Science Fiction Books

Meet the great James Boliver "Slippery Jim" DiGriz, the Stainless Steel Rat himself, a pre-eminant scofflaw and star of ten 'Rat' novels. This ficitional futuristic thief proves himself to be an expert burglar, cool con man, and consumate liar. Out conned into working for the Special Corps, an elite government law enforcement and spy agency, DiGriz puts his talents to use all in the name of justice ... except, that is, when he's using them for his own self-benefit by breaking the very laws he should be upholding. Of course, Slippery Jim rationalizes this by claiming he is doing society a favor by committing crimes. Though a rascal, Jim is a humanist at heart and takes great care to ensure no injury befalls anyone as a result of the mischief he creates. In the three novels here, "The Stainless Steel Rat", "The Stainless Steel Rat's Revenge" and "The Stainless Steel Rat Saves The World", DiGriz encounters the sociopathic femme fatale Angelina, a military society bent on conquering the universe, and the time traveling megalomaniac known known as He. Humor and action blend seemlessly in a tongue-in-cheek style that is thoroughly endearing to the loveable rapscallion the Stainless Steel Rat.

I first read this book in the summer of 1977, and the Rat has endured as my alltme favorite fictional character since. Slippery Jim is easily one of the funniest and most endearing characters I have encountered in my literary adventures. Sure he's a scoundrel of sorts, but he does it for all the right reasons, of course! If you are looking or a futurstic psuedo-James Bond/Flint type character with great humor galore, the Rat is your man! I recommend the Rat highly to any sci-fi or action/adventure fan. Or for that matter, anyone with a sense of humor! I keep hoping for a Rat movie...

I can say this after reading it about 12 times over the last 20 years. If you ever feel bad, just wonder 'what would Jim do?'

THIS ISN'T IT! But if you're looking for a good romp through space with a quasi-vigilante, Jame Bond sort of character, you will thoroughly enjoy this material. An excellent read when you just want to have some fun!

This paperback omnibus collects the first three volumes of the nine volume (so far) Stainless Steel Rat series: "The Stainless Steel Rat," "The Stainless Steel Rat's Revenge," and "The Stainless Steel Rat Saves the World." Never having read any of this legendary space cowboy series, I found that a little of this stuff goes a long way. The stories feature a charming rouge con-man who gets turned into an agent for the elite Special Corps. The first story is fun and mindless, the second is still fun, but by the end of it I was wondering if the formula was to be repeated in the third, which it was. There are some fun moments to be had, but this is writing by the numbers.

I enjoyed reading this book. It was well-written. I do think much of its content was referring to characters and events a person had to be more familiar with Star Trek in order to understand, so I suspect a lot eluded me. A who's who guide at the front of the book would have been nice, and so would footnotes. Other than that, it was a good story. The Star Trek universe is a cool place to escape into for a little while, and the extent to which its species and cultures have been given so much sociological depth made it all the better.

Cardassia was unknown in "The Original Series." They were a small backwater planet who made a rapid rise in the short period of the era of Captain Kirk to the era of TNG, DS9 and Voyager. This book gives us some background on that rise to prominence in the sector in the incident that took eighteen years to resolve with the Klingon Empire.

I love the concept of the Lost Era series, that being a series of novels that fills in the history between the end of the Kirk era and The Encounter at Farpoint.

This novel very effectively narrates the eighteen-year long incident between the Klingons and Cardassians, which provides valuable information as to the development of the two societies during this time period.

The political aspects of the book are compelling and well written. I also enjoyed the early history of certain TNG and DS9 characters provided for in this book - most importantly, the incident at Khitomer that is referred to so frequently in the Next Generation series.

Were I the Siskel and Ebert of book reviewing, this one would definately get two thumbs up!

I finally finished reading this book and all I can say is: WOW. I couldn't put it down. In my opinion, it is one of the best Trek book out there. There was so much going on I never knew what to expect next that I couldn't put it down.

The story answered a lot of questions that I had and it was great to see a lot of things explained that's been mentioned on screen but never seen. And when I recently saw Sins of the Father, I had a better understanding of what was going on. I was able to understand certain characters a whole lot better.

The writing's fast paced and the reading is quick. Once again, Keith DeCandido does not disappoint however I think that this is his best Trek book to date and I'm glad he was asked to contribute to the Lost Era series because only he could tell a story like this.

