Science Fiction Book Reviews
By Nancy Kamp |
If
a book you're looking for is out of print, click on any link
to Amazon Books Home Page,  Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk, or Alibris to find out if it is available as a used book.
Mini Book Review List
Titles |
Pages with
Mercifully SHORT Reviews or the Actual Mini-Review |
A
lot of today's science fiction seems to be fantasy oriented, but
the guys (mostly) who created this genre were giants of fiction
- even if some of their science hasn't held up. Nancy
Old
Favorites |
|
Weblog
- May Day, Mayday or Pangalactic Gargleblaster, Stat! |
Book 1 in an unfinished, but fantastically compelling series about
a future galactic empire. |
Isaac
Asimov - An actual factual genius who wrote in many fields,
Asimov developed the Three Laws of Robotics, which, like George
Lucas' rule that spaceships make noise in the vacuum of space even
though they can't, most every writer has adopted. I recommend
the Foundation series. Nancy
|
Mostly sad stories of the once and future Mars - Bradbury at his
best.
Underrated 1980TV movie - no one like the special effects [I seem
to remember Rock Hudson on some kind of wind-powered desert sailing
vessal], but the story was haunting. |
Ray
Bradbury - The Martian Chronicles and Fahrenheit
451 are just two of Bradbury's gems. Don't miss the
books, though I never thought much of Fahrenheit 451, the
film. Nancy
|
Book 1 in the Mars series - my favorite. Swashbuckling approach
to adventure.
book - (series)
Andie MacDowell's voice
was dubbed, and this 1984 film is not universally loved, but it's
way better than Johnny Weismuller's interpretation (or any of
the other guys who had a go at Tarzan).
campy collection of films - not for Tarzan purists
Disney cartoon 1999 |
Edgar
Rice Burroughs - You probably only think of Tarzan (series) when you hear Burroughs name, but check out the John
Carter of Mars series. He also wrote a series set
on Venus and several other readable adventures. Nancy
|
|
Clarke's novel
was written in conjunction with the film. I enjoy the beautiful
detail of the printed word and am embarrassed to say I never saw
the classic movie.
1968
I always felt the purpose of sci fi was to make you think - this
book is the poster child for that school of thought. |
Arthur
C. Clarke - Author of 2001, Childhood's
End and many more.
|
Andre Norton |
Andre Norton - I was an early fan of Norton's but have slacked
off through no fault of hers. (Fantasy isn't my thing.)
That is in no way a criticism. It just means I'm not qualified
to comment here, but I didn't want to leave her off the list. Nancy
|
Newer
gems |
|
Mascot |
|
Gillian
Bradshaw is an award-winning author of historical fiction - one
of the best. Not content with that triumph, she also dabbles
in outstanding sci-fi, which is good news for those who read only
the best. Dangerous Notes is excellent. Nancy |
|
Quotations Su through Sz |
Books
DVDs
|
Quotations Ad through Ag |
|
In
my home, you either like vampire lore or someone will bite your
head off. That was all I needed to included Professor Allen
C. Kupfer's edition of The Journal of Professor Abraham Van
Helsing in these humble pages. While the book has
its critics, it's an easy enough read. And sometimes that's
all we can ask for in our quest to understand our fascination with
Dracula and his posse. Nancy |
|
Some
few storytellers are able to communicate with clarity, emotion and
excitement after years of perfecting their craft. As I write
this, 19 year old Christopher Paolini is following up his wonderful
fantasy adventure, Eragon, by writing volume two in
the trilogy. I can't wait. Nancy |
|
Face of a Stranger by Dan Roentsch would make a
really good movie for the SciFi channel. It's got sex and
drugs, and I'm sure they could insert some rock 'n roll.
And
because there is absolutely no point in wasting all the work that
went into creating the complicated Martian world where Roentsch
set the scene for his hero, I look forward to a sequel. Nancy
Dan
wrote: "I shall write the sequel!
But I'm thinking I should set it on Earth, rather than Mars.
Maybe we could go back to Mars in book three." |
(series) |
I
don't seek out fantasy, but when I'm desperate, I'll read anything.
I picked up S. M. Stirling's Island in the Sea of Time and while I'm not a convert, I have to admit I want to find out
what happens next WHEN THE ISLAND OF NANTUCKET ENCOUNTERS THE PHARAOHS. I mean, c'mon. Nancy
|
| Amazon: Queen
of the Amazons (Alexander the Great) by Judith Tarr |
Roxanne |
|
Quotations St
The Star Wars books
have been fitted into a timeline so you can jump in and out of
the lives of Luke, Leia, Han et al whenever you pick up a volume
- just open the front cover, orient yourself and visit a galaxy
far, far away. Nancy
|
|
↑
What's this?
BOOKS
Don't miss our
short collection of mostly negative reviews. Click Here
DVDs
"God damn aliens." South Park more quotations
 Zero Gravity Flight
Buffalo Hunt
| I'm still mulling over Intelligence Reports From Earth by James Roger Brown.
The presentation concept, official off world reports about Earth, was
designed to point out the massive flaws in our civilization as seen
from above and beyond.
The execution was bureaucrat speak with a
slightly leaden touch of "humanity."
Nevertheless, the author accomplished his
purpose in drawing my attention to our less than stellar (sorry, I
couldn't resist) respect for life. So bravo to you, James Roger
Brown. Keep up the interesting work. Nancy
http://www.thesociologycenter.com/ |
|
