Science Fiction and Fantasy Books

Hex is an amazing sci-fi trilogy that will keep you enthralled from the very first page. In the late 21st century, scientists created the Hex gene to improve human knowledge of computers. The project was later abandoned, but mutants with the gene, known as Hexes, continued to be sought out and exterminated.
Years later, Raven, a Hex and possibly the most dangerous teenager in the world, along with her brother, Wraith, travel to London in search of their younger sister, Rachel. There they meet Kez, a streetrat, and Ali, a popular and rich girl who has just discovered that she is a Hex. Soon the group becomes engaged in a dangerous mission that could cost them their lives.
Containing interesting characters with distinct personalities, excellent descriptions, and an imaginative portrayal of the future, Hex is one of the best science fiction books you'll come by and the fitting start to a great series.

I read all three books in the trilogy over a year ago and have recently come to pick them up again. The best feature of the book is the idea, I love reading sci-fi books that don't actually feel sci-fi - the books that I enjoy explaining the plot to friends and family. The reason I didn't give the book five stars was because there wasn't enough romance, and there is always room for romance - where are we without it? Also I would have loved to have more information about the way of life that far ahead into the future, on a more day to day level. The last reason is because i didn't like Raven, although i know why she was cold and heartless I think hope goes a long way but i never felt she would change - it is definitely a first for me to love a book and not love the main character. Despite this the book left me wanting to find out more so it definitely earned four stars.

if youve seen the old movie hackers, then you'll love this. I love the dysfunctional family life of brother and sisters, the way the main character is a female, who feels alienated from the world around her because everyone else feels inferiror to her talents. Its a well written series, ive read all three hex books, and i was compleatly satisfied...hmmm, well it woul dhave been good if there was a little romance, but you probably cant have that. You fall in love with Raven, and hate the people she hates, you find them utterly annoying :D its a gotta read

The book was very well done. A bit cliche, but a good read all the same. The characters are believable and the book doesn't make you want to gag with details and mindless information. The only real complaint I have is something seemed to be missing from the explanation. I couldn't finger it, but there was just something not there. But it's definately worth picking up.

The most dangerous person in the 24th century is a 15-year-old girl named Raven --- and officially she doesn't even exist. Why? Raven is a Hex --- part human, part super computer. In the late 21st century, Hexes were created by genetically enhancing human children. Hexes can reach into the Net and access information systems from around the world. They can move around the World Wide Web the way other teenagers stroll around a mall. Raven has awesome powers --- she can control computers with her thoughts. Raven is in hiding, though, and she would like to keep it that way. If the secret government finds out that she is alive, she will be killed.

Children with the Hex gene must either fight for their lives, hide away, or be exterminated. The government doesn't want its people to know that Hexes exist. The CPS, a secret government agency, is on a mission to seek and destroy all Hexes. Most die no matter what they do. Raven's sister, Rachel, is already presumed dead, even though she had never shown any sign of being a Hex. While searching the Internet for some sign of Rachel's existence, Raven runs across another fate that Hexes face. A fate worse than death. It is this discovery that will eventually lead Raven, along with her foxy non-Hex brother Wraith, to the place where Hexes die.

HEX is book one of what promises to be an outstanding series by Rhiannon Lassiter. Lassiter does a great job of making the people in her books as real as possible. Even the minor characters have great personalities.

There is a reference to a New York disaster and some talk about terrorism, which takes some of the fun out of this book. This is minor, though, and doesn't take away from the fact that HEX is a book that you are cursed to enjoy.

--- Reviewed by Kat, recent high school grad and young adult fiction diva

Susan Grant has quickly become a favorite author. I'm so glad to have discovered her books!

Funny how a story arc's, I was cheering for Cavin against the REEF in Your Planet or Mine. It was puzzling when REEF started to malfunction and we saw bits of the man he once was.

Who wouldn't fall for an alien ex-hitman who had his whole life taken away from him. Ms. Grant brilliantly portrays REEF recovering his humanity.

