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.

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.