tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88605265348274838472024-02-21T12:01:26.075-05:00Royce Sears-Sci-Fi/Fantasy AuthorI'm a Navy Veteran (Hospital Corpsman), Registered Nurse, and Author. Here, you'll find book reviews, short stories, shared adventures from my time in the Navy, and news about my current and upcoming book releases. Visit www.roycesears.com to learn more.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05470342726618154541noreply@blogger.comBlogger186125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860526534827483847.post-66880842115113781062019-03-02T13:58:00.001-05:002019-03-02T13:58:27.571-05:00Review: Vicious
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13638125" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1527839682m/13638125.jpg" border="0" alt="Vicious" /></a>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13638125">Vicious</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7168230">V.E. Schwab</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2579099977">4 of 5 stars</a>
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Sometimes one simply must read something based on the recommendations of others. This novel is one of those gems that I found in an agent's biography.<br />Vicious introduces a cast of characters with acquired super-human abilities and a propensity for vengeance. Schwab's clear-cut voice and stereotype twists escort the reader through a never-ending series of surprises via a cast of characters one cannot help but love and hate at the same time.<br /><br />Royce Sears
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2579099977">View all my reviews</a>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12930058248969377856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860526534827483847.post-16187439402962275732019-03-02T13:51:00.001-05:002019-03-02T13:51:15.615-05:00Review: Conquerors' Pride
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25493458" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1430933249m/25493458.jpg" border="0" alt="Conquerors' Pride" /></a>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25493458">Conquerors' Pride</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/12479">Timothy Zahn</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2661017701">4 of 5 stars</a>
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I finally went back and read Conquerors' Pride after finding Conquerors' Heritage in a used book store years ago. Zahn's in-depth development of the Zhirrzh species and his ability to tell the story from such a unique perspective in a relatable way makes the Conquerors Saga a page-turning thrill-ride from start to finish. <br /><br />Royce Sears
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2661017701">View all my reviews</a>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12930058248969377856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860526534827483847.post-55825196497279120412018-10-16T20:23:00.001-04:002018-10-16T22:08:58.864-04:00Review: Persepolis Rising
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28335696" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="http://images.gr-assets.com/books/1481562381m/28335696.jpg" border="0" alt="Persepolis Rising" /></a>
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28335696">Persepolis Rising</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4192148">James S.A. Corey</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2564396806">5 of 5 stars</a>
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This one has been on my unofficial want-to-read list for a while. It's been a busy year, both personally and professionally, but I finally got to it and now I wish it hadn't taken so long. <br /><br />The crew of the <i>Roci</i> face many changes in Persepolis Rising. Thirty years have passed since the previous book in this amazing series and the universe is a different place. The expansion to the colony worlds beyond the ring gates have changed the face of politics and technology--opening a whole new realm of possibilities and threats. <br /><br />It's impossible to go into more detail without spoilers, but suffice it to say that Persepolis Rising does not disappoint the reader. The changing landscape offers fresh new challenges for a crew who has already faced nearly everything we thought they could.
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2564396806">View all my reviews</a>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12930058248969377856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860526534827483847.post-28152607244517305782018-08-05T16:42:00.001-04:002018-08-05T17:06:41.215-04:00Review: Planetside
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36556473" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1510119035m/36556473.jpg" border="0" alt="Planetside" /></a>
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36556473">Planetside</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17022421">Michael Mammay</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2068429425">5 of 5 stars</a>
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<b>Planetside by Michael Mammay is solid military science fiction that provides the reader with a likable soldier, in the form of Carl Butler, who simply has a job to do. His job seems simple enough in the beginning, just a cut a dry case of a missing soldier - but not just any missing soldier, a politician's son. <br />Mystery in the guise of science fiction, much like Isaac Asimov's Elijah Bailey mysteries, unfolds through Butler's veteran military officer's perspective. The rabbit hole goes deeper than the reader expects as we follow Butler and his junior officers deeper into Mammay's rich world.<br />Full of wit, appreciable cynicism, and snarky remarks, Butler's point-of-view experience makes for an easy and fun read that leaves the reader craving more. Highly recommended! <br /><br /></b>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2068429425">View all my reviews</a>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12930058248969377856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860526534827483847.post-15399054177317427402018-03-03T08:31:00.001-05:002018-03-03T08:31:17.501-05:00Review: The World Awakening
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35903374" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1501727627m/35903374.jpg" border="0" alt="The World Awakening" /></a>
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35903374">The World Awakening</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13562729">Dan Koboldt</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2304222315">5 of 5 stars</a>
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<b>The World Awakening</b> is the third (and hopefully not final novel) in the Gateways to Alissia by <b>Dan Koboldt.</b> Koboldt draws the reader into the world of Alissia though his likable characters and provides you with a healthy mix of modern tech alongside the ingenuity of a medieval society that's hell-bent on protecting its way of life from outside invaders. (Oh! and there's magic too!) Highly Recommended! <br /><br />Royce Sears
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2304222315">View all my reviews</a>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12930058248969377856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860526534827483847.post-77817578110793022002018-03-01T11:11:00.001-05:002018-03-04T16:36:39.983-05:00Review: A Red Peace<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33383059" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="A Red Peace" border="0" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1484759276m/33383059.jpg"></a>