With a title like `How to Lose an Extraterrestrial in 10 Days' this book is just asking to be read! The cover also doesn't hinder any woman to pass this one up! Although how do you manage to lose an Extraterrestrial in 10 days? The best way to find out is to read this book!

Susan Grant brings cold hearted killer `Reef', a character from the first `Otherworldly Men' title `Your Planet or Mine,'and gives him his own story for her third book in the series. Turning a villain into a hero is something that the author likes doing and in this book she manages to make him into something extraordinary.

In this work of fiction Grant manages to focus on a real life issue. The slave trade is not just singled out to Africans but every race on our planet. Here we see how the slave trade effects the life of Eriff aka Reef. How it has changed him and made him what he is today. Even if that isn't what he wants to be. However this book also has its fair share of politics within the pages making the reader feel like the author has something to say.

Mother of two Evie Holloway is just wants a simple life but has to dodge the publicity her family makes for itself and an ex-husband all the way. Trying to get a chocolate business up and running she also manages to make more trouble for herself and suddenly needs a bodyguard. So when her sister asks her to take in an alien for a while. She is extremely skeptical about how things will work out. So skeptical that she gives the guest 10 days before he is gone.

Reef's internal computers are off-line and his former employers want him dead. Without and cyber powers, Reef is as weak as an Earthling. He has tried to kill most of the humans he has met so he quite worried about being placed inside a nice home with 2 children. Will he be able to go undercover and behave human enough?

Reef turns out to be incredibly sexy and ten days living with an alien turns out to be more interesting than Evie first thinks. Between the gunfire and political problems Evie and Reef both end up getting more out of the arrangement than they thought they would...with some love that is out of this world!

The prologue is a little off putting and long but once things get started and the main story begins the twists and turns just don't stop. This book is a must read for any Grant fans and anyone who loves Sci-fi with some romance thrown in. With its unique alien story line mixed with everyday troubles that a lot of women can relate to this is a good read for a lie on the beach this summer or by a cozy winter fire..

Reef was the best assassin the Coalition Government had ever produced, being half computer helps make him perfect and having an excellent success rate proved that. After a lifetime of being trained to be the consummate hitman, his body is hard and toned to perfection and the secrets in his eyes chill people to the bone. Now Reef has to deal with failure and finding himself without his powers. His bosses want him dead, and the lowly humans just keep helping him. Don't they know they should fear him? Don't they realize he doesn't belong in `suburbia'?

Every day, Evie Jasper Holloway puts everyone else before herself, and she needs to learn to set limits. Becoming a chocolate entrepreneur should make her fantasy of no longer being the `black sheep' of the successful Jasper family, a reality. Now she just needs to deal with the mob, her interfering ex-husband and the alien assassin her sister dropped on her plate, for the next 10 days, What's a soccer Mom to do?

How to Lose an Extraterrestrial in 10 days is a cute, sexy, well-written romance. Susan Grant weaves a tale with a superb mix of background characters and descriptions that is a joy to read. Evie's personal growth is very appealing to watch develop. Her passionate outrage and attempts to bring attention and help to slavery (most especially children's slavery) from across the world is wonderful to read. Reef's acceptance of his own actions and his dealing with the consequences of those actions improves him as a person and a hero. Both Evie's and Reef's character development helps the reader find themselves rooting for Evie and Reef's relationship to develop. I found myself believing in love at first sight when reading How to Lose an Extraterrestrial in 10 days,.and I Joyfully Recommend this book for any time a person wants to sit back and relax with an excellent book.

Barb
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

Eriff was kidnapped from his home world at a young age. His mind was wiped and his body implanted with bio-engineered enhancements. He was the first child to become a REEF - Robotically Engineered Enemy Fighter - an assassin.

