Coyote by Allen Steele

Allen Steele is a new author for me. I have never read any of his books before. The story takes place in the not too distant future. Government has become entrenched and intractable. The government’s only starship is hijacked by dissidents and flown to Coyote, 200 plus travel years away. The interaction with the government, the interaction between those who support the government and those rebelling provide appropriate friction. The settlement and it’s rigors plus the alieness of a new world provide a good back drop for social interaction and personal growth. Steele does a nice job on his characterizations. This is not a grab you by the throat, I can’t put it down story. It took me awhile to get connected with the characters and their concerns. Once I got involved with the story it was compelling. Compelling enough that I have tracked down the next two books in the series. I recommend the book.

Body of work of Allen Steele

Review: http://www.infinityplus.co.uk/fantasticfiction/coyote.htm

Web site: http://www.allensteele.com/

CONTESTS for FREE Stuff

Who can turn down free books? I love books, I love giving books and getting books. The other day my grandson mentioned he didn’t have enough money to get “The Maze of Bones”, a 39 Clues Book. I gave him the money he needed over his protests and told him anytime I can get him to read, I will. I think that Free books have an even better chance to get more people reading. It’s possible that only voracious readers will participate but what a good habit to feed.

Ruthie’s Book Reviews has a very cool contest going at the moment to win sets of books, not just one but SETS!!! I hesitate to link to her site ‘cause my chances of winning go down with each new entry but what the hey, click on her site name to get to the contest.

BookDads are having a contest too, for a $25.00 Amazon gift certificate. One way to enter is to recommend a book that has a good father role model as part of the story line. "Big Red" b Jim Kjelgaard was a favorite of my boys. A story about a boy and a dog and the boy's relationship with his Dad.

My very first contest, being a technogeek, I like gadgets. Here is how you can win one of my favorite gadgets.

A Tripplite Circuit Tester for FREE!

Go to
http://money-saving-tech-tips.blogspot.com/

I will give away one Tripplite Circuit Tester each week for the next four weeks to whoever posts the most comments on my blog. Please don’t comment successively, if there are two in a row by the same person, it will only count as one. I will keep track of the comments for each week and announce each week’s winner here. Cut off time for comments for each week will be noon on Sunday. I will be counting comments on Sunday October 26, Sunday November 2, 9 and 16.

Deep Storm by Lincoln Child

I love a book that grabs you by the throat and shakes you if you try and put it down. This book slams through first gear and stands on 2nd. I really enjoyed it. (ya think?) Child presents a first contact novel in a “novel” way. The book takes place on an oil rig and an undersea facility. The technical aspects seem plausible and the characterizations are believable. As his other books the mystery has enough nuances that you are kept guessing clear up to the end and beyond. Somehow Child makes the bizarre and fantastic believable. I recommend you read it.

Body of work of Lincoln Child

Review of the book: http://www.themysteryreader.com/child-deep.html

His site: http://www.prestonchild.com/

What or Who are you going to be?

Halloween is drawing nigh, the harvest moon is in the sky.
The goblins are groaning, The ghosts are a’moaning,
Witches are brewing and orks are spewing,
It’s time we decided what to wear, sly or scary or just debonair.
Yes, I am aware I should not quit my day job but since I am retired it is too late. Halloween has always been fun at our house. Our decorations have been up for a month already due to my grandchildren spotting them in our storage area. It is my youngest son’s favorite holiday and he has passed that passion to his children.

He makes a big deal out of this every year and admittedly his parties are over the top. I was first introduced to jello shots at one of his parties. (look them up, if you aren’t familiar with them) I am always flattered that we get invited since the primary attendees are considerably younger and usually looking for us to baby sit their kids. It is always a bit of a struggle to come up with a costume.

I found a site that seems to have something for everyone. Halloween costumes can be found at Halloween Adventure. They have costumes for the whole family and even has outside decorations. I like the beard and wigs for the ever popular hippy costume. This year I find myself drawn to the Joker. If you have been reading my posts, that should be a pretty obvious choice. Check out the site, you may find your alter ego is hiding in plain sight and you can be prepared for your personal fright night!

Deathstalker by Simon R. Green

Simon R. Green apparently has an enormous number of things he wants to say and his story line it truly empire inspired. This five hundred page book is the first of eight books dealing with the multigenerational Deathstalker family. If you can conceive of any type of bizarre being, mutant, esper, hero, alien, villain or setting it is probably in this book. Frankly I found it a bit much, too much glitz, too many weird things all together. On the other hand, I suspect he is just setting the stage for the next 4000 plus pages. I enjoyed the book in spite of my reservations. The valiant few anti-heroes facing the insurmountable forces of the galactic empire is always a good story line. The simplicity of the story line is enhanced or lost, depending on your opinion, by the frippery that is laid on with a heavy hand. Since I bought all eight books already, I have committed myself to read at least 1000 or so pages. The review on the next book should answer whether I read them all or put them back on a book swap. I recommend with the caveat that you prepare to be overwhelmed by entertaining minutiae.

Body of work of Simon R. Green

Review: I couldn’t find a review of this, his first Deathstalker book. Found lots of reviews on later books but nothing on this.

Site: http://www.bluemoonrising.nl/
This site is a tribute site, well done but not owned by Simon R. Green