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33383059">A Red Peace</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4489562">Spencer Ellsworth</a><br />
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2171547142">5 of 5 stars</a>
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As I said on Twitter, <b>A Red Peace</b> is what Star Wars wishes it could grow up to become. <b>A Red Peace </b>presents the reader with a well-developed cast of characters and draws you into their lives. Ellsworth creates a rich and dark universe for his characters to grow into and discover their potential. Highly recommended space opera! <br />
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Royce Sears
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2171547142">View all my reviews</a>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12930058248969377856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860526534827483847.post-79991578307074877122018-03-01T11:05:00.001-05:002018-03-01T11:12:30.970-05:00Review: Galápagos
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9593" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1355012643m/9593.jpg" border="0" alt="Galápagos" /></a>
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9593">Galápagos</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2778055">Kurt Vonnegut</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2223900632">5 of 5 stars</a>
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I read Galapagos as a recommendation by a close friend. I thoroughly enjoyed this Vonnegut novel. The perspective from which it is written is unique and fun...A ghost, telling a story over a million years? Fascinating read and highly recommended.<br /><br />Royce Sears
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2223900632">View all my reviews</a>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12930058248969377856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860526534827483847.post-86035970791500680072018-02-14T21:14:00.001-05:002018-02-14T21:14:14.629-05:00Life Happens... I've been away for a little bit...For anyone following my blog or requesting book reviews, I've been out of the loop recently due to life changes.<br />
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Since early December I have changed jobs, bought a house, and moved into that new house. Since early January we have been trying to get internet access to the aforementioned new house. Thanks to a communications snafu between the power company and the cable company over the viability of a utility pole, red-tagged and slated for replacement on a normal, periodic schedule, the cable company would not climb the pole to activate our cable internet service. Last week, we finally got internet access to our new home...<br />
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Some good news from all of this: it provided fewer interruptions to getting moved into the new house, performing maintenance, and outfitting my office/writing space.<br />
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I'm back to writing... currently 53k words into this work in progress... and am slowly getting back to reading more as time permits.<br />
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Royce.<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12930058248969377856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860526534827483847.post-7201920669018988732017-09-25T17:11:00.001-04:002017-09-25T17:13:17.024-04:00Review: Proxima
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20893396" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1396830968m/20893396.jpg" border="0" alt="Proxima" /></a>
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20893396">Proxima</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20295">Stephen Baxter</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2134806880">3 of 5 stars</a>
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I enjoyed <b>Stephen Baxter's Proxima,</b> although I found the pretzeled plot of interwoven timelines hard to follow. Baxter brings a healthy dose of realism to his work in the form of realistically designed spaceships and the real effects of relativity as we deal with interstellar distances in terms of human lives and its effects upon those travelers. <br />Recommended for lovers of realistic, hard-edged science fiction!
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2134806880">View all my reviews</a>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12930058248969377856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860526534827483847.post-26505689833913198482017-09-25T17:02:00.001-04:002017-09-25T17:13:17.019-04:00Review: Agent to the Stars
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/88072" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1303914309m/88072.jpg" border="0" alt="Agent to the Stars" /></a>
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/88072">Agent to the Stars</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4763">John Scalzi</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2130681058">5 of 5 stars</a>
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There's no other way to put it... <b>Scalzi</b> is a brilliant science fiction author. <b>Agent to the Stars</b> takes the usually awkward first contact story and flips it on its head as Tom Stein, a junior entertainment industry agent, takes on a new client--A jello-mold from another planet. This jello-mold is a representative of a race who came to understand humanity via the television broadcasts we have beamed into space for years. They understand that image and appearance is everything on Earth and for them to be accepted, they need an agent who can shape their image into something people will come to accept rather than run screaming in horror from a creature that resembles the 1950's <i> The Blob.</i> <br /><br />Agent to the Stars is an imaginative and creative way to approach first contact, which I think only Scalzi could capture in his unique voice. Highly recommended for all lovers of science fiction.
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2130681058">View all my reviews</a>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12930058248969377856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860526534827483847.post-51735228049772125832017-09-08T04:08:00.001-04:002017-09-08T04:44:12.034-04:00Review: The Island Deception
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34110959" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="http://images.gr-assets.com/books/1486175930m/34110959.jpg" border="0" alt="The Island Deception" /></a>
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34110959">The Island Deception</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13562729">Dan Koboldt</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2087053920">5 of 5 stars</a>
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In this action-packed sequel to <b>The Rogue Retrieval</b> Bradley Quinn travels deeper into the depths of Alissa, a strange and foreign world that's full of magic, danger, and adventure. Quinn adventures back into the world of Alissa in order to discover the secrets of real magic, though he must play along with the corporate plan in order to achieve his personal goals. Mystery, intrigue, and suspense are found between the pages of <b>The Island Deception</b> as author <b>Dan Kobolt</b> takes us back through the gateway with Quinn and his friends. Highly recommended reading!