His last mission failed. He is stranded on Earth. His computer system was trying to terminate him. Whether he had succeeded or failed the last mission did not matter. Clearly, his employers wanted him dead. He is rescued and, ironically, offered a chance at a new life by his former archenemy, Cavin of Far Star. REEF is renamed Eric Sanders and he is sent to the suburbs of California. His cover is to be a Secret Service Agent protecting Evie Holloway and her children in light of her family's elevated role dealing with the Coalition. His internal computers may be offline, but Eric still has his training and instincts.

Evie Jasper Holloway told her senator sister that she did NOT want the Terminator as her bodyguard. How could she trust an unstable REEF with her own life, much less her two kids'? Eric shows up anyhow. When the bullets start flying, Evie becomes grateful for the protection, REEF or not. It is not long before Evie comes to realize that Eric, without the computer system controlling him, is very human indeed ... and very attractive.

***** This is the REEF from book two (My Favorite Earthling). During the second book I cheered the Jasper family to victory and hoped the REEF would die. When I learned that this assassin was to be the hero of book three, I laughed. I was positive that there was no way the author could make me feel anything but disgust for this futuristic terminator. But oh how I ate those words (thoughts?) within only a few pages of the story. Author Susan Grant proves her writing talent as never before! Her poisoned pen did more than make these characters seem real to me; Susan Grant brought these characters to vivid life. Now if only the daughter, Ellen, could get a story. *****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

From what we've seen of Inuyasha's half-brother Sessho-maru, we've been led to believe that he is bloodthirsty, heartless, and detests humans. In a brillant twist, Rumiko Takahashi deepens his character as he lies helpless in the woods after almost being killed by Inuyasha's newly mastered "Scar of the Wind". A cute little mute girl named Rin comes to his aid, even though he doesn't particularly want it, and brings him food and drink. In her village, she is looked down upon and seen as a tolerated nuisance. Nobody looks out for her or loves her since her parents were killed by bandits. When hungry wolves come to visit her village, slaughtering everyone in sight, Sesshomaru performs the ultimate act of kindness for Rin. The wolves are controlled and led by a demon named Koga, who has implanted Shikon shards in his legs and arm. When he finds out that Kagome can help him gather more, he plans to kidnap her and make her his wife! Over Inuyasha's dead body!

The moments with Sessho-maru in this volume are some of the best scenes in the series. Because this is the first moment, at least to me, where Takahashi adds another layer to some of the characters. On the surface, Inuyasha looks like a standard quest manga, but it's really about Takahashi starting with a blank slate, then adding details a little at a time that add up to an epic adventure with a vibrant supporting cast and lots of wonder, action, romance, tragedy, humor, and even a bit of horror mixed in. It's like a manga produced during the Renaissance, a manga that is all things to all people. Sessho-maru is one of my favorite characters in the series because of his quiet strength and the mysterious enigma of his unknown sense of honor. Takahashi writes and draws him in such a way that you don't know whether his act for Rin is kindness or whether he just wanted to test the power of his sword. Morally ambiguous is what I would call him. Inuyasha is a masterpiece.

Yes, yes, all Inu-Yasha fans, hold your weapons until I explain the 4 stars. This book was great! I loved it, seriously. But coming from the ani-manga (my friend buys them and couldn't wait another month for the next one), it's just not AS good. Though I love the creator of this series, I must admit I have seen better artwork (Takaya-sensei, the creator of Fruits Basket, is amazing!). Also, I don't like how they flipped the artwork (aka right-to-left format). Other than that, it was really quite good. But I would recomend the ani-manga more. It has color, sound effects in Japanese with a sound index at the back, and the art is better (shading and color; yay!). But don't look down on this book. It's still great! Well worth it.

Yet another Inu-Yasha volume that I am thuroughly pleased with! My favorite part being with Sessho-maru and Rin. Although the majority of this is about Kouga, Sessh fans will love the dog-demon's character development. And of course, how can anyone miss Kouga's introduction?

