Shannon's Review - God Emperor Of Dune by Frank Herbert

Title: God Emperor Of Dune
Series: Dune #4
Author: Frank Herbert
Illustrator/Book Cover Design: unknown
Genre: Fiction, Science Fiction, Series
Publisher: Berkley
Received: Bought
Release Date: January 1984
Pages: 423
Rating:



Author Frank Herbert’s Official Websites:


(taken from goodreads.com.)

Website:
https://www.dunenovels.com/

Blog:
None

Facebook:
None

Twitter:
None

Instagram:
None


Shannon’s Thoughts:

Taking place thousands of years after Dune Messiah Leto II is still alive and is now considered Emperor/God of the empire. He physically looks much different now as he excepts the bodily changes of turning into a sandworm. His body and mind still hold on to some human things. For one he keeps bringing Duncan Idaho back to serve him, Duncan keeps the unhuman part of Leto at bay. Most people under Leto do not agree with the way he runs things. Many want to overthrow him.

I find all the characters in the Dune Universe are so different and interesting in their own way. My favorite character in this one was and is Duncan Idaho. I wonder how many times Leto had cloned him or how many of Duncan’s children or grandchildren ran about Arrakis.

Not much is explained as to why the golden path leads Leto to become a sandworm or why all the worlds will go downhill when he is gone. There are many questions left unanswered but I can let some go because real-life leaves questions unanswered.

I will continue to read the rest of the Dune series. I think fans of Science Fiction, and Family Sagas will enjoy this series. I say this as a fan of lite Science Fiction, I don’t like SciFi books too heavy and all science jargon.

Shannon's Review - Children Of Dune by Frank Herbert

Title: Children Of Dune
Series: Dune Chronicles #3
Author: Frank Herbert
Illustrator/Book Cover Design: Vincent DiFate
Genre: Fiction, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Classic
Publisher: J.P. Putnam’s Sons
Received: Bought
Release Date: January 1976
Pages: 444
Rating:



Author Frank Herbert’s Official Websites:


(taken from goodreads.com.)


Website:
https://www.dunenovels.com/

Blog:
None

Facebook:
None

Twitter:
None

Instagram:
None




Shannon’s Thoughts:

In this third installment of the chronicles, we jump 9 years after Dune Messiah. Paul and Chani Atreides twins, Leto and Ghanima, are infused with knowledge of the past and future because of the actions of their parents. There Aunt Alia is temporary on the throne until the twins come of age, but Alia’s mental stability is declining. She leading towards darkness. The twins follow their fate and Leto becomes something unthinkable and wondrous.

I am a fan of family sagas and so far the Dune Chronicles are fast becoming one of my favorites. Normally the fact the book being science fiction would get 1 thumb down but this series has been different. With the sci-fi twists, I never would have guessed what would happen. It helps that I keep picturing the actors that will be in the new movie. Hard not to like Duncan Idaho character when he’s being played by Jason Momoa in your head. Compared to the first and second books I found this one moved quicker. I felt there is more action

The political side of the stories I do not completely follow. Sometimes it is a little over my head. Herbert does not get into too much detail when he describes things. He is not Stephen King, meaning he does not over-describe situations. Sometimes I wish he would add a little more when it comes to people talking and a little more straightforward with their thoughts.

I am very curious as to what is to come in the next couple of books. I plan to read them all...even the newer ones I think.

Shannon's Review - Dune Messiah by Frank Herbert

Title: Dune Messiah
Series: Dune Chronicles #2
Author: Frank Herbert
Illustrator/Book Cover Design: Unknown
Genre: Fiction, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Classic
Publisher: Berkley
Received: Bought
Release Date: March 1980
Pages: 279
Rating:





Author Frank Herbert’s Official Websites:



(taken from goodreads.com.)

Website:
https://www.dunenovels.com/

Blog:
None

Facebook:
None

Twitter:
None

Instagram:
None






Shannon’s Thoughts:

This second book in the Dune Chronicles returns with Paul Atreides as now emperor. The stress of ruling and knowing what is to come has taken its toll on Paul. He is not alone in being able to see the future Paul’s sister Alia helps Paul rule as she is the head of the Bene Gesserit. Even though Paul and Alia are the center characters we see that the choices they make may not be the best or lead them to a future they wish for.

This is my first time reading through this series and I am really enjoying it. The series is unlike any family saga I have read. All the characters have layers. Neither of them is just good or bad. Like every real individual, the decisions we make have consequences. Paul and Alia are different because they do know what is ahead just not when.

With the upcoming movie, I have been picturing the cast as certain characters...like Duncan Idaho played by Jason Momoa. I don’t if this is a good thing or bad. Only time will tell I suppose. Knowing about the movie coming out is urging me to read the series quicker. I will be starting the next book Children of Dune soon.