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2087053920">View all my reviews</a>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12930058248969377856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860526534827483847.post-33889380167694556072017-09-08T03:57:00.001-04:002017-09-08T04:44:12.027-04:00Review: The Rogue Retrieval
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28595063" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="http://images.gr-assets.com/books/1453682607m/28595063.jpg" border="0" alt="The Rogue Retrieval" /></a>
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28595063">The Rogue Retrieval</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13562729">Dan Koboldt</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2068432332">5 of 5 stars</a>
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<b>The Rogue Retrieval</b> by <b>Dan Koboldt</b> captures the reader's attention from the very beginning with Bradley Quinn's voice. Quinn is a small-time Vegas illusionist with dreams of making it big but a job offer that's too good to refuse becomes more than he bargained for. Quinn must use his wits and showmanship to survive when he learns this job is much more than just a stage-act.<br /><br />A fun and fast-paced novel, The Rogue Retrieval escorts the reader into a world of real magic, danger at every turn, and the stakes are life and death. Highly recommended!
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2068432332">View all my reviews</a>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12930058248969377856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860526534827483847.post-3463501664779460902017-07-16T15:03:00.001-04:002017-07-16T15:03:25.425-04:00Review: We Are Legion (We Are Bob)
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32109569" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="http://images.gr-assets.com/books/1474344826m/32109569.jpg" border="0" alt="We Are Legion (We Are Bob)" /></a>
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32109569">We Are Legion (We Are Bob)</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/12130438">Dennis E. Taylor</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2053117772">4 of 5 stars</a>
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<b>We Are Legion (We are Bob)</b> is a smart, funny, nerdy, and fun read! <br /><br />Robert Johannson, otherwise known as Bob, sells his software company. With his newfound riches Bob invests in cryofreezeing technology that will be implemented upon his death--much to his dismay is very shortly thereafter. Bob wakes up 117 years later in a computer as a digital version of himself. <b>We are Legion (We are Bob)</b> explores "AI" from the viewpoint of digital copies of human minds. <br />Bob, in his newfound existence, has the ability to replicate copies of himself as he explores the galaxy as a living Von Neuman probe. <b>Taylor</b> explores nerd/geek culture as Bob explores the galaxy and creates ever-so-slightly different copies of himself--creating the Legion of Bob. <br />A galactic adventure geeks and nerds will love, <b>We are Legion (We are Bob)</b> tilts the familiar concepts of AI and space exploration in new and fun ways.<br /><br />Royce Sears <br /><a target="_blank" href="http://www.roycesears.com" rel="nofollow">www.roycesears.com</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2053117772">View all my reviews</a>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12930058248969377856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860526534827483847.post-5876276002683178802017-07-13T13:32:00.001-04:002017-07-13T13:32:33.495-04:00Review: Babylon's Ashes
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28053798" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1459605268m/28053798.jpg" border="0" alt="Babylon's Ashes" /></a>
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28053798">Babylon's Ashes</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4192148">James S.A. Corey</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2042129101">5 of 5 stars</a>
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<b>Babylon's Ashes</b> is Book 6 of The Expanse Trilogy by <b>James S.A. Corey.</b> <br />I LOVE these books! (How many times can I say this?) The cast of characters, their trials and tribulations, and the deft story-telling of this author team are addictive. <br /><br />Book 6 takes us into the aftermath of the Free Navy's reign of terror over the inner planets. Earth is on its knees after multiple asteroids have impacted on its surface. Food, medicine, and energy are in scarce supply as people on Earth try to survive in the hellish nightmare that has become their existence. <br />The Free Navy leads a devastating campaign against the combined fleets of Earth and Mars while the crew of the Roci and my favorite foul-mouthed politician, Crisjen Avasalara, struggle to outwit the leader of the Free Navy, Marco Inaros. <br /><b>Babylon's Ashes</b> is yet another fast-paced tale of politics, intrigue, space battles, and high-flying action that leaves the reader on the edge of their seat. <br />Highly Recommended! <br /><br />Royce Sears<br /><a target="_blank" href="http://www.roycesears.com" rel="nofollow">www.roycesears.com</a>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2042129101">View all my reviews</a>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12930058248969377856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860526534827483847.post-81887715320345110022017-07-04T17:21:00.002-04:002017-07-26T10:23:48.242-04:00Once upon a Bio...<h3>