I am a big fan of every single charactor in Inu Yasha. Well , that`s not exactly true , I don`t like Kikyo,but she hardly counts. Anyway since I love all of these fabulous charactors soooooo much, I want to see each and everyone of them shine, and I want them to all be happy( as long as their happiness makes me laugh). That`s the only thing that was bad with this book. Miroku and Sango are sooo cool but they rarely get anylines in this here. Oh well they will get their fair share in book 15.
Other than that this book kicks @$$! I really like Seshoumaru and rin, It was kind of a pain having him show up in the other volumes, because, face it people, he had no charactor depth what-so-ever. Now that he actually has something he loves he`s cool, but I have a feeling he is`nt going to show it very well in the next few books.
Now(and this is the part everybodys talking about) Kouga(who I hate to High hell) shows up, and tries to steal Kagome. At first her "Shikon Kehei" finding powers, but then you start thinking he is in love with her. Later on I think he just makes passess at her to get Inu yasha pissed off.
But anyway I really love Rumiko`s writing . It`s hard making comics flow really well,you should try it sometime so you have to respect her fluencey,as well as her charactor development Illustrations and intruging storys. So just go out and buy this comic now even if you hate it, it`s still worth your money.And if you do hate it I will come after you because I know where you grandmother lives.

The more I read in this series, the more I love it. Takahashi does so well with character interactions that I'm not sure I'll ever get tired of it. In this book, Sessho-Maru, Inu Yasha's evil full-demon brother, is wounded but kept safe by a little girl. Also, Kagome gets kidnapped by a wolf-demon who wants to make her his mate and use her to find more shards of the Shikon Jewel. Okay, so I'm a romantic, but this part of the book just makes me sigh - Inu Yasha is just so cute when he tries to deal with the idea that Kagome might be falling for the Koga, the wolf-demon. It's probably posssible to jump into the series at this point, especially since there is a "the story thus far" section, as well as a character section that gives important information about many of the previously introduced characters involved in this book. However, you should really get around to reading some of the previous books, or you'll be missing out on a lot. For example, Sessho-Maru's treatment of the little girl won't be nearly as shocking unless you know what he was like in the previous books.

This book was amazing. I read it with my seven year old daughter. We both couldn't wait to read some more the next night. My daughter learned a ton about whales and the writing was fabulous. Wonderful, imaginative, creative book. I hope she writes some more.

I only recently discovered this book, and, I have to say I almost could not put it down! Not only is the fantasy part lovely in its imagery, but, the technical facts about the sea creatures are informative and amazing. Any author would be proud to call this tome her own, and, Ms. Velmans should be congratulated. I only hope that one day this is made into a movie of the Disney/Pixar type. It would be an instant classic, not like those forgettable straight-to-dvds they seem to be churning out the past ten years.

I think this book is excellent !!! This book made me stay up late to keep on reading it until my mom told me to turn out the light.I think it is the best whale book I've ever read. Isabel of the whales makes me think I'm actually with her learning to ping and ring and sing. I would definitely recommend this book. I think it would be very hard to have two families like Isabel.

This book is just wonderful. Packed with romance, adventure and tragedy, you won't want to put this book down. The story gets more exciting with every sentence you read. A surprise is packed inside every page. This is honestly one of the best books I've ever read. You should DEFINETLY get your copy today!

It's quite sad, interesting, and part non-fiction information. It makes me want to read it all over again. But Isabel will soon regret her first words about the ocean. She will surely miss the ocean and her whale family much.

Inspite of age of interview, the resultant product is of the finest quality, and we have the privilege of listening to the voice of this legendary person.

Not quite what I expected. Tolkien reads a great many of the poems and verses that is in the Lord of the Rings and some excerpts from the book. One reason why not more of the book is not read as it was just being published when these recordings were being made. May be they wanted folks to read the book. This is also very good for those who like to explore the background of his imagination, the history of Middle Earth.

Who better to read Tolkien than Tolkien?

What I find so delightful in this compilation is the variety of mood and tone that both J. R. R. and Christopher bring to Tolkien's work. J. R. R. has real fun with the poems and narratives (especially of Sam and Gollum). The riddle chapter from The Hobbitt is an absolute treasure. J. R. R.'s vocal characterization of Gollum is genuinely first rate; no actor could have done it better. And his reading of the charge of the Rohirrim to the aid of Gondor is fully heroic.