Keith R.A. DeCandido is one of the masters of Star Trek books. Whenever I see one written by him, I know it's going to be at least entertaining, even if there may be too many Trek continuity references for my taste. The Art of the Impossible, the third in the "Lost Era" series of Trek books, by definition uses a lot of these references, but here it can mostly be excused, as that's the whole point of the series. DeCandido tries to explain many of the minor references to past events that were made in the television series, making the Trek universe into a more cohesive whole. At times seeming like a mish-mash of Trek continuity, overall DeCandido succeeds in writing a great book.

It's about 35 years before the time of Star Trek: The Next Generation, and the Cardassian Empire is in the process of expanding its borders. This has both the Federation and the Klingon Empire a little concerned, the Klingons even more so when the Cardassians stumble upon a planet with an ancient Klingon wreck on it. The Klingons think this is an ancient relic of their first spaceflight, and demand that the planet be given to them. The Cardassians dispute this, and Federation diplomat Curzon Dax hatches a plan that would allow both empires to peacefully compete for ownership of the planet. Over the next 18 years, galactic politics cause tension among all the empires, with this planet always remaining in the background. The Romulans, hiding behind their borders after the Tomed Incident (see Serpents Among the Ruins), are still hatching plots and getting involved in a clandestine manner. The results of all this will cause huge changes in the Klingon Empire, as well as for the Federation-Klingon alliance.

This is one Star Trek that I cannot really recommend for anybody other than a Trek fan. While it would be mostly understandable to the Trek neophyte, I can't see that it would be that interesting. The Art of the Impossible covers the eighteen-year tensions between the Klingons and Cardassians that was referred to by Garak in a Deep Space Nine episode. As a fan of Klingons, it was enjoyable seeing the inner workings of the Empire at a time before The Next Generation. Many councilors are questioning the alliance between the Klingons and the Federation, feeling that it is making the Empire weak. We see the inner workings of the Cardassian Empire as well, seeing for the first time (at least chronologically) how the military, government, and Obsidian Order (the Cardassian secret intelligence) work together, or sometimes not together. All of this is probably fascinating for the Trek fan, but probably not that much to an outsider.

That isn't to say that DeCandido doesn't try. It is an extremely well-written book. The various characterizations, both of people we have seen (like Colonel Worf, from Star Trek VI) and original characters. Elias Vaughn, of Starfleet Intelligence, gets revealed even more, and is probably the best character in the book. I also loved the tension between the diplomat Dax and the Intelligence agent Vaughn. They really do despise each other and what they stand for, but are able to work together when they must to further the goals of the Federation. Dax is even able to admit making a mistake, which is nice to see. DeCandido even gives us interesting people who we know won't live for very long, such as Mogh and his wife (these are the parents of Worf, from the television series, which revealed that they died in a Romulan attack). I can't think of any character in The Art of the Impossible who seemed like a waste of space or time. Characterization is one of DeCandido's strong points, and again it shines through.

However, my head hurt bouncing from all the different situations, most of which were referred to in the television series in at least some fashion. We see the Khitomer attack. We get to meet Deanna Troi's father and hear more detail on how her mother did everything she could to erase the existence of her sister who died when Deanna was very little. We see Rachel Garrett, captain of the Enterprise C in the episode "Yesterday's Enterprise," before she became captain. We see the formation of the Klingon High Council that ultimately we become familiar with in various other Next Generation episodes. It just became a little too much, and with all of this other continuity, I found the inclusion of Colonel Worf to be pointless.

Given what he had to work with, DeCandido did a wonderful job with it. It's a testament to his writing that I found the book enjoyable despite the "kitchen sink" feel to the book. With Trek's already established history, DeCandido had a lot of ground to cover, and he does it really well. He succeeds in giving us characters that we like to read about, with events that go by quickly. The book is very readable and will keep you hooked. I finished it very quickly.

Just to let you know, while there is some action in the book, the drama comes mostly from the politics involved and how these politics interact with the characters. This is a thinking-man's Trek book, and if you find the give-and-take of the diplomatic realm boring, then you also may not like this book. Written properly, as DeCandido has done, the cut and thrust of diplomacy can be as interesting as any gunfight. Decandido has truly performed "the art of the impossible" with this book, tying together all of the disparate elements of Trek history into a wonderful tapestry. Just watch your head.