Shannon's Review - The Electric Heir by Victoria Lee

Title: The Electric Heir
Series: Feverwake #2
Author: Victoria Lee
Illustrator/Book Cover Design: David Curtis
Genre: Young Adult, Fiction, Fantasy, Science Fiction, LGBT
Publisher: Skyscape

Received: Free For Honest Review
Release Date: March 2020
Pages: 480
Rating:




Author Victoria Lee’s Official Websites:




Website:
http://victorialeewrites.com/

Blog:
http://victorialeewrites.com/blog/

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/victorialeewrites/

Twitter:
https://twitter.com/sosaidvictoria

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/sosaidvictoria/



Shannon’s Thoughts:

This second book in the duology of the Feverwake series finds our main character, Noam, learning to deal with the loss of love and the secrets he must keep to win a war. Lehrer still has the power over Carolina, and with his powers, he has manipulated minds to remember and do what he wants them to. Noam is one of those manipulated but has broken free of Lehrer’s grasp. Noam can not let Lehrer know he has remembered what Lehrer has made him forget or that Noam is part of a rebellion. Even with all the darkness surrounding Lehrer, Noam still has lingering feelings for him since he has in some way replaced the role Dara use to have. Dara who Noam truly loved. Dara who Noam believes dead.

Things start out quite dark unlike what I remember from the first book, The Fever King. Noam’s excitement of learning magic is gone and is replaced with a heavy burden of how to bring down the chancellor. I missed the funloving roommates and the joy Noam felt when learning new magic. There was not much happiness for the characters in this book. There was so much manipulation, gaslighting, and abuse. Not a book to read when depressed.

Jumping back into the Feverwake world was pretty easy. It was plain to see that Noam and the other characters had grown and changed since the first book. Even with all the darkness in the character’s current world I still felt comfort and curiosity about what would happen next. I loved every character well... except for Lehrer.

I enjoyed this series and I am sad that at the moment there are no more books in this world coming. I am interested in what Victoria Lee will write next.

Shannon's Review - Dune by Frank Herbert

Title: Dune
Series: Dune #1
Author: Frank Herbert
Illustrator/Book Cover Design: Vincent Di Fate
Genre: Fiction, Sci Fiction,
Publisher: Berkley
Received: Bought
Release Date: Jan 1984
Pages: 512
Rating:



Author Frank Herbert’s Official Websites:




(taken from goodreads.com.)


Website:
https://www.dunenovels.com/

Blog:
None

Facebook:
None

Twitter:
None

Instagram:
None



Shannon’s Thoughts:

Along with his wife and teenaged son, Duke Leto Atreides, moves his family to another planet named Arrakis. The Atreides family is one of many powerful families fighting for political power. The duke’s son, Paul, has not had the most normal upbringing. Paul has been raised to follow in his father’s footsteps diplomatically. His mother has trained him spiritually. Paul and his supernatural powers will reach unusual heights.

I watched the movies before reading the book. My favorite movie was the tv series and I am looking forward to the new movies being filmed now. I think the movies from 2000 explains more of the story and it was very close to the book. Author Frank Herbert created a big world and deep characters. Even though this is the first book in the series there is so much detail between the written lines.

Usually with fictional books that have political stories or wars going on my brain loses interest and melts. I mean I read Les Miserables but skipped the war parts. I felt different with this book. I understood the reasons behind each task the people took as they were described to me in a way that made me enjoy what I was reading.

I will absolutely be reading at least the original books written before Herbert passed. I think this is a series that even those who don’t like science fiction as much (like me) will enjoy.

Shannon's Review - The Fever King by Victoria Lee

Title: The Fever King
Series: Feverwake #1
Author: Victoria Lee
Cover Artist: Davia Curtis
Genre: Fiction, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Young Adult, Magic, LGBT
Publisher: Skyscape
Received: From Publicist For Review
Release Date: March 2019
Pages: 375
Rating:



Author Victoria Lee’s Official Websites:

(from goodreads.com)

Website:
http://victorialeewrites.com/

Blog:
http://victorialeewrites.com/blog

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/victorialeewrites/

Twitter:https://twitter.com/sosaidvictoria

Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/sosaidvictoria/


Shannon’s Thoughts:
Set in futuristic world magic is real. Not all have it and it is only found after fevers rage through areas killing most. Those that are left are called witchlings. Each witchlings main power is different but other powers can be learned. Our main character Noam has lived some hardships as a refuge and things do not get much easier for him after a fever breaks out killing his father. The fever leaves him with powers that make him very wanted by political leaders. As he learns how powerful he really is he also finds an attraction to a fellow witchling name Dara.

Characters are enjoyable to get to know even the ones that may not be on the side of good. I particularly liked the fact that there was no way to be sure who was in the right and who was wrong. There were no black and white sides and you learn this as the main character, Noam, also realizes it. Even Noam’s relationship with Dara is in the grey area.

