BEA'S BOOK NOOK "I can't imagine a man really enjoying a book and reading it only once." C. S. Lewis “If one cannot enjoy reading a book over and over again, there is no use in reading it at all.” ― Oscar Wilde

Showing posts with label science fiction. Show all posts
Showing posts with label science fiction. Show all posts

Tuesday, October 6, 2015

Steph Reviews Doctor Who: City of Death by Douglas Adams and James Goss

Publisher: ACE
Series: Doctor Who
Format Read: ARC paperback
Source: From the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Release Date: October 6, 2015
Buying Links: Amazon* | Book Depository* | Barnes & Noble | iTunes* |
* affiliate links; the blog receives a small commission from purchases made through these links.

Blurb from goodreads:

The Doctor takes Romana for a holiday in Paris – a city which, like a fine wine, has a bouquet all its own. Especially if you visit during one of the vintage years. But the TARDIS takes them to 1979, a table-wine year, a year whose vintage is soured by cracks – not in their wine glasses but in the very fabric of time itself.

Soon the Time Lords are embroiled in an audacious alien scheme which encompasses home-made time machines, the theft of the Mona Lisa, the resurrection of the much-feared Jagaroth race, and the beginning (and quite possibly the end) of all life on Earth.

Aided by British private detective Duggan, whose speciality is thumping people, the Doctor and Romana must thwart the machinations of the suave, mysterious Count Scarlioni – all twelve of him – if the human race has any chance of survival.

But then, the Doctor’s holidays tend to turn out a bit like this.

Featuring the Fourth Doctor as played by Tom Baker, City of Death is a novel by James Goss based on the 1979 Doctor Who story written by Douglas Adams under the pen-name David Agnew. City of Death is one of the best-loved serials in the show’s 50-year history and was watched by over 16 million viewers when first broadcast.

Friday, September 25, 2015

Bea Reviews Rolling in the Deep by Mira Grant

Bea's Book Nook, Review, Rolling in the Deep, Mira Grant
Publisher: Subterranean Press 
Source: the local library
Release Date: April 6, 2015
Challenges:
Buying Links: Amazon* | Book Depository* | Kobo  | iTunes* | Subterranean Press | Barnes & Noble
* affiliate links; the blog receives a small commission from purchases made through these links.

Blurb from goodreads:

When the Imagine Network commissioned a documentary on mermaids, to be filmed from the cruise ship Atargatis, they expected what they had always received before: an assortment of eyewitness reports that proved nothing, some footage that proved even less, and the kind of ratings that only came from peddling imaginary creatures to the masses.

They didn't expect actual mermaids. They certainly didn't expect those mermaids to have teeth.

This is the story of the Atargatis, lost at sea with all hands. Some have called it a hoax; others have called it a maritime tragedy. Whatever the truth may be, it will only be found below the bathypelagic zone in the Mariana Trench…and the depths are very good at keeping secrets.

Monday, August 31, 2015

Bea Reviews The Great Zoo of China by Matthew Reilly

Publisher: Gallery Books
Source: the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Release Date: January 27, 2015
Challenges: NetGalley and Edelweiss ARCs  | What An Animal
Buying Links: Amazon* | Book Depository* | OmniLit*  | iTunes* | Barnes & Noble
* affiliate links; the blog receives a small commission from purchases made through these links.

Blurb from goodreads:

It is a secret the Chinese government has been keeping for forty years.

They have found a species of animal no one believed even existed. It will amaze the world.

Now the Chinese are ready to unveil their astonishing discovery within the greatest zoo ever constructed.

A small group of VIPs and journalists has been brought to the zoo deep within China to see its fabulous creatures for the first time.

Among them is Dr. Cassandra Jane ‘CJ’ Cameron, a writer for National Geographic and an expert on reptiles.

The visitors are assured by their Chinese hosts that they will be struck with wonder at these beasts, that they are perfectly safe, and that nothing can go wrong.

Of course it can’t…

GET READY FOR ACTION ON A GIGANTIC SCALE.

Tuesday, June 30, 2015

EXCERPT & GIVEAWAY: Sarina, Sweetheart by Megan Carney

Welcome! Come in, sit down, get cozy. Move the cats out of your way and prop your feet up. Today I have an excerpt from an NA sci fi novel, "Sarina, Sweetheart" by Megan Carney. At the end of the excerpt there's a tourwide giveaway so sit back and enjoy!

Megan Carney is an author, geek and amateur photographer living in the Twin Cities. She has ten years of experience in the field of computer security. Her previous short story publications include: ‘Flighty Youth’ in the Raritan, ‘Modern Mayhem’ in the Wayfarer, ‘Swing By Close’ in the Wayfarer, ‘Directions’ in the Bell Tower. ‘Swing By Close’ and ‘Directions’ both won first prize in the fiction sections of that issue. The Christian Science Monitor dubbed her self-published photography book, ‘Signs of My Cities’ as having “youthful zest.”