But J. R. R. is always rustic whereas Christopher is erudite. The contrast is remarkable and somehow effective. Christopher's reading from The Silmarillion gives a sense of the depth of history of the Elder Days. His Oxbridge accent (after all, he grew up in Oxford) is perfect for the great persons he gives voice to. And of course he knows his father's work better than any person alive.

If you've ever enjoyed *reading* Tolkien, you owe it to yourself to *hear* Tolkien. You will love it! (And your kids will love Gollum!)

I was always wondering how it would be if the Tolkien himself read his books - and this is it! Of course these are just different parts of his books, but some recordings are really long (30 min or so, like Hobbit:"riddles in the dark"). This would be a great present to every Tolkien fan.

I absolutely love this group of CDs! Hearing Tolkien himself reading exerpts from The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings make reading the stories themselves even more wonderful!
And when Christopher reads from The Silmarillion, it's just amazing, especially for someone who's been reading these stories since I was a little child.
I'd recommed these CDs to anyone who wanted ot listen to a true master of words.

aw hell a 5!

a really enjoyable read! I read it in a day and it was pretty consistent almost to the end and then , you know, that discrepancy that just gets you .. just a little continuity error...


***spoiler alert****
"...all of our people have been brought up believing we'd destroyed the world of the Karnn...." (when K. swoons upon hearing that the virus that destroyed the entire Karnn planet was natural not created.)
except it was earlier established that it was a *surprise* that the Karnn world had been found destroyed, "... No one was there? No one at all? Was their world destroyed like ours?"
They had been taught for ages that they had 'sinned' and enslaved the Karnn, and the Karnn had retaliated and the Lethanta had escaped, but not that they had 'destroyed' the Karnn world. I suppose you could argue they'd destroyed it metaphorically, but that'd be mighty weak to me. One presumed K. swooned because they'd presumed themselves responsible for the virus- upon finding out it existed with Picard's reply that the world had been destroyed by a virus. Not that they'd been bought up that way.

Well-thought out, well-written, well-paced story for those who like a plot with high drama but not too much action; there's a lot of diplomatic manuevering and political chess-games here, and the stakes are the lives of roughly 5 billion or so people, so the drama is certainly not lacking. Also, the situation is set up quite well, with the aggressors having every reason for being hostile and even the "victims" admitting it, so it avoids falling into the stereotypical "aggressors are evil, aggressees innocent" pattern, and the ending was much more believable than it might have been, as well. On the other hand, I'm fairly thoroughly convinced that the Enterprise's actions here CLEARLY disobey the prime directive, which Picard has always been much stricter about obeying than certain other Captains of the Enterprise were, so I'm more than a bit dubious that he'd have behaved that way, even to stop a bloody and completely unnecessary war, and certainly not without a lot more soul-searching than we saw.

This is without question one of the better Star Trek: TNG novels. The Enterprise is on a routine survey mission when they discover a planet where thousands of years ago the surface was utterly destroyed by nuclear weapons. Only now have primitive forms of life begun to make a comeback. Another planet is teeming with life and there is evidence that a large albeit primitive civilization has once existed there. However, there is no intelligent life and it appears that it was wiped out by some form of biological weapon. They detect a transient warp signature emanating from a distant star so they proceed to investigate.
When they arrive, they encounter the Lethanta, a civilization that has been awaiting the arrival of their enemies the Krann. Thousands of years before, the Lethanta had conquered and enslaved the Krann, until they finally revolted and the war unleashed the cycle of devastation that the Enterprise encountered. The rulers of Lethanta have prepared for the attack by the Krann, who travel in large world-like ships, taking decades to go from star system to star system. The Krann are now only a few days away, so the Lethanta welcome the assistance of Picard and the Enterprise.
When Picard makes it clear that the Prime Directive prevents him from taking sides, the leader of the Krann tries to manipulate the Enterprise crew. He invites them to his ship and even allows Ryker and Troi to explore it in Krann disguise. This is all to hide his attempt to kill the people on the Enterprise by infecting them with a deadly virus. That plan fails and when the war begins, the Lethanta launch Blue Ultimate, where they will cause their sun to go nova and destroy both sides in the conflict. Picard takes advantage of a loophole in the Prime Directive and prevents the total destruction. At the end, he manages to bring a shaky peace to the area, although both sides hedge their bets.
What makes the book interesting is the interplay between the Enterprise crew and the leadership of the Krann. Picard knows that the Krann are spying and allowing the Enterprise crew to see things and the Krann know that he knows. In many ways it is a spy thriller subplot and both know that the other sides knows what they know, yet has to determine why they don't care that they know it