David Roy

Though I was never a big fan of the Star Trek incarnation "Deep Space Nine", I was glad to see Dax attempting to do the impossible in keeping the Klingons and the Cardassians from warring over a region of space claimed by both. Of course this wouldn't be a great Star Trek space opera without internal intrigue from the Federation itself. Great read! I have added it to my other "Star Trek" series books as well as: "Stranger in a Strange Land", "Puppet Masters", "Foundation", "2001", "2010", "Rendezvous with Rama", "Ringworld", all the "Star Wars" books, as well as books as new to the genre as "Advent of the Corps" and others.

What a fantastic read!! In Ariel's Journey, the young girls embark on a journey forcing them to realize that what was once considered a problem before their journey began (a typical conflict among tween friends) really wasn't such a big issue in comparison with they were chosen to accomplish. These once naïve girls, turn into brave and majestic warriors as they fulfill their mission for peace and goodness. They become strong and focused as they bond with one another and their Icelandic horses in order to bring peace to Iceland. There is also very knowledgeable information on the Icelandic breed of horses as well. I look forward to reading each book in this series!

At first I was a little skeptical of the plot in Ariel's Journey... I mean, teenage girls traveling back in time to Iceland with magical horses? However, after finishing the book, I'm a BELIEVER! The story moves along at a nice pace and the characters are very well-developed. Kane and Wood give special attention to the little details that make each character endearing, such as Andrea's wild "morning hair" and the unrestrained enthusiasm that twelve-year-olds Kim and Darcy share for pretty much anything that comes their way. This story not only encourages "girl power" and teaches young women that they DO have the inner strength to accomplish great things, it is also rather gritty and realistic in surprising ways. The girls actually charge into battle wielding swords and there is some blood and gore! Ariel's Journey achieves a perfect balance of adventure, dialogue, romance, and female bonding. I have to admit that I became very attached to the characters and was sad when they arrived home, ready to resume their normal lives in modern society. Luckily I can take comfort in the fact that book #2 is coming out soon. I can't wait to see what happens next with Princessa, Skessa, Ariel, Hela, and Kedja and their brave young riders!

Cute book about kids going back in time and visiting Iceland 800 years ago. Two things I liked a lot about it. It depicted Icelandic horses as being very wise and having magical powers. If you know any Icelandic horses, you'll know how they really seem to have those qualities. I liked that the teenage girls in the story developed into skilled warriors who rescue others instead of being rescued. Girls need to read more books like this. I hope these authors continue writing. People who like this book will enjoy an older book called "Cloud Horse" by Miriam Pinkwater. Annie

Ariel's Journey is an excellent book for teens and adults. It is a story that shows the true relationship a rider can have with their horse. Horses (especially the Icelandic breed) like humans have their own unique traits and personalities. This story describes the ability of horses to bond with their riders in a mystical way. It is a great adventure story filled with twists and surprises to keep you on the edge of your seat. It also teaches you a great deal about the Icelandic horse breed and their homeland.
I enjoyed the story from beginning to end. Each chapter leaves you wanting more, therefore, making it hard to put the book down. I am anxiously awaiting the release of the next story.

I enjoyed Ariel's journey! was an easy read, very interesting and informative. I especialy enjoyed the unexpected twist in the story. I also felt it was a real life relationship learning tool for tweens that will read the book. Its a tough time for girls in this real part of their lives and this book tells what can happen when you can put those things aside. The authors did a particularly great job in character descriptions of both the girls on the journey and the horses that were their friends.

In a similar setup to the Gavagan's Bar stories, but, as Clarke says, set in the UK, not the USA.

His bar actually features John Christopher, John Wyndham and 'George Whitley' in small cameos in the tall tales recounted by Harry Purvis. So a haunt of the literary types someone under a newspaper building or thereabouts, is what he says, so maybe pointing out a real pub somewhere he liked?

Anyway, all from around the 1950 mark, these. All they are intended to be is fun stories, and the author pretty much succeeds at that, in general.