Her non-literary creations include: a robot to clean the bathroom tub, Zim and Gir costumes, No-Dig tomato stakes, StickFriend the bear bag hanger, and a burning coal costume so she could be Katniss for a night.

Wednesday, June 3, 2015

Into the West by J.A. Campbell: EXCERPT & GIVEAWAY

ITW-RB


"Into the West" is an edited re-release of a serial that came out several years ago. I enjoyed the original book and am excited to be part of its re-release. The author, J.A. Campbell, has been a guest on the blog many times over the years; I always enjoy her books. Note: Jax was one of the proofreaders for the revised edition and I was for the original edition.

J.A. Campbell has been many things over the last few years, from college student, to bookstore clerk and an over the road trucker. She’s worked as a 911 dispatcher and in computer tech support, but through it all she’s been a writer and when she’s not out riding horses, she can usually be found sitting in front of her computer. She lives in Colorado with her three cats, her vampire-hunting dog Kira, her new horse and Traveler-in training, Triska, and her Irish Sailor. She is the author of many Vampire and Ghost-Hunting Dog stories and the young adult fantasy series Tales of the Travelers. She’s a member of the Horror Writers Association and the Dog Writers of America Association and the editor for Steampunk Trails fiction magazine.

Thursday, May 28, 2015

Bea Reviews Flashback by Simon Rose

Publisher: Tyche Books Ltd
Source: the author/pr firm/publisher in exchange for an honest review
Release Date: March 25, 2015
Challenges: May 2015 Clean Sweep ARC Challenge
Buying Links: Amazon* | Book Depository*Barnes & Noble | Tyche Books | Kobo
* affiliate links; the blog receives a small commission from purchases made through these links.

Blurb from goodreads:

Lots of kids have an imaginary friend. Max certainly did. Then one day, Max’s friend said something that scared him. Max never saw his friend again.

Several years later, Max’s imaginary childhood friend returns – older, wiser, and disturbingly real. He tells Max of events concealed for over twenty years, events that someone will go to deadly lengths to keep that way. Max must journey into his friend’s past, not knowing how his actions will affect what he knows as reality.

Monday, March 9, 2015

Cover Reveal - Into the West by J.A. Campbell

ITW-CR

 

A YA Romantic/Time Travel Adventure -

INTO THE WEST

by

J.A. Campbell

Bea Reviews Star Trek: The Original Series: Shadow of the Machine by Scott Harrison

Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Series: Star Trek: The Original Series
Format Read: eGalley
Challenges: NetGalley & Edelweiss Reading Challenge 
Source: the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Release Date: March 9, 2015
Buying Links: Amazon*  | OmniLit* | Barnes & Noble
* affiliate links; the blog receives a small commission from purchases made through these links.

Blurb from goodreads:

An e-novella set in the Original Series universe—taking place immediately after the events of the 1979 film Star Trek: The Motion Picture.

After its recent encounter with V’ger, the U.S.S. Enterprise has returned to dry dock to finish its refit before commencing its second five-year mission. The crew has been granted a two-week period of shore leave before preparations for their next voyage begins. Shaken by their encounter with V’ger, Kirk, Spock, and Sulu travel to their respective homes and must reflect upon their lives—now forever changed.

Quote-Tastic & Review: Star Trek Vol 9 The Q Gambit by Mike Johnson

Publisher: IDW Publishing
Series: Star Trek: Ongoing
Format Read: eGalley
Challenges:  NetGalley & Edelweiss Reading Challenge 
Source: the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Release Date: 
Buying Links: Amazon* | Book Depository*  | Barnes & Noble
* affiliate links; the blog receives a small commission from purchases made through these links.

Blurb from goodreads:

The crew of the new Star Trek film franchise encounters the classic villain Q for the first time in this galaxy-spanning adventure developed in association with screenwriter/producer Roberto Orci! The mischievous Q sends James T. Kirk on a quest that will see the Enterprise joining forces with familiar faces from Star Trek lore. Collects issues #35–40.

Monday, February 16, 2015

Quote-Tastic: A Thousand Pieces of You by Claudia Gray


Join us every Monday and share a favorite quote that's grabbed you for one reason or another. Everyone's welcome to join in - authors, bloggers, readers. The more the merrier! Just grab the button and put up your post :) Don't have a blog? No worries, just leave your favorites in the comment section.  Quote-tastic is hosted by Herding Cats & Burning Soup.

I borrowed the Kindle version of this book from my library. It had some excellent quotes but for this week I have two quotes around love. Meg is 18 and Paul is in his 20's, maybe mid-20's


It takes time to really, truly fall for someone. Yet I believe in a moment. A moment when you glimpse the truth within someone, and they glimpse the truth within you.In that moment, you don't belong to yourself any longer, not completely. Part of you belongs to him; part of him belongs to you.

"I would love you in any shape, in any world, with any past. Never doubt that."


Friday, January 16, 2015

The Friday 56 - A Thousand Pieces of You by Claudia Gray

This is a fun meme to do hosted by Freda's Voice. If you'd like to join in the fun go to The Friday 56.