Star Trek-The Next Generation: The Last Stand written by Brad Ferguson is a Picard stops a war book between two warring parties the Lethanta am emerging warp culture and a prewarp culture the Krann.

This book has suspense, mystery, intrigue, and humor all rolled up into an engaging action-adventure. On a routine mission to map out a section of space, Captain Jean-Luc Picard and the U.S.S. Enterpise crew encounter a culture on the edge of developing warp drive technology, the Lethanta. Picard sends Data and Ro down to the planet as observers.

While mapping the planet, the Enterprise and her crew come into contact with thousand of prewarp vessils... the Krann and Picard sends Riker and Troi as observers to the space faring fleet.

Picard has only days to resolve a conflict that has been ongoing for millennia, otherwise billions of beings will die. If Picard succeeds a powerful new threat to the Federation will be released. This book moves right along as the action-adventure increases to a fever pitch... and the resolution that Picard seeks seems to be just out of his reach.

There are plot twists and turns that will keep you busy reading as the book works toward a resolution. You'll start reading this book and you will not want to put it down as the writing is well thought out and Picard's dilemma reachs a fever pitch. This is one of the better-written ST-TNG books with a storyline that is believeable and the resolution will surprise you.

Of the three Star Trek titles that this outstanding author has written, unfortunately "The Last Stand" is the only of his I've read so far and something that I should correct soon. I found his writing style to be very fast paced and his characterizations to be quite accurate. Where so many Star Trek authors have attempted to go and failed, Brad Ferguson deftly ingrained a healthy amount of mystery, suspense, intrigue and humor into this novel which begs the question as to why this was his last novel in the Star Trek universe.

Although the cover art is quite the standard bland imagery that was normal for the time in which this novel was published, the caricatures are accurate.

The premise:

While on a routine mapping mission, Captain Picard and crew discover a culture that is just on the verge of developing warp technology, which piques everybody's interest. Just as they begin to survey the planet and its culture, an armada approaches the planet, bent on destroying this burgeoning race. With limited time, Captain Picard must resolve this conflict which has gone on for a millennia or face the loss of billions on the planet, yet at the same time, should he succeed he may unleash a new threat upon the Federation.

I highly recommend this numbered Star Trek The Next Generation novel as it is extraordinarily well written and a true pleasure to read. {ssintrepid}

'Letters from the Flesh' is the most different SF novel I've read in years. It is full of surprises, and I'm still thinking about it months after reading it. For me, these are very good things.

I just got a copy of this and it's awesome. A warning, though. This is not a book for the close minded. There are things in this book that will make you THINK. There are those who might even go so far as to call it Blasphemous. If you use the word Blasphemous or don't like to think, I suggest you don't read this. It will only give you a headache. Everyone else - Let's proceed.

It's written on the model of "The Screwtape Letters" until toward the end, where the similarity fades. I got the impression reading this that Mr. Donnelly was channeling Lewis as he wrote, and that CS Lewis had either gone insane in the afterlife or had some ephiphany and in a most entertaining an fulfilling manner.
The Characters are well developed as people. Lillian was deliciously demonic in tone and Luke, my favorite character sounded like someone I had met before, some real flesh and blood person not a character in a book.