Tales from the White Hart : Silence Please! - Arthur C. Clarke
Tales from the White Hart : Big Game Hunt - Arthur C. Clarke
Tales from the White Hart : Patent Pending - Arthur C. Clarke
Tales from the White Hart : Armaments Race - Arthur C. Clarke
Tales from the White Hart : Critical Mass - Arthur C. Clarke
Tales from the White Hart : The Ultimate Melody - Arthur C. Clarke
Tales from the White Hart : The Pacifist - Arthur C. Clarke
Tales from the White Hart : The Next Tenants - Arthur C. Clarke
Tales from the White Hart : Moving Spirit - Arthur C. Clarke
Tales from the White Hart : The Man Who Ploughed the Sea - Arthur C. Clarke
Tales from the White Hart : The Reluctant Orchid - Arthur C. Clarke
Tales from the White Hart : Cold War - Arthur C. Clarke
Tales from the White Hart : What Goes Up - Arthur C. Clarke
Tales from the White Hart : Sleeping Beauty - Arthur C. Clarke
Tales from the White Hart : The Defenestration of Ermintrude Inch - Arthur C. Clarke


Negative feedback showstopping blowup.

3.5 out of 5


Giant Squid control lacking.

3 out of 5


Sensation register commerce.

2.5 out of 5


Captain Zoom gun prop death ray.

3.5 out of 5


Bee ooze.

3.5 out of 5


Stuck in a hit pattern.

3 out of 5


War program insults.

3.5 out of 5


The number of mad scientists who wish to conquer the world, said Harry Purvis, looking thoughtfully at his beer, has been grossly exaggerated.

3 out of 5


Whiskey making case a bomb.

3 out of 5


Submarine getaway extraction.

3.5 out of 5


Wellsian hothouse epic coward.

4 out of 5


Iceberg towing bet interruption.

3 out of 5


Antigravity flameout.

3 out of 5


Snoring cure insomnia reversal.

3.5 out of 5


Word count loop cheat pushover.

3.5 out of 5





3.5 out of 5

Absolutely Hilarious. A must have. I shouted for Joy when I saw it was in print again.

I wouldn't throw it away! This is one of the most entertaining collections of stories in the sci-fi genre. At the White Hart, a British pub, are an odd assortment of patrons from the literary and scientific fields, as well as laymen interested in the discussions going on around them. One Harry Purvis inevitably manages to dominate the talk with his incredible tales of wondrous scientific romance, which he insists are true. He will often find a good reason for leaving just as a flaw in his story starts to become obvious to one or more of his listeners, and they wax suspicious that the tale truly is incredible. The way Clarke weaves real science with interesting and hilarious short fiction makes this one of my favorites of all his works. I would especially recommend it to readers who are new to science-fiction. Unlike a lot of such works, this one only gets better with age.

I couldn't put this down. I'm a new comer to science fiction, but if all the sci-fi writers can do what A.C. Clark does in this book, I am really looking forward to reading them. Each short story in the book relate to one another. They basically build up to a climax and then you're left wondering, "Is that it??? I want more!". Even though this book was written circa 1957, it is a "way out" read and very enjoyable!

If you can think of one set of SF short stories involving tall tales told in bars, it's probably Spider Robinson's "Callahan's' series. But if you can think of two, this is probably the second.

Although never as big a Clarke fan as I've been of Asimov and Heinlein, I still have fond memories of several of Clarke's books. _Rendezvous with Rama_ is probably his best novel and it's been one of my favorites of his since it was first published. His short stories, too, are generally of high quality (remember e.g. 'The Nine Billion Names of God'?).

The series of tales collected herein is a bit different (for Clarke). For one thing, they're _funny_ -- Arthur C. Clarke funny, that is, not Douglas Adams funny, but funny all the same.

They're on the light side and they're deftly executed. But don't expect guffaws; in order to appreciate Harry Purvis and his stories, you pretty much have to be the sort of person who thinks 'The Defenestration of Ermintrude Inch' is a funny title.

If you've read Clarke but you haven't read this book, grab a copy and see what you think. The 'White Hart' isn't Callahan's, but it's a pleasant place to hang out and listen to some tall tales.

Tears Of An Angel shows another side of Alita that you don't get to see in the first graphic novel. The cyborg "Battle Angel" is in love. However, the person she's in love with lives a dangerous life. The ending may or may not suprise you. It's basically a sad love story. Tears Of An Angel is a great and I hope you enjoy it.

the love story in this book is beautiful, it's wonderful, and i luv it because of this. it's sad, rythmatic, and stays this way through the entire book. it DOES end a little suddenly, tho, but don't they all?