For some strange reason, I've decided to join the #PitchWars festivities- complete with a #PimpMyBio. Why? It sounds like fun! </h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd9R02gQnW-NBDkgwXh6GicaxQjL0Fssd__OAxYLORzD7OfGZU_F-NBbDpwJ3MqFzvbUGB2UckCGMX7HfHGdYUvwpCSquQMW-6El0qS90455isvKv1IaqmmyMPXz9yi5k8JxPxWV1VCOQ/s1600/RoyceKindle1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd9R02gQnW-NBDkgwXh6GicaxQjL0Fssd__OAxYLORzD7OfGZU_F-NBbDpwJ3MqFzvbUGB2UckCGMX7HfHGdYUvwpCSquQMW-6El0qS90455isvKv1IaqmmyMPXz9yi5k8JxPxWV1VCOQ/s320/RoyceKindle1.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Born in the heart of West Virginia, Royce dreamed of becoming a writer throughout his younger years and was always an avid reader. Starting out with an old and often temperamental typewriter, he wrote poems and stories that helped develop his young imagination. A kind-hearted teacher in Junior High School took his first "manuscript" home for the summer and painstakingly read through pages and pages of violent, poorly written L. Sprague de Camp-esque combat scenes. She returned it the following school year with the classic red ink - a plethora of suggestions and encouragement that fueled his desire to write. A word processor, a gift from his grandparents, became the source of many tall tales which unfortunately never left the realm of the 3.5-inch floppy disks. Those tales, and the disks they were stored upon, faded into the digital oblivion of lost ideas.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_FIpZCfG0a0JGIKPLmIQjvXc6aFNTq9M7o-zyOAMGanCSLQJEjYEw4jOhIQGOf9aN1uNen9MWEs4r430wCWMRzEZ5caf68-qkU5hhAe9r0e8WUdRxn_Nsdl2h2yxKRX2lwgx5w6kl5gc/s1600/USS_Mississippi_%2528CGN-40%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_FIpZCfG0a0JGIKPLmIQjvXc6aFNTq9M7o-zyOAMGanCSLQJEjYEw4jOhIQGOf9aN1uNen9MWEs4r430wCWMRzEZ5caf68-qkU5hhAe9r0e8WUdRxn_Nsdl2h2yxKRX2lwgx5w6kl5gc/s320/USS_Mississippi_%2528CGN-40%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">USS Mississippi (CGN-40)</td></tr>
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Royce later joined the Navy, serving on the USS Belknap (CG-26), the USS Mississippi (CGN-40) and at Portsmouth Naval Medical Center in Portsmouth, Virginia. <a href="https://roycesearsauthor.blogspot.com/search/label/Adventures%20in%20the%20US%20Navy" target="_blank">(Some of his Adventures in the Navy can be found here) </a> After a brief career in sales, he went back to school via a cooperative partnership program between Marshall University and Saint Mary's Nursing School. Royce is a Registered Nurse in Charleston, WV at one of the largest hospital systems in the region.<br />
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Royce lives near Charleston, WV with his wife Carolyn and their menagerie of fur babies.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Say Hi to Sangria</td></tr>
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Royce's interests/hobbies include:<br />
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<ul>
<li>Gardening</li>
<li>Brewing Beer & Mead</li>
<li>Blacksmithing</li>
<li>Drumming (Djembes & Doumbeks)</li>
<li>Festivals (Nature, Pagan, "Hippy" <a href="http://www.wisteria.org/">www.wisteria.org</a> )</li>
<li>Reading</li>
<ul>
<li>As Stephen King says “If you don't have time to read, you don't have the time (or the tools) to write..."</li>
<li><a href="https://roycesearsauthor.blogspot.com/search/label/Book%20Reviews" target="_blank">My Book Reviews are posted here</a></li>
</ul>
<li>Movies</li>
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<li>Favorites Include:</li>
<ul>
<li>The Martian</li>
<li>Interstellar</li>
<li>Most Star Trek Films</li>
<li>Star Wars (All) Yes...I said all</li>
<li>The Last Starfighter (cheesy I know)</li>
<li>Die Hard (Favorite Christmas movie)</li>
<li>Deadpool</li>
<li>The list goes on and on and on...</li>
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<h3>
And here's a little about HUMANITY FIRST</h3>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Captain Owen Hudson is a miner, but rather than digging holes in the earth he mines the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. Mining pays the bills but like all mining captains, he longs to strike it rich by finding a Merlin—an asteroid comprised of rare and valuable metals. After years of mining the Belt his dream comes true, but an urgent distress call from a trusted friend means he must leave the riches behind—for now.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The year is 2125 and humanity has become dependent upon artificially intelligent computer programs to manage everything from stock markets to spaceships and space stations. After rescuing Duke and his mysterious traveling companion, Owen learns his friend has knowingly escorted Valeska Johnston, alleged terrorist leader of the Humanity First AI resistance movement, aboard his ship. Due to his trust in Duke, Owen allows her to plead her case before turning her over to authorities or simply tossing her out an airlock. She reveals her role in the history of AI development and her belief that one of the first generation programs, an AI whose behavior is not governed by rigid programming laws, survived their attempt to destroy the first generation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Owen must make a choice. Ally himself with a terrorist and abandon the riches of the Merlin in order to help her, or turn her over to the authorities and risk the end of the human race if she is correct. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Want to know even more? </span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Check me out on the rest of my <a href="https://roycesearsauthor.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Blog</a> or on my website at <a href="http://www.roycesears.com/">www.roycesears.com</a></span></div>
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<h3>
