trying to get back home to Earth. He even tries to take command of the entire mission despite the fact that he has no authority to do so. Dr. Rush's arrogance is very unlikeable and makes you want to have the soldiers frag him so they can all go home.

Pancho
All people smile in the same language.

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

Del Rey Mass Market Edition

Written by James Rollins

Copyright 2008 by Lucasfilm Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull by James Rollins is a novelization of the movie Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Archaeologist Indiana Jones is on the trail of a crystal skull, along with a young man and his mother, and is also chased by Soviet agents who are also after the skull - including a determined iron maiden of an agent in charge of the Soviets.

It is great to see Indiana again. Set during the 50's, the book also deals with the mature Indy's aging, but Indiana still is pretty much an action figure. It is nice to compare him to the young Mutt, who has a natural talent as an action figure, as they go through their adventures to find Mutt's academic mentor as well as to return the crystal skull home. It surprises me that the Soviets are interested in the mystical properties of the crystal skull, but it is in keeping with the spirit of the Indiana Jones series.

Pancho
All people smile in the same language.

STAR TREK - THE ASHES OF EDEN

DC Comics

Co-writers - Judy & Gar Reeves-Stevens
                   - William Shatner

Penciller - Steve Erwin

Inker - Jimmy Palmiotti

Colorist - Gloria Vasquez

Letter - Willie Schubert

Copyright 1995 by Paramount Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

In this graphic novel, based on the book The Ashes of Eden  by William Shatner with Judith & Garfield Reeves-Stevens, Captain James T. Kirk - after a long career of service - elects to leave Starfleet to retire but is then recruited by Romulan/Klingon woman Teilani to save her world from her parent's people. Meanwhile, Kirk's old Starfleet rival Admiral Drake is determined to do away with Kirk as Drake persues a secret agenda about Teilani's world.

Teilani's world has a dark secret in space being the experimental colony of both the Romulans and Klingons. Kirk becomes seduced by Teilani as he seems to have found the secret to the fountain of youth in his new home and a purpose in life again. While on a classified intelligence mission, Checkov gets upset at his old friend Captain Sulu of the U.S.S. Excelsior that Sulu did not tell him he was secretly Chekov's backup. Sulu and Checkov reluctantly join forces as Admiral Drake recruits them and the rest of the Enterprise crew to go after the rogue Kirk, unbeknownst to them that there was secretly a link to their intelligence mission and Admiral Drake. The artwork by penciller Steve Erwin, inker Jimmy Palmiotti, letter Willie Schubert, and colorist Gloria Vasquez captures the images that were described in the book.

Pancho
All people smile in the same language.

STAR TREK - COUNTDOWN

IDW PUBLISHING

Story by Roberto Orci & Alex Kurtzman

Writers Mike Johnson & Tom Jones

Artist David Messina

Copyright 2009 by Paramount Pictures Corporation
Copyright 2009 by CBS Studios Inc.

In Countdown, the graphic novel collection of the four issue comic books, is the prequel to the movie Star Trek. The graphic novel shows the origin of Nero and why he was so determined to destroy Spock and Vulcan as an unstable star becomes a supernova that threatens Romulan space and soon Federation space.

It is great to see The Next Generation crew after Star Trek: Nemesis try and stop Nero. The crew has grown as characters and is basically the last you will see of them as Star Trek moves onto a different direction in the reimagining of the franchise. The developement of Red Matter to stop the supernova turns the nova into a singularity as Nero gets pulled into the singularity by it's gravitational field and winds up in the updated Star Trek movie universe. The art by David Messina captures the likenesses of the actors. There is also a gallery of several of the characters that were depicted at the end of the graphic novel.

See movie review:

Star Trek

Pancho
All people smile in the same language.

STAR TREK - DOCTOR'S ORDERS

An Original Publication of POCKET BOOKS

Written by Diane Duane

Copyright 1990 by Paramount Pictures.

In Doctor's Orders, during a planetary survey, Doctor McCoy complains about work once too often that Captain Kirk gives him the conn of the U.S.S. Enterprise so that McCoy can relax and Kirk can go down on the planet and build some diplomatic relationships with the native species. During this time, Captain Kirk disappears - and the Klingons show up!

I always wondered if Kirk could give the conn to Dr. McCoy. Knowing author Diane Duane, this is probably something that could happen in real life. The planetary life is so unique for the crew to categorize, you do not know if you will be talking to a talking rock or not, or maybe even a talking tree - and even then you may not be communicating properly. Meanwhile, with communications from back home, McCoy's command status is threaten to be revoked by Starfleet Command. The desperate search for Kirk is not helped with the Klingon situation.

Pancho
All people smile in the same language.

STAR WARS - DARK TIDE I - ONSLAUGHT

A Del Rey Book

Written by Michael A. Stackpole

Copyright 2000 by Lucasfilm Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

In Onslaught by Michael A. Stackpole, Rogue Squadron and the New Jedi Order learn about the Yuuzhan Vong and must learn how to fight off their invasion of New Republic space. Jedi Master Luke Skywalker sends off his nephew Anakin Solo and Corran Horn on various missions in their quest to defend against the Yuuzhan Vong, while Leia Organa Solo must deal with the New Republic Senate's political disbelief that there really is a new enemy from beyond the galaxy.

Having Republic Chief of State Borsk Fey'lya refuse to believe the existence of the Yuuzhan Vong and accusing Leia of using this as a political ploy for power when she brings in this news is very frustrating. It makes you think that he is the one really using this news to maintain his power, especially when he refuses the military their desire to make a reconnaissance of the suspected area of contact. Mara Jade's illness from the Yuuzhan Vong is very sad, but her teachings of the Force to Anakin and how not to use the Force is very loving and motherly. Anakin's sister Jaina Solo joining Rogue Squadron continues the tradition of the Skywalker line being a part of Rogue Squadron and furthers her character development.

The fact that a Yuuzhan Vong scout has been in New Republic space on a planet at the edge of the galaxy 50 years before adds to the history of the Vong society being just beyond the galaxy in preparation for their invasion. This history is enhanced as one of the Vong leaders searches for his lost grandfather's remains and is horrified at the desecration of his grandfather's remains by the educational expedition that found him. Because of their alienness - with the Yuuzhan Vong's abhorrence of technology and their use of biological weapons, embrace and glorification of pain, and lack of presence in the Force - the Jedi are hard pressed to fight off the Vong as the Vong are determined to cleanse the galaxy of all forms of technology.

Pancho
All people smile in the same language.