The story is concise and well executed, the timing excellent and the plot engaging. The ending took my breath away. Literally. I found a few parts of it confusing, as this book is much more philisophical in my opinion. I can't really explain that, and I suppose it's Lewis' form. If you've read his stuff, you feel like your being taught something subliminally and your wiser at the end for it, but not really sure how or what. Same here. That being said, it is still incredibly entertaining.

I usually don't read fiction, but this I devoured in about 2 hours and couldn't put it down. I can't rave enough about this and am recommending it to everyone I know.

So, what are you waiting for. Buy the book. Trust me, I'm never wrong about these things. :)

This book started a bit slow, as the author set the context in perhaps too much detail, but is well worth perseverance. As the complexities grew, I feared that the author would fall into a common SF weakness of an abrupt, elaborate and unconvincing ending. Fear not; the ends are tied up neatly, and despite a playfulness that may offend some readers, cleverly leaves an opening for (broadminded) Christian beliefs.
Althought this could hardly be called a conventional novel with conventional pot or characters, Donnelly evokes interest in and sympathy for the characters, to the point where I let out a fervent "Oh, no!" at one plot twist.
This book would be excellent fodder for a discussion group.
PS A tip for Donnelly: The consistent repetition of Lilian's annoying e-mail salutation is NOT one of the highlights of the book!

This tale sets a new dimension in science fiction and examines what we think we know about our past, present, and future. Kudos to Marcos Donnelly for giving us a very interesting and original story.

It's always a pleasure reading new fiction from Marcos Donnelly and his latest contribution to the SF world is no exception. Following the religious explorations of his first novel (as well as a number of his shorter pieces), Donnelly now turns the reader's eye to the conflict/tensions between science and religion -- in this case, Creationism and evolution -- while paying an endearing homage to C.S. Lewis' THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS in the process.

The book tells its tale through two sets of seemingly unconnected letters: One set from Dr. Lillian Uberland, a biology professor, to her sometimes bull-headed cousin Michael, and the other from Paul of Tarsus (after a fashion) shortly after his conversion on the road to Damascus two thousand years earlier. What emerges from these alternating storylines, apart from brilliant plotting and characterization, is an unrelenting examination of the passions of belief that is certainly refreshing to find in SF, much less the wider world of mainstream fiction.

Intelligent, engrossing, and blazingly (and brazenly) hilarious in parts, LETTERS FROM THE FLESH is a wonderful read through-and-through, and most assuredly does not disappoint.

Excellent writing reminiscent of Madeline L'Engle, but not in the same league as A Wrinkle in Time. This book would be better for older ages as some of the language is a bit abstract. I wished the area of Lightland was more substantial as there doesn't seem to be a lot going on there. Not a thrilling journey, but still pretty good writing.

I could write a whole review, but i only need one word...AWESOME! I loved it and couldn't put it down!

This is my favorite book ever! I have read it five times already and am likely to read it much more! If you like fantasy books with a little magic and lots of excitement, this is a book for you! The main characters are exotic, interesting and keep the readers on their toes. I'd definitely suggest this book!

This book is on of the most amazing books i've ever read!!!!!! It is the BEST!!!! It's fantasy, which i love, but it has some different plot ideas than most fantasy! it raises some interesting questions and ideas about memories, and how important they are to us. I've read this book about ten times!!!!! The characters are wonderful!! Lottie is so likable and Lewis is one of the most fascinating characters i've read about in any book, ever! and i've read a lot of books! The plot is quick moving, interesting and suspensful. The whole thing is extraordinarily well written!!!!! I could write pages and pages about this book, but i really only need three words: IT IS AWESOME!!! I would recommend it to absolutely anyone!!! Also, my mom is the author, but that's completely irrelevant.