Parting Thoughts? Sure... Always Remember</h3>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12930058248969377856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860526534827483847.post-14089675427735295022017-06-29T08:18:00.003-04:002017-06-29T08:19:25.592-04:00What about Teddy?<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">What about Teddy?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">By Royce Sears<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Billowing clouds.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Blackened soot. Embers, ashes<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Rises to the dawn.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Pictures and memories<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Writhe among flames.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Tears falling. Silent sobs<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Among a fire engine’s roar.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Splashes of water<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Dousing dreams.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Hopes, carried on streams<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Toward the drain.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Clutching her doll.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Watching the flames.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“What about Teddy?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Mom shakes her head.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">“We’ll get a new Teddy, baby.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12930058248969377856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860526534827483847.post-3349311186323488552017-06-04T11:20:00.001-04:002017-06-04T11:21:06.658-04:00What Happens in Naples...Stays in Naples<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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I found myself standing at the rear of a small boat with the lights of my ship, the USS <o:p></o:p></div>
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MISSISSIPPI, ahead of us on the dark harbor. Beside me stood my division officer—we’ll call him Ensign Longfellow.<br />
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“Sears, aren’t you out past curfew?” Ensign Longfellow asked. I glanced at my watch and noted the time as 01:22 AM. He was right. The Captain’s rules for this port visit were for E3 and below to back aboard ship by midnight. I remember the panic settling on me at that moment, but we’ll get to that later.<o:p></o:p></div>
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These are my first coherent memories of our first night of liberty in Naples, Italy. Now I’m guessing, you, my dear reader, are probably curious about the events leading up to just how I found myself out after curfew and standing beside my division officer at the rear of the liberty launch. I am too, but I will try to give an accurate accounting—to the best of my ability.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The ‘Ole’ Miss ‘(CGN-40), having departed Norfolk in late February or early March, (I honestly don’t remember what day we left port) was back in the Mediterranean Sea—as was I. I don’t remember exactly how long we had been underway, but I think it was close to two months. The days had long-ago blended into a mind-numbing haze of endless monotony—Stand watch, paint, sweep, clean, and stand watch some more. I, like my shipmates, found the endless tedium of maintaining the underway schedule for that long wearisome. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Naples, Italy would become our first port of call, and we found ourselves in dire need of it by the time we dropped anchor outside of Naples. After me and my cohorts in Deck Division finished the required painting—a task that must be completed prior to liberty call—we showered and rushed toward the liberty boat. Finally…at long last…liberty—a chance to get off the ship and relax. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I remember the wind in my face, and the salt spray kicking off the murky, bacteria-laden waters of the Naples harbor. Yes, it may have been some of the foulest water in the world, but we were on liberty. It didn’t matter. Most of us in Deck Division were young—I was only nineteen years old at the time—and we had two things on our mind…alcohol…and female companionship. In Italy, alcohol is the easiest of those to find. And find it we did.<o:p></o:p></div>
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We had acquired the first of our priorities, in vast quantities, within an hour of our arrival. At only five in the evening, we found our first bar and the drinking commenced in earnest. Three ‘jack and cokes’ later, I was feeling pleasantly happy and carefree. At the tender age of nineteen, I was not as accustomed to drinking as my other cohorts, though I continued to match them drink-for-drink. Time started to slip away from me and I vaguely remember leaving the first bar, stumbling down the narrow Italian street to the next bar, and continuing the festivities. At some point, I don’t know exactly when, we stumbled upon the second of our priorities in the form of an Italian brothel. I honestly don’t know what happened there due to the alcohol induced haze, but I’m told we had a fantastic time.<i> <b>(Though I have often wondered if anyone else on our little expedition remembered any more than I did.) </b></i><o:p></o:p></div>
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I’m not especially proud of how that evening turned out since I can’t remember much of it, but I have, in hindsight, chalked it up to the stresses of our involvement in the Bosnian Conflict and the length of time spent at heightened readiness while on station in the Adriatic Sea. Combine those stresses with our youthful exuberance and you have a recipe for disaster. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The rest of the evening is lost to the sands of time <i>(and molecules of ethanol)</i> and this is where I found myself standing at the back of the liberty launch beside my division officer. <i><b>(Yes, it took a while to get back here, and thank you for following my rambling thoughts…)</b></i><o:p></o:p></div>
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“Sears, aren’t you out past curfew?” Ensign Longfellow asked. I glanced at my watch and noted the time as 01:22 AM.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Yes, sir,” I stammered, fearful I was about to discover what it’s like to go to Captain’s Mast. For those of you who aren’t familiar with Captain’s Mast, it’s non-judicial punishment. What’s that? Well, it means the Captain can take away up to half of your paycheck for three months and restrict you to the ship for up to three months. I thought I was up the proverbial creek without a paddle, that is until I noticed that Ensign Longfellow was in civvies. His eyes were red, and he was slurring his words almost as much as I was. I got creative. <o:p></o:p></div>