In this second poignant volume of Battle Angel Alita, Alita falls in love with a young street urchin named Hugo. Hugo's dream is to make enough money to move to Tiphares, the mid-air city where all your dreams can come true. Unknown to Alita, Hugo is making his money by assaulting and stealing body parts from cyborgs, a crime punishable by death. A character from the first volume, Zapan, who was humiliated by Alita, finds out about Alita's feelings for Hugo and begins to conspire a plot that will destroy Alita's heart. Will Alita's next bounty be Hugo?

This manga was fantastic. While I compared Battle Angel Alita to Ghost in the Shell in my review of the first volume, there really isn't a comparison. Alita operates in a more savage world, where laws don't function unless bounty hunters enforce them. It is a place where your fellow man will let you die on the street without lifting a finger. It's such a horrible world that Alita's love stands out in even starker contrast to the evil that surrounds her. Yes, there are scenes of "ultra-violence" but what makes that different from our world? The thing I like about Alita is that there are horrible scenes of graphic violence but there are also scenes of philosophic thought and tenderness. Just like real life. Horrible beauty.

If "Battle Angel Alita" merely introduced us to the amazing cyber world of Yukito Kishiro, then "Battle Angel Alita: Tears of an Angel" builds upon that world and, more than likely, sets in motion the plot.

After her victory over the all-powerful "King of the Maggots" in the first manga volume, Alita now faces her toughest challenge yet: love. Yes, love. While that phrase usually sounds cliched, it applies perfectly in this second manga volume. Alita has it tough to begin with, but when things start to spiral down even further, she must make a choice that could end up destroying her.

Like before, the artwork is beautiful and very detailed. And, like before, "Tears of an Angel" is riddled with violence and blood and gore that sticks it in the section of mature readers who have very strong stomahchs. The story is a superb, miniature masterpiece, and it undoubtedly adds to the internal conflict of Alita trying to find her identity.

This second volume is also featured in the "Gunnm" two episode OVA anime series ("Gunnm" is the original name of the "Battle Angel Alita" series.) Like before, I advise you to read the manga before watching the series, as comparisons will most likely decrease the enjoyment of the manga. But with that said, enjoy "Tears of an Angel". Along with the first volume, the second volume is a superb triumph.

As is true of almost any tale of cyborgs the question of the difference between mechanical consciousness and mechanized humanity is one of the driving forces behind the Battle Angel Alita series. At what point does a combination or brain, spinal column and hardware gain or lose its human nature. In this second stanza in the series, Alita, who was brought back to life in the first volume, re-finds her capacity for love when she meets Hugo, a human boy. Hugo's goal is to make his way from the traps of the Scrapheap to the upper city of Tiphares.

Hugo and Alita seem made for each other, despite the gulf of artificiality that separates them. But Hugo, despite being a complete human is willing to steal the spines out of their original possessors if it brings him closer to the day he can go to Tiphares. This gruesome sideline, and the ghouls he works for gradually eat away at his own humanity until it is clear that he and Alita are really going in opposite directions. Alita will discover her spirit as Hugo gradually loses his soul.

In the meantime, we get a close introduction to the grim nature of life below the city in the sky. Hunter Killers take heads for bounty, people feed on scraps while anything good is sent to Tiphares, and black market ops farm the neighbors for profit. For such as Hugo and Alita there is really no escape, only a dark struggle that can only lead to insanity and death if the dreamer refuses to waken.

Balancing what is almost a post-apocalyptic vision, is Yukito Kishiro's wonderful artwork. He has the same eye for detail that made 'Ghost in the Shell' such a compelling spectacle. The cover art made me wish, for the second time that this series had made it as a feature film or OAV series. If you have been feeling drawn deeper into the world of manga, Alita is a great introduction to Japanese science fiction.

Ben Franklin and the Magic Squares
Author: Frank Murphy

Reviewed by: Brianna - a Stockbrideg Central School 3rd Grader
***


This book is about Benjamin Franklin. Benjamin was a very successful inventor. Ben invented: flippers in 1717, the Franklin stove in 1742, and found out that lightning was made of electricity. He all so started: America's first library, America's first fire station, and first hospital too he even helped Thomas Jefferson write and rewrite the declaration of Independence in 1776.
There is narration through out the book and on every page there is information. There is very little text so it is easy to read. The book is told as a story it starts when he is a boy and goes through his life. I like this book because it gives a lot of information. I recommend this book to children who would like to learn about Benjamin Franklin. So read the book or you will be missing out!!!