One thing bothered me about the name of the new countries that North America broke into like the name Carolinia. I don’t know why this bothered me. It just felt the name for people were pretty great but the names for the places in the future world were just so so.

The author Victoria Lee has mentioned some characters will be in the next book and I look forward to finding out what happens next. I hope Noam expands his magic knowledge and get more powers. I found the lore of magic in the world very interesting.

Shannon's Review - Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Title: Frankenstein

Series: N/A

Author: Mary Shelley

Genre: Fiction, Science Fiction, Horror, Classic

Publisher: Barnes Noble Classics (for above version)

Received: Purchased

Release Date: Jan 2005 (above version), Jan 1818 (original)

Pages: 223

Rating:

Author Mary Shelley’s Official Websites:

(image from Britinnica.com)

Website:

None

Shannon’s Thoughts:

Scientist Victor Frankenstein is obsessed with finding a way to reanimate human life after death. After he successfully fulfills his desire he immediately regrets it, condemning the new horrific life form to live in hiding.  As Frankenstein’s new monster learns to understand those around him and his own existence he begins to hate his creator. The monster enacts revenge on Victor by taking away those he loves, only stopping if the doctor does what the monster asks for.

The very start of the book reminded me of Moby Dick, at least the little I read of it.  Victor Frankenstein obsession with creating life is very much like Ahab’s obsession with finding the whale. Then the middle of the book was like The Picture Of Dorian Grey which a book I really liked and very much about doing good or evil and how it affects those around yourself. It ends again like Moby Dick as Victor new obsession directs him. The middle of the book had me interested because it is really a discussion on what being human is or could be, and regret. Actually, it is about even more than that so much you could a book about and people probably have.

I for one not a fan of the scenes where Dr. Frankenstein was channeling Ahab from Moby Dick. His obsession is part of the reason I couldn’t finish Moby Dick.  Luckily Frankenstein is much shorter than Moby Dick.

I am glad I took the time to read this.  It is a book that is so much different than what the movies and tv have done. In fact, there is so much difference in the movies I am really curious why or how they came up with things...like the character Igor...no where in the book.  The monster having a square head and bolts on the neck...nope not in the book. I am not a big fan of most classics but this one that I did enjoy.

Shannon's Review - Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

Title: Brave New World

Series: N/A

Author: Aldous Huxley

Genre: Fiction, Classic, Sci Fi

Publisher: Harper Perennial

Received: from swap site

Release Date: 1931

Pages: 268

Rating:

Aldous Huxley Official Websites:

Official Website: N/A

Blog: N/A

Facebook: N/A

Twitter: N/A

Shannon’s Thoughts:

Brave New World is a interesting take on the world in the future and how we interact with each other and do or react to things.

I read this and, 1984 by George Orwell, a couple of months ago.   In my mind they have jumbled together and I am not sure what scenes come from which book.  I believe after reading other reviews that I do remember the main characters.  One character a man who questions the way people live and the fact they can not question why.   The other character is a woman who the man is attracted to (sorry I don’t remember their names).  The woman is attracted to him as well but just in the way that is normal for society, meaning people are very promiscuous.

I have to say that this is another classic that I just wasn’t a big fan of.  I liked it a little better than The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, which if you read my review for does not take much to be better than.

If you are a fan of 1984, or Fahrenheit 451, you will probably enjoy as for me I am still in search of a classic that sticks with me and doesn’t make me bored.

Shannon's Review - Tibby And His Friend's Big Secret by Carl Kegerreis

Title: Tibby And His Friend’s Big Secret

Series: N/A

Author: Carl Kegerreis

Genre: Juvenile Fiction

Publisher: Outskirt Press

Received: From Author

Release Date: January 2010

Pages: 96

Rating:

Author’s Official Website

Carl Kegerreis Website

N/A

Blog

N/A

Facebook

N/A

Twitter

N/A

Shannon’s Thoughts:

A newspaper boy, Tibby, his dog, and his friends find thrilling secrets happening in their hometown.  At least that is what Tibby thinks unless it is all a dream...

There are some interesting uses of the author’s imagination.  Main character, Tibby has a dog that completely keeps Tibby and friends safe.  The dog is adorable.  I also like the fact that ex-bully Fogel becomes his new best friend.

Even though there are some good things about the story...there was just too much that drove me crazy.  I had to read the book twice and it is not one to read with any distractions (like tv or music). This kids story has two different stories going on and technically you never find out what is real and what isn’t.  Tibby wakes up 3 or 4 times leaving you figure out what was a dream and what wasn’t and it would happen kinda suddenly.

Another issue I had was with Tibby and his friend Rex.  The characters sort of became mushed together.  I was never sure which was talking when and had to reread to find out.

In general this book gave me a headache but that does not mean it was bad. I just think it needs a lot of tweaking.