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“I lost track of time,” I said, “but since I’m here with you, you could sign me in so I won’t be ‘officially’ late.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Ensign Longfellow smiled awkwardly. I think he understood…I hoped he understood. I soon found myself talking and joking with Ensign Longfellow, and a few other junior officers, as we bounced on the waves of the liberty boat and made our way back to the ship. Upon arriving at the accommodation ladder, extending down the aft-starboard side of the ship to a barge, Longfellow clapped me on the shoulder, “Come on, Sears, let’s get you signed in so you’re not late.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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I can’t even begin to relate how much stress fell off my shoulders in that moment.<o:p></o:p></div>
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We made our way to the quarterdeck, only to find a line of folks waiting to sign back into the log book—the official record of when we signed back in from liberty. Ensign Longfellow took one look at the long line of sailors and swore, “Dammit, I don’t wanna' wait in this line.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“But sir, if you don’t sign me in, I’m going to be in trouble,” I responded. “You could always exercise your powers as an Ensign and skip the line, sir…”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Now, for those of you who know anything about Navy rank structure, an Ensign is the lowest officer rank possible. Ensign Longfellow was new to the ship, an English Major from New York—if I remember correctly. He had no ‘powers of an Ensign,’ but it sounded good to him I guess.<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Good idea, Sears,” he said with a wry grin.<o:p></o:p></div>
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He stepped out of line and skipped everybody. The older enlisted men watched as this Ensign, younger and more inexperienced than all of them, took up his new position at the head of the line and stepped up to the liberty log. At this point Ensign Longfellow realized that he needed someone to sign him in—a liberty buddy as it was known. Much to my surprise, he turned, staggered and nearly fell as he called out my name. “Sears! Get up here and sign me in.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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I skipped to the head of the line. An E-2 at this point, having been in the Navy less than a year—and I skipped ahead of all these other men who had been in MUCH longer than me. It was a travesty noticed by many, I assure you. I signed Ensign Longfellow in and made sure he initialed next to my name, and signed it with his official rank—just to make sure I didn’t end up at Captain’s Mast the next day. He punched me on the shoulder, “Thanks, <i>buddy</i>,” he slurred, “go get some rack-time and I’ll see you at quarters in the morning.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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I did as instructed, still hoping I had managed to avoid the shitstorm of trouble I might have been in. Quarters came and went the next day, just as they did every day, and not a word was said about the incident—not even from those who we had skipped in line.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Ensign Longfellow caught up with me in the passageway a few days later. “Sears,“ he said with a stern look, “I got into a little bit of trouble for the other night, but I made sure you weren’t implicated in it.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Thank you,” I said and left it at that.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvirwnSOkeeRkQL344_1gHCnN4rRoSPXqyjvQu9t3D2kf9rv5rR1o7YRqAGdOlj7yYHYGHB4KJc9HQ2uVGBgTqb9ppeqVEne2ZKoy7gXWj0kUZQ5f4V60DOsZWqjUXNM7NNmURmcCi-bw/s1600/Bootcamp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="682" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvirwnSOkeeRkQL344_1gHCnN4rRoSPXqyjvQu9t3D2kf9rv5rR1o7YRqAGdOlj7yYHYGHB4KJc9HQ2uVGBgTqb9ppeqVEne2ZKoy7gXWj0kUZQ5f4V60DOsZWqjUXNM7NNmURmcCi-bw/s320/Bootcamp.jpg" width="227" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, that's me...Circa 1994</td></tr>
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We were both young, and still wet behind the ears. We were learning what it was to be US Navy sailors. From that time on though, Ensign Longfellow and I, and indeed the rest of my division’s leadership, got along great. I went on to become a leader in the maintenance department of our division with a crew of guys working with me to ensure the Preventative Maintenance was done properly and timely. I had fun, learned much, and developed friendships—and memories—that I wouldn’t trade for anything in the world. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Royce Sears<o:p></o:p></div>
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www.roycesears.com<o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12930058248969377856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860526534827483847.post-13898987348944393242017-06-01T13:40:00.001-04:002017-06-01T13:40:21.540-04:00Review: War Dogs
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20706230" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1396226298m/20706230.jpg" border="0" alt="War Dogs" /></a>
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20706230">War Dogs</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16024">Greg Bear</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2010793633">4 of 5 stars</a>
