Earth Strike

Star Carrier Book One
Ian Douglas
Eos An Imprint of Harper Collins
$7.95

Book one of this series launches a war that Planet Earth has to win.  The Sh’dar an alien race of beings, is on a path to destroy anything in its way.  Earth is just one of the planets that are to be its target.  Humans know they are on the way because intelligence gathering organizations have relayed to the highest authorities that Earth is one of the objectives of this species.  The situation is critical.  Humans have only so much time to prepare for the onslaught of foreign beings
The novel appears to have everything that would make for an excellent science fiction tale.   It’s got military personnel, faster than light speed ships, aliens that are out to destroy anything in their path much like the Borg from “Star Trek” 
What the novel does not have is human characters that you really care about. The story is filled with lots of people, and the writing races along but I found I really had no one that I really have a concern for.  They are just military soldiers caught up in a war to save humanity. 
I’ve not read anything else by this author and don’t really want to because one of the complaints many readers and I have of newer science fiction is that the writers tell stories that are filled with great gadgets, lots of fighting, knowledge of science, but are lacking in characters that you empathize with.  One of the reasons authors like Asimov, Clarke, and Heinlein are still in print today is they did not concentrate on the technology but rather how it affected the people in the story.  The populace was also believable and if it was a war with any creature from outer space you wanted the humans to win.  Here I really don’t care what happens.
Chris Berman’s “The Hive” is a much better read on the same type of situation because; you like and care about his characters as they face the alien menace. 
 
www.eosbooks.com
www.amaaon.com

Review by Gary Roen

Wilderness

Dennis Danvers
Eos An Imprint of Harper Collins
$7.95

College professor Erik Summers has a situation any person would love: two beautiful women competing for his affection.  On the one hand there is his next door neighbor Alice White; on the second hand his recently divorced ex wife Debra.  To add to his circumstances there are several female students who are also in love with him   As if that were not enough conflict, Alice is in therapy about a secret that she finally reveals to Eric.
This novel is classified in the horror genre and is easy to see once the secret is revealed why.  The author fills the story with believable characters caught up in the web that is cast by Alice.  The situation she is dealing with is real but no one believes her until her closet life is revealed.
What made the tale more interesting was the character Debra, who divorced Eric and wants him back just for the fun of it and to create a wedge in the relationship he has with Alice.
I found this novel to be one of the most fascinating novels I have read in a long time.  What Alice does with dog food when she does not own one is very interesting and memorable as well as the way in which her underground life is revealed makes for a shocking revelation.  What makes this more remarkable is that the people Dennis Danvers writes about are not so far fetched.  They are realistic caught up in the some conflicts that are similar to ones we all face every day. Wilderness is a first class read that should be at the top of anyone’s list who likes a good horror or fantasy page turner.  

www.eosbooks.com
www.amazaon.com

Review by Gary Roen

The Invaders A Quinn Martin TV Series

James Rosin
The Autumn road Company
$17.95
 
Finally there is a book about the classic TV series that lasted just two seasons.  It’s easy to see why, with the behind the scenes information the author researched.  ABC made many changes to the format while they also shifted the show so that no one could ever find it.  The author interviewed many of the people behind the show as well as Roy Thinnes,  the actor who played David Vincent.  There are also episode guides, explanations for such things as what was the influence that helped name the character David Vincent,   bios for many of the guest stars, and lots of great pictures and trivia any fan should not miss.  This is a great resource to use to further enjoy the two different seasons on DVD and Blue Ray Disc.   

www.classictvseriesbooks.com
www.amazon.com

Review by Gary Roen

Split Image

Robert B. Parker
Putnam
$26.95

This, I am sad to say, is one of the last books written by this author.  It is a good one of the Jessie Stone series.  Stone still has his addiction to booze and is the tough sheriff of Paradise.  Sunny Randall is also in this great novel that races along to its final conclusion.  The trademark of snappy dialogue is also here as well.   Parker was the master of this type of tale. I, for one, will miss this author when the final book is published later this year

www.penguin.com
www.amazon.com

Review by Gary Roen

The Wild Zone

Joy Fielding
Atria
$25.00

Fielding is back with another great nail biting suspense novel.  This time it starts a little slower, with the characters who meet up in the bar “The Wild Zone.”  As readers get to know them they begin to evolve and change until the final smashing blow away surprise ending.  Everything is not as it seems with this one.  Fielding takes readers on a roller coaster ride that never lets go.  This is one of her best in years. 

www.simonandSchuster.com
www.amazon.com

Review by Gary Roen

Tea Party Revival The Conscience of a Conservative Reborn

Dr. B. Leland Baker
Outskirts Press Inc
$11.95
 
People are fed up with government because the system is broken and no one knows how to fix it.  That is very obvious after reading this book about the party that fashions itself after the original.  The thing is this group is nothing like the first one and if they were in control this country would be back in the stone ages.  Tea Party people want the elimination of the court system, Department of Transportation, and every other office that is on a federal level.  I want to ask any of them who have served in the military.  How many partook of the GI Bill and go through the veteran’s administration for medical care?  Also how many people use the interstate highway system that we have in this country’.  Their answer of just tack whatever you want on the constitution as an amendment is plain stupid.  This is a party to stay away from because they are so negative. 

www.outskirtspress.com
www.amazon.com  

Review by Gary Roen

Never Look Away

Linwood Barclay
Delacorte
$25.00
 
Wow this is the second book I’ve read by this author and, like “Fear the Worst,” it had me turning the pages and going “what’s next?”  He begins the story with an outing to a theme park with David Harwood, his son and wife.   The story begins in the prologue where David thinks his son has been kidnapped.  By the end of it,  he finds his son but has lost his wife.  She has just disappeared from the face of the earth.  He searches for her and finds out nothing is really what it seemed.  He is determined to find out what happened.   The novel roars like a run away freight train until the final smashing ending.  Barclay is a great suspense writer. 

www.linwoodbarclay.com
www.bantamdell.com
www.amazon.com

Review by Gary Roen