I love this book! It introduced me to magic squares. Sometimes they're hard but not always. I read the book in 3rd grade. We were doing math groups and Mrs. Wrigely said" Today we are doing Magic squares."
What is a magic square?" I asked.
"It is 9 cubes that all have to equal the same number." Mrs. Wrigely
And that's how I was introduced to magic squares. I recommend this book for kids 6 and above. I think that because some words may be a little challenging for kids that are 5 or 4.


Mitchell S. 4th grade

what other book can make math interesting? and funny? Mr. Murphy has done it once again with his fabulous work! A++++++++++++!
-Stephanie
Connecticut

I thought that ths book was really good! I thoght it was so interesting!! Mr.Murphy is my math teacher... and he is amazing at teaching!!! He did very well with all of the writers craft in it. In class for Language arts he encourages us to use writers crafts and he actually uses them in this book!! This book is very interesting for adults who are interested in math and Ben Franklin. It is also a great book for children who are interested in math and Ben Franklin!! I love math because it is so interesting and because I have a great math teacher!!
[...]

I THINK BEN FRANKLIN AND THE MAIGIC SQUARES IS A REALLY GOOD BOOK FOR KIDS. AND MAYBE PARENTS TOO. I READ MOST OF HIS BOOKS. HE WAS MY TEACHER IN 4TH GRADE. HE IS A VERY GOOD WRITER I THINK. HE WRITES AMAZINGLY AMAZING BOOKS. HE IS A REALLY GOOD TEACHER.


RYAN .B
HOLLAND

This book is weird when the fish fly onto land; that makes it cool. It's really, really weird when the boat flies. The pictures are great!

I adore this book. I find it absolutely enthralling.

I love the quiet poetry, the calm illustrations, the strange details (flying sail boats? A sand fish (that looks like a cat on the side) that comes to life?) - everything.

Unfortunately, my nieces (5 and 2.5) don't love it quite as much as I do. Maybe they'll grow into it? I suspect they find it somewhat lacking in story.

The artwork in this fantastic tale of a boy 'saling' off to a magical island to frolic with lions and sea creatures make the book. My son (3) and I love it.

Eric Rohmann's imagination is a place I'd like to live in. His imagery is stunning in The Cinder-Eyed Cats. He has created a book that you will pick up again and again, if only to flip through the beautiful images. It will become a well-loved part of your library.

This book is a small boy's dreamlike journey to an island inhabited by the cats. He flies there in a boat and falls asleep. That's when the wonderous events begin.

You'll see flying fish, slinky cats, all revolving around and around in giddy circles. When the morning comes, the boy must return home and the cats get their rest.

Parents will have a good time reading this book to their younger children, while slightly older (5 - 8) will enjoy reading it to themselves.

Rohmann is also the creator of Time Flies, a Caldecott Honor Book, that is just as beautiful as this one.

Kimberly Pauley
YA Books Goddess @ Young Adult Books Central

...thoroughly enjoy the pictures and the story. The art work is fabulous. Great for any age.

Prior to me getting this book, I've heard so many good things about it, from other authors. I've even seen someone that actually had this book in his hand, which I've never expected to see reading. And that person is my boss, which shocked the hell out of me. I mean, my boss was actually reading it, before I was and kept telling me about it. Now if you had seen my boss, you would think he was crazy. Picture the movie that Chris Rock played in, Down to Earth, where is the old man; now that's my boss.


That shows you that Erick really did his thing in this book. Crave All Lose All, brings us to South Jamaica, Queens where you will meet Vincent, Spoon and Tyriq; Vincent loss his job with the airlines after 9/11 and is force to move in with his Aunt and mom. Erick painted a very vivid picture of how a young man can fall into the world that he has absolutely no knowledge of. The question is does Vincent stays it in or is he able to get out without committing the ultimate sin Murder. I give this novel a 10 definitely, especially if it could make my boss pick it up and buy it, it proves that Erick S. Gray has amazing skills to pen this novel. I can't wait to read the sequel but unfortunately we have to wait till sometime next spring.


