Monthly Archives: February 2015

Conspiracy Theories and Moon Landings

The Cassandra ProjectThe Cassandra Project
Jack McDevitt & Mike Resnick
Ace Books, mmp, 343 p., $7.99
ebook $7.99  Kindle Nook

I’ve been a big fan of both of these authors for years, so it was with high expectations that I approached The Cassandra Project. Now the thing to keep in mind is that collaborations rarely read like the work of either author involved. In the best cases, the result is something that surpasses what either author could produce on their own. A prime example of this would be the works of Niven and Pournelle or Pohl and Kornbluth. On the other hand, when the collaboration doesn’t work, the results can be downright awful.

Fortunately, the work under consideration here is much more of the former than the latter, even if it doesn’t quite rise to the level of Niven/Pournelle or Phol/Kornbluth. I’ll say more about that shortly. First, here’s the setup. Continue reading

Rest in Peace, Leonard Nimoy 1931-2015

SpockThe news media is reporting that Leonard Nimoy has passed away.  He was 83.  In spite of other roles, he will forever be remembered as Spock on the original Star Trek.

I was a fan of the original ST, although I had to catch the shows in reruns at odd times when I was growing up.  I’m not sure I’ve seen all of the episodes.  I did read the James Blish novelizations when I was in 5th and 6th grades.

Spock was always my favorite character on the show.  I went through a mild phase where I tried to model myself on him by not displaying emotions and using only logic.  That didn’t last long.  I’ve no Vulcan blood.

Rest in peace, Mr. Nimoy.  You lived long and prospered.

A Review of Blowback by Kristine Kathryn Rusch

Blowback-ebook-cover-rebrand-2014-webBlowback
Kristine Kathryn Rusch
WMG Publishing
ebook $5.99
trade paper $18.99

As I announced in my last post on this blog, I’m going to be reviewing all of the Anniversary Day Saga titles in order, alternating between here and Amazing Stories.  The even numbered titles will be reviewed here, while the odd numbered titles I’ll review at Amazing Stories.  The first one of those was a few weeks ago.

Blowback is the second novel in the series, and it takes place six months after the events of Anniversary Day.  The residents of the Moon are struggling to put their lives back together amidst the devastation.  Only the actions of Miles Flint, Noelle DeRicci, Bartholomew Nyquist, and other investigators kept the death toll from being higher.

Now these people are trying to trace where the clones came from and who sent them.  Along with the shock and grief that don’t seem to go away is the fear that something like Anniversary Day will happen again.   It’s a fear that’s well-founded, since the only clone captured alive in the previous book said that Anniversary Day was only the beginning.  Continue reading