Magical dorms in England? Who needs 'em. McCutchen gives us the down-home American farmland specificity of Iowa, very firmly rooted in time and space and a jumping-off point for a fine children's fantasy that will capture adults too. Perfectly paced, Lottie and Lewis's forays into Lightland left me wanting more; perhaps in what will hopefully be Lightland's sequel(s?) we will find out: what happened when Lottie's father and Ms. d'Avignon went to Lightland as youngsters? Are the memories they created still there? Will Lottie and her father ever go there and maybe, just maybe, will Lottie get to meet her mother? And most sinister of all, is the Nightking REALLY gone? (and for the romantics among us, is Lottie going to get a new mom, one who's really cool?????)

One of the things I loved most about this book was the emphasis that memories make a person. Some cultures can recite lineages back thousands of years--in America we seem to have amnesia about who we are and the people we came from. So enjoy this book. But to really learn something from it, to carry on the spirit of it, this holiday season sit down next to that deaf old relative of yours that you usually ignore and ask them about their memories. And maybe tape them, or write them down. Why not? Then when your kids ask YOU.....you'll have memories too.

The service was exceptional as always and, the CD's are a great hit for my children as they follow along with the books. Ages 5-7

just loves these stories. They really are fun to listen to, and now he can hear them when ever... no waiting for mom!

These books on CD are fabulous. My five year old loves them. He tells me that he doesn't need illustrations because he can create images in his own mind. They are very educational. Each story covers a topic in such an interesting way that I now use these them to introduce that topic. These stories generated interest in history, science,art and much more.

My six year old loves these CD's! He wants to listen to them whenever we are in the car to go anywhere! I will have to buy more!

My son, who is 5, loves these stories! He would rather listen to the Magic Tree House Stories than watch a movie. And that is saying something for a kid that thinks the world is going to end if he doesn't get to watch his daily movie!
I love them because they have a smattering of interesting facts and the each story is long enough for me to get my dishes done uninterupted!

My children LOVE Max and Ruby, and this one is a favorite. Max really wants that Dragon shirt, and he ends up getting one, in his regular, mischevious way...this one will end up a favorite of your children as well...a great price too!

My husband, son, and I enjoy Max and Ruby stories. When we read the first page of this story, when Ruby comments that Max's pants are "disgusting", all of us laughed. We were hooked.

Rosemary Wells has done a great job with giving her characters such distinct voices without using a lot of text or explanation. This is a short, light-hearted read as are Wells' other Max and Ruby stories.

I love reading Max's dragon shirt to my son, Maxwell. We loved that all these books have his name in them! They are cute and fun, and I enjoy reading them too!

This is another cute story by Rosemary Wells. As expected my daughter who's a huge Max and Ruby fan likes it, but I was surprised when it became he favorite book and is read every night.

At the request of their Mother, Ruby decides to take young Max to the mall to buy him a new pair of pants. However, Ruby quickly stumbles upon a collection of beautiful dresses that she just has to try on. So she heads to the dressing room, young Max in tow. But while she's trying on dresses, unbeknownst to her, Max has wandered out of the dressing rooms and into the Boys Department, where he finds a fantastic green t-shirt with a picture of a fire-breathing dragon on the front. He wants it more than anything, yet Ruby insists that there is not enough money for both new pants for him, and a new shirt. But since Ruby is trying dresses on, Max sees no harm in trying the t-shirt on himself. Soon Max is picked up by two police officers, wearing the dragon shirt, which is now covered in ice cream, and big sis Ruby has no choice but to purchase the shirt for the little rascal.

I have seen the MAX AND RUBY television show on Nickelodeon on numerous occasions and had found it extremely cute, but had never read one of the books. So when I came across MAX'S DRAGON SHIRT, I decided to check it out, and I am happy to say that it was utterly adorable. Rosemary Wells captures the essence of how young children think when they are in department stores with her wonderful prose, while her illustrations show the numerous cute expressions that cross their face as they experience something new. This is an adorable new children's book that will be quickly loved by both parents and their young children. Especially if those children are fans of the MAX AND RUBY television show.

Erika Sorocco
Book Review Columnist for The Community Bugle Newspaper