Shaifire

Urbanfirebooks

I ENJOYED THIS BOOK SO MUCH SO, THAT I AM LOOKING FOR THE NEXT BOOK AND IT'S PROBABLY NOT FINISHED YET!!!! DAMN, I DIDN'T GET MUCH OF THE CRAVING PART, BUT THE LOSS WERE RIDICULOUS!!!! I BELIEVE IF EVERY DRUG DEALER READ THIS BOOK WE WOULD HAVE A LOT LESS DRUG DEALERS!!! THE GRAPHIC WRITING,MADE IT SEEM LIKE A TRUE STORY!!!!! I'VE READ A LOT OF THE AUTHOR'S WORK AND HE'S ALREADY ESTABLISHED HIMSELF AS A PHENOM W/ "NASTY GIRLS"!!! ONE OF THE BEST IN URBAN FICTION!!!ACTION PACKED,REAL, EXCITING, DON'T SLEEP ON THIS BOOK NOR THE AUTHOR!!!

This fast-paced novel was a killer read (no pun intended). Erick did his thang once again as he pens an intense and draw-dropping coming of age street saga that left no page unturned. Gory, cut throat, and uninhibited. I would expect no less from this author.

Crave All, Lose All brings us the story of Vincent Grey. As the book opens, Vince is a young dude, who much to the chagrin of his father makes VERY poor choices. After his father's death, and his subsenquent lay-off, Vince enters the world of hustling, under the tutelage of his longtime friend, Tyriq.

I must admit that initially, I only purchased the book in an effort to support Erick S. Gray, who is one of the hardest grinding authors on the circuit. I never had intentions of reading the book, because I read Nasty Girls, and had mixed feelings about it. However, on a bored day, I picked up Crave All, Lose All and started reading. The book, the characters, and surprisingly enough, Mr. Gray's prose (which I usually find distracting)drew me right in.

Crave All, Lose All paints a very vivid picture of a young guy who is drawn into a world that he knows nothing about. Once inside, he realizes that while he enjoys some parts of the game, he hates others...but it's too late to turn back now. He's in, and the only way out...is death.

This is a good book, by a hard-working author. Respect is yours, Mr. Gray. I give this book 4 and 3/4 stars.

Vincent is a young man growing up in the streets of South Jamaica, Queens with his loving mother and father. Despite the guidance and lessons of home, Vincent soaked up the knowledge of the streets via his two best friends, Spoon and Tyriq. Spoon and Tyriq are getting that money. Out of a job and with obligations as a man to his baby's mama, Chandra, but most importantly to his son, hustling became a priority. Now in the game deep with priorities changing, will Vincent crave all and lose all?

"Crave All Lose All" by Erick S. Gray is one of the hottest novels I've read this summer. It was all that and then some! This dramatic and gritty tale of greed, power and lust was a very good read and I am impatiently waiting the sequel. Good job, Erick!

Reviewed by: Tekisha

This book I found just looking around Amazon. And am I glad I did. It is more Sci-Fic that romance but does satisfy the romantic heart! This author hasn't written another book, but I can only hope?! I decided to write a review in hopes another reader will take a chance like me, because I know they won't be disappointed.

Ten years ago, I found this book in my local library, and somehow, it has ever since remained my favorite. I'm ashamed to say that I obtained my first copy by telling the library that I'd lost it and paying them for it, because at the time, I simply couldn't find it anywhere else.

Having been raised in the military, the characters and their motivations hit very close to home. Dancer does tend to be almost 'too perfect', as many young/first-time writers tend to make their protagonists, but despite that, she resonates strongly. She's simply too likeable to fault for that fact. The plot suspends reality quite well, filled with interesting, realistic Sci-Fi oriented details and intriguing, believable characters.

As other reviewers have noted, Crean hasn't published anything (at least under this name?) since, and I think that fact quite a loss to the Science Fiction community. While I think that Dancer of the Sixth is a complete story and needs no sequel or further explanation, I'd be very happy to see further work by the author, as unlikely as that seems at this point.

This is such a fantastic book. It was brilliantly written, and the plot and characters were original, captivating, and unforgettable. As you can see, the book was written a while ago, but it left a lasting impression. It is one of the best examples of compelling, exciting, and romantic science fiction.