Shannon's Review - Serenity: The Shepherd's Tale by Joss Whedon and Zack Whedon

Title: Serenity: The Shepherd’s Tale Vol. 3

Series: Serenity

Author: Joss Whedon and Zack Whedon

Genre: Graphic Novel, Science Fiction

Publisher: Dark Horse Comics

Received: Borrowed

Release Date: November 2010

Pages: 56

Rating:

The Authors Official Websites:

Joss Whedon Website: N/A

Zack Whedon Website: N/A

Joss Whedon Blog: N/A

Zack Whedon Blog: N/A

Joss Whedon Facebook: N/A

Zack Whedon Facebook: N/A

Joss Whedon Twitter: N/A

Zack Whedon Twitter: https://twitter.com/zdubdub

Shannon’s Thoughts:

Finally fans of Joss Whedon’s Firefly are given some of the back history to character Shepherd Book.  We learn what made the man who was so well train in arsenals and be a man of the cloth.

The artwork is probably the best thing about this volume of Serenity.

The background story was mediocre.  I feel that Shepherd’s story could have been stretched out to more graphic novels and instead it loss something. It has the feeling of being chopped and no real connection or heart.

Since I was a fan of Firefly I know the characters and was of course interested in the back story that was not told in the show or movie. Anyone not a fan of Firefly, will probably have no interest in this third volume.

Even though I had some interest in Shepherd Book’s story this was less interesting than imagined. I had hoped for something more exciting.  

Shannon's Review - Age Of The Aura - Phase I: Champions Of Power by Samuel Odunsi Jr.

Title: Age Of The Aura: Phase I: Champions Of Power
Series: Age Of The Aura
Author: Samuel Odunsi Jr.
Genre: Science Fiction
Publisher:  Amazon Digital Services
Received:  From Author For Review
Release Date: June 2012
Pages: ebook
Rating:


Shannon’s  Thoughts:

Age Of The Aura: Phase I: Champions of Power is a science fiction taking place in many worlds that are connected by Aura.  The Aura surrounds the planets and is thought to protect the world and it’s people.  At least that is what it was thought to do but now it seems the Aura has different plans for itself.   Mysterious deaths and lightening storms that all lead to the Aura turning towards it’s people it was suppose to protect.

I have to say I never thought of Aura surrounding planets.  I know of people who say in real life that Auras surround a person and that it changes color during mood.  I enjoyed the Age Of The Aura and found it a science fiction that was not too complicated to follow which is usually the problem I have with science fiction.

Having said that I liked the story the only thing that confused me was thinking of Auras not on people but on planets.  It made me curious to know if the Aura (in this series) was also surrounding it’s people.

I am curious what will happen to the characters introduced.  It was a nice change of pace as I do not read much science fiction but I find I like the genre more than I thought.  This a good introduction to the sci fi genre for anyone.

Website:

Official Website For Age Of The Aura
http://ageoftheaura.com/

Shannon's Review - 1984 by George Orwell

Title: 1984
Series: N/A
Author: George Orwell
Genre: Science Fiction
Publisher: Signet Classics
Received: Purchased
Release Date: 1949
Pages: 268
Rating:


Shannon’s Thoughts:

1984 is a science fiction first published in the 40’s.  An idea that George Orwell thought of as a possible future.  To explain the book without ruining the ending is hard.   The book is dark and as the character sneak away to spots where Big Brother can not see them.  There is always the feeling that you should look over your shoulder to see if they found you.  Being in places Big Brother can’t see you and being punished for going to those places does not seem as insane as thinking of being somewhere else and being punished for.   Imagine having a thought against Big Brother and speaking in your sleep about it. Only to have your 5 year old daughter to report to the Thought Police for punishment which could be death.

This strange version of history that could have been is difficult to have anything good to say about it.  Except for the fact that thankfully we do not live like this.

You want badly for the couple in the book to find a way to break loose and free themselves from Big Brother.  Never thinking that the ending will turn as it does.

So much sadness and melancholy within in one book is depressing at times but it was a interesting read of a classic.


Website:

N/A

Review - The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy by Douglas Adams

Title: Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy
Series:Hitchhiker Guide #1
Author: Douglas Adams
Genre: Science Fiction
Publisher: Del Ray
Received: Purchased
Release Date: January 1979
Pages: 216
Rating: 


What is it About?

A man who is about to have his house torn down is taken by a friend and abducted into a space ship.

My Thoughts:

I saw the movie first so some the scenes where rememberable but like most books done by British author I do not get all the humor.   I found this one harder to grasp at time then say a Terry Pratchett novel.

The stuff I found funny was the stuff that I already knew the punchline like the meaning of life answer.  When I think about this book now there really isn’t much I like about it.  The voices of the character in my head feel kinda of annoying.

I guess I am just not a fan of British humor.

Website:

N/A