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<b>War Dogs</b> is sadly my first experience with Mr. Greg Bear. Through the pages of <b>War Dogs</b> I developed a great respect for Mr. Bear and his ability to reach through the pages of the book to tell the story of a <i>Skyrine<i></i> - a marine trained specifically for the rigors of space combat. Having worked with Marines as a Navy Corpsman, Marines have a mindset that is very specific and very singular to the Marine culture. They speak alike, they fight alike, they're honest, loyal, courageous- and most of all- Marines are BADASS! In my opinion, Greg Bear captures the essence of how a Marine thinks, acts, and fights in <b>War Dogs</b> and that alone is worth the price of admission. <br /><br />As much as I liked this book, I gave it four stars because there were several places within the novel where I had to back-pedal a few pages to try to understand what was going on with the story. Setting those little things aside, it's a great novel that I highly recommend to SF readers, especially those with past experiences with the Navy and the Marines. <br /><br />Royce Sears<br /><a target="_blank" href="http://www.roycesears.com" rel="nofollow">www.roycesears.com</a></i>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2010793633">View all my reviews</a>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12930058248969377856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860526534827483847.post-3500431892421747652017-06-01T13:22:00.001-04:002017-06-01T13:26:34.726-04:00Review: The Player of Games
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1260578" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="http://images.gr-assets.com/books/1430986358m/1260578.jpg" border="0" alt="The Player of Games" /></a>
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1260578">The Player of Games</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5807106">Iain M. Banks</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2012318794">5 of 5 stars</a>
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I have to say that I found <b>The Player of Games</b> to be a much better experience with <b>Iain M. Banks</b> than <b>Consider Phlebas.</b> <br /><br />Banks introduces us to Gurgeh, a stylized game-player from the Culture. Ahh, the Culture, such an advanced and modern civilization that engulfs almost all of the known galaxy, or so it seems. Gurgeh is reluctantly drawn into the attempted coup of a game-obsessed empire; a coup to be affected by Gurgeh's mastery of the very game through which the empire defines itself. As an outsider of the Empire, Gurgeh must learn the game quickly and unknowingly confront the evils of this empire via the game. Can he learn the intricacies and subtleties of the game in time? Can he learn enough about himself and his opponents? Is it all just a game, or is it a none-too-subtle clash of cultures taking place on the game board before him? <br />Highly Recommended SF reading! <br /><br />Royce<br /><a target="_blank" href="http://www.roycesears.com" rel="nofollow">www.roycesears.com</a>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2012318794">View all my reviews</a>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12930058248969377856noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860526534827483847.post-59177619679288637242017-05-21T16:48:00.001-04:002017-05-21T16:48:50.842-04:00Review: Morning Star
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18966806" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1461354277m/18966806.jpg" border="0" alt="Morning Star" /></a>
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18966806">Morning Star</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6474348">Pierce Brown</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1820447161">5 of 5 stars</a>
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<b>Morning Star</b> is a heartfelt and dizzying end to the Red Rising Trilogy. Although Morning Star is a great book, it IS the end of the trilogy--much to my dismay. The author's acknowledgments and comments make the last book even more loveable because we can see the struggle Mr. Brown had in bringing Darrow through the conflicts arising within Morning Star. Where <b>Red Rising</b> and <b>Golden Son</b> focused on Darrow himself, Darrow has to learn that he can't always do everything by himself. As much as I wanted to savor this last book, it was another Pierce Brown novel that I couldn't put down--and alas it is done. I'm looking forward to <b>Iron Gold</b> scheduled for release in 2018. <br /><br />Royce Sears<br /><a target="_blank" href="http://www.roycesears.com" rel="nofollow">www.roycesears.com</a>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1820447161">View all my reviews</a>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12930058248969377856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860526534827483847.post-15482300949779083432017-05-18T12:19:00.001-04:002017-05-18T12:20:23.271-04:00Review: Golden Son
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18966819" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="http://images.gr-assets.com/books/1394684475m/18966819.jpg" border="0" alt="Golden Son" /></a>
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18966819">Golden Son</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6474348">Pierce Brown</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2001767756">5 of 5 stars</a>
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<b>Golden Son</b> by <b> Pierce Brown</b> is the second novel in the <b>Red Rising Trilogy.</b> I have fallen in love with these characters, so much so that as soon as I finished Red Rising I had to acquire <b>Golden Son</b> and <b>Morning Star</b> simultaneously. <br />Written in the first-person POV, Brown takes us on an epic adventure through a stratified society's strengths and weaknesses via Darrow, a low-born miner, who begins to tilt this society's views of place and caste in <b>Red Rising.</b> Between the covers of <b>Golden Sun,</b> Darrow's rise through the ranks of aureate society continues as he struggles to protect the secret of his low-born identity and build the relationships he will need in the days ahead. <br /><b>Golden Son</b> is a maze of friendships, betrayals, loyalties, and power struggles that provides the reader with nonstop hours of page-turning, mind-bending thrills. <br /><br />Royce Sears<br /><a target="_blank" href="http://www.roycesears.com" rel="nofollow">www.roycesears.com</a>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2001767756">View all my reviews</a>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12930058248969377856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860526534827483847.post-79530407431275552962017-05-10T23:39:00.001-04:002017-05-10T23:40:18.001-04:00Review: Red Rising