A very strong, likeable female main character in a healthy romance with an equally strong and likeable man. Hard to find in SF! The main character, Dancer, reminds me of both David Weber's Honor Harrington and Diana Gabaldon's Claire Frazier. The world is well-developed and interesting, but the plot focuses on figuring out the background of the main characters. The author can be a bit heavy-handed with the foreshadowing at times, but several plot developments did take me by surprise.

This book will be most enjoyed by those who like character development stories (think Mercedes Lackey's style). I got the impression that this was the "opening act" -- we're introduced to the characters, given their backgrounds, and given some reasons to like them. I suppose the huge, sweeping plot would have started with the next book, except...well, there isn't one. Yet. Even so, this book stands on its own as an excellent read from a new SF author, and I will keep an eye on the "just published" stands.

This book is awesome. I have had it for years and I reread it repeatedly every so often. In fact I am doing so now. Please I would love a seaquel...Dancer is such an engaging character and the universe in which she lives is believable. I would love more from this author.

I am 56 and have been reading sci fi/fantasy since, oh, about 10. This is one of the best collection of stories I have ever read. You'll be glad you read it. The fact of the color of the writers is interesting, but not important. I have read so much sci fi, and even taken a writing course. The bottom line - this is great science fiction.

I've long suspected there were more writers of color out there besides Octivia Butler and Samuel Delany. Ms. Thomas introduces a rich collection spanning decades. My only question is when will volume 2 be published? If you love SF, add this brilliant work to your collection.

A huge sci-fi and fantasy reader I am also getting ready to be a high school teacher of special ed, reading & English. This is a book that will go on my list of books to write lesson plans about and to make sure my students read. The one complaint I have about this book is that I'd read the Butler, Delany & Saunders already. Couldn't we have gotten new stories for this historic anthology? But other writers were a revelation to me.
A great book! Nalo Hopkinson's story about a (...)gone amuck, Tannarive Due's story about the very human side of cloning and Steven Barnes' chilling almost apocalytic picture of a modern African state after a coup are all terrific reading-- and why my students -- and you -- should be excited!

Writers of African descent have played a long and important role in the history of speculative literature, even though that's not always recognized, either in the past or today. But this book opened my eyes to how much wonderful talent has gone underappreciated until now. Often raw, but always colorful and deep, many of the stories in this collection have the quality to be compared with the masters of the past and present. As both a reader and a writer, this collection inspired me greatly.

I highly recommend it to anyone who's a true officianado of speculative literature.

This is a collection that the literary world needed badly. Typical 'speculative fiction' (encompassing sci-fi, fantasy, horror, and other literary persuasions) often features humanity uniting against common enemies or disasters. But for people of color, the alternative present or near-future utopia/dystopia in any speculative story probably won't be so rosy. Technological advancement, alien contact, or astronomical disasters probably won't eliminate prejudice and inequality, as the writers of African descent collected here show us in consistently hard-hitting ways.

The settings and themes of these short stories are uniformly fascinating and thought-provoking for any intelligent reader. As with any collection of works from various writers, the quality of the stories varies a bit, and this book does have a few bumps in the road that deserve the thumbs-down for heavy-handedness. Examples include the predictable melodrama of 'The Woman in the Wall' by Steven Barnes, or the poorly-plotted conspiracy theories of 'The Space Traders' by Derrick Bell. However, these are minor quibbles, and even these stories contribute to the sheer fascination of this book as a whole.

My favorites include the supremely moving Jazz Age vampire story 'Chicago 1927' by Jewelle Gomez, an outstanding look at the human costs of cloning in 'Like Daughter' by Tananarive Due, the creepy erotic thriller 'Ganger (Ball Lightning)' by Nalo Hopkinson, and the heartbreaking dark fantasy of 'Gimmile's Songs' by Charles Saunders. Of historical interest we have 'Aye, and Gomorrah...' from the master Samuel Delany, the groundbreaking 'The Goophered Grapevine' from way back in 1887 by Charles Chesnutt, and the very chilling 'The Comet' by W.E.B. DuBois (I had forgotten that DuBois wrote fiction, and his important stories are ripe for rediscovery). Kudos to Sheree Thomas for creating this hugely important, haunting, and illuminating anthology. [~doomsdayer520~]