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15839976" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1461354651m/15839976.jpg" border="0" alt="Red Rising" /></a>
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15839976">Red Rising</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6474348">Pierce Brown</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1986413218">5 of 5 stars</a>
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<b>Red Rising</b>! The cover quote by <b>Scott Sigler</b> says it all, "Ender, Katness, and now Darrow." <br />The social stratification we see in <b>Ender's Game, The Hunger Games,</b> and <b>Divergent,</b> is taken to all new levels in Red Rising. <b>Pierce Brown's</b> delightful use of a Eugenic's obsessed culture makes Darrow's rise from a lowly Red to an iron Gold an enjoyable story that will go down in history as 'classical' and 'epic' science fiction. This is one of those books that you just CANNOT put down. We feel every betrayal, every heartache, and every triumph as Darrow faces impossible odds in a system stacked against him in every way possible. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! <br /><br />Royce Sears<br /><a target="_blank" href="http://www.roycesears.com" rel="nofollow">www.roycesears.com</a>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1986413218">View all my reviews</a>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12930058248969377856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860526534827483847.post-11538357583467775022017-05-10T23:26:00.001-04:002017-05-10T23:26:35.985-04:00Review: Hyperion
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/77566" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="http://images.gr-assets.com/books/1405546838m/77566.jpg" border="0" alt="Hyperion" /></a>
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/77566">Hyperion</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2687">Dan Simmons</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1398144052">5 of 5 stars</a>
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<b>Hyperion</b> by Dan Simmons is a wonderful science fiction novel that combines a number of scifi elements in a fantastically woven story. Simmons tells each character's story separately, in a delightfully artistic manner, that escorts the reader through the many and varied facets of the incredibly complex world he's created. Using character archetypes, Simmons tactfully uses his characters as ciphers to decode the mysteries of a backwater world known simply as Hyperion. Aspects of military-scifi, cyberpunk, space opera, mythology, religious mysteries, and a profound appreciation of literature--expressed through his mad poet character--make <b>Hyperion</b> a delightful reading experience. The only place throughout the entire novel where I felt let down was the end...and I'll leave it at that. <br /><br />Royce Sears<br /><a target="_blank" href="http://www.roycesears.com" rel="nofollow">www.roycesears.com</a>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1398144052">View all my reviews</a>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12930058248969377856noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860526534827483847.post-16788696388536047532017-05-02T12:57:00.001-04:002017-05-02T12:57:11.753-04:00Review: A Vision of Fire
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21412146" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img src="http://images.gr-assets.com/books/1398967518m/21412146.jpg" border="0" alt="A Vision of Fire" /></a>
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21412146">A Vision of Fire</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/193300">Gillian Anderson</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1963001349">4 of 5 stars</a>
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I enjoyed <b> A Vision of Fire</b> by Gillian Anderson. This novel takes the reader down a twisted path toward the Piri Reis map via lost artifacts and a consciousness extending across time to invade the minds of those who suffer traumatic experiences. Anderson explores several facets of mythologic tales, ranging from Norse and Celtic tales to Vodoun legends, and interweaves these facets into a larger fabric to spin a science fiction yarn of mystery, intrigue, and suspense. <br /><br />Royce Sears<br /><a target="_blank" href="http://www.roycesears.com" rel="nofollow">www.roycesears.com</a>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12930058248969377856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860526534827483847.post-40091005147189853642017-04-27T15:07:00.001-04:002017-04-27T15:11:48.334-04:00Review: The Human Division<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15698479" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="The Human Division" border="0" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1341582413m/15698479.jpg" /></a>
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15698479">The Human Division</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4763">John Scalzi</a><br />
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1963001532">4 of 5 stars</a>
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While <b>The Human Division</b> is a collection of short stories, and it's normally difficult to write a review of such a collection, this collection is situated in Scalzi's Old Man's War universe and the stories are interrelated enough to make writing a review much easier. I enjoyed the way the stories accented events in Scalzi's other books while telling their own stories at the same time. We get to experience the growing pains of the CDF as they learn to deal with things through diplomacy rather than brute force. All in all, a great collection of shorts that fleshes out the universe more fully than before. I love Scalzi's brash characters and the situation's he throws them into. Who else could have thought of making a diplomatic incident out of a Lhasa Apso's encounter with a carnivorous plant? Leave it to Scalzi...
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1963001532">View all my reviews</a>
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