Rules:
*Grab a book, any book.
*Turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader.
*Find any sentence that grabs you.
*Post it.
*Link it here.

I'm reading a YA  science fiction/mystery/romance book, "A Thousand Pieces of You", by Claudia Gray. The quote is from 56%  in the ebook.



"You have to help me find the Firebird locket, the one Colonel Azarenko took from you."

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Bea Reviews Symbiont by Mira Grant

Publisher: Orbit
Series:Parasitology #2
Format Read: hardcover
Source: the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Release Date: November 25, 2014
Buying Links: Amazon* | Book Depository* | OmniLit*' | Barnes & Noble
* affiliate links; the blog receives a small commission from purchases made through these links.

Blurb from goodreads:

THE SECOND BOOK IN MIRA GRANT'S TERRIFYING PARASITOLOGY SERIES.


THE ENEMY IS INSIDE US.

The SymboGen designed tapeworms were created to relieve humanity of disease and sickness. But the implants in the majority of the world's population began attacking their hosts turning them into a ravenous horde.

Now those who do not appear to be afflicted are being gathered for quarantine as panic spreads, but Sal and her companions must discover how the tapeworms are taking over their hosts, what their eventual goal is, and how they can be stopped.

Friday, November 14, 2014

The Friday 56 Symbiont by Mira Grant

This is a fun meme to do hosted by Freda's Voice. If you'd like to join in the fun go to The Friday 56.

Rules:
*Grab a book, any book.
*Turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader.
*Find any sentence that grabs you.
*Post it.
*Link it here.

After the glut of Christmas romances that I read for the Ho Ho Ho Read-A-Thon, I needed something with some meat to it. I decided the newest Parasitology book, Symbiont by the ever fabulous Mira Grant, fit the bill. It's a science fiction dystopian, set 13 years in the future. The quote is from page 56  in the hard cover.




The man standing on the other side was almost an anti-climax. He was barefoot, and his pants were unfastened, like he had been in the process of getting undressed when his thoughts became scrambled and unclear. 

Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Steph Reviews Proxima by Stephen Baxter

Publisher: Roc Hardcover
Series: Proxima #1
Format Read: Paperback
Source: From the publisher for an honest review
Release Date: November 4, 2014
Buying Links: Amazon* | Book Depository* | ARe*/OmniLit | Barnes & Noble
* affiliate links; the blog receives a small commission from purchases made through these links.

Blurb from goodreads:


Mankind’s future in this galaxy could be all but infinite....

There are hundreds of billions of red dwarf stars, lasting trillions of years—and their planets can be habitable for humans. Such is the world of Proxima Centauri. And its promise could mean the never-ending existence of humanity.

But first it must be colonized, and no one wants to be a settler. There is no glamor that accompanies it, like being the first man on the moon, nor is there the ease of becoming a citizen of an already-tamed world. There is only hardship...loneliness...emptiness.

But that’s where Yuri comes in. Because sometimes exploration isn’t voluntary. It must be coerced...


Monday, October 20, 2014

Quote-Tastic #60 You Have No Shame or Guile


Join us every Monday and share a favorite quote that's grabbed you for one reason or another. Everyone's welcome to join in - authors, bloggers, readers. The more the merrier! Just grab the button and put up your post :) Don't have a blog? No worries, just leave your favorites in the comment section.  Quote-tastic is hosted by Herding Cats & Burning Soup.

Another month, another J.D. Robb quote. :D I do love her In Death books. While this one wasn't my favorite, it had some good quotes. Eve is a sneaky, clever woman who understands how people think. In this scene, she is telling her police partner, Peabody, how to get her grandmother to mail her some homemade chicken soup. 



"I'm totally charged up again. Maybe I should go buy a gallon of that soup. No! I'll e-mail my granny, and I'll sweet-talk her into sending me some."
 "You have no shame, or guile." Eve led the way out, still sipping her soup. "You e-mail her and tell her you just had some soup that's as good as hers - subtext, maybe better - and it made you think about her, blah blah. How good it was, on a cold, crappy day in New York, yadda, yadda. She'll cook up a batch and ship it out to prove hers is better."
Peabody slid into the car, stared at Eve. "Have you met my granny, because that exactly what she'd do. That's brilliant."


Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Jax Reviews Half-off Ragnarok by Seanan McGuire

Publisher: DAW
Series: Incryptid book 3
Format Read: Paperback
Source: From publisher in exchange for an honest review
Release Date: March 4, 2014
Buying Links: Amazon* | Book Depository*Barnes & Noble |
* affiliate links; the blog receives a small commission from purchases made through these links.

Blurb from the back of the book:

What do gorgons, basilisks, and frogs with feathers all have in common? They're all considered mythological by modern science, and some people are working very hard to keep them that way. Alexander Price is a member of a cryptozoological lineage that spans generations, and it's his job to act as a buffer between the human and cryptid worlds—not an easy task when you're dealing with women who has snakes in place of hair, little girls who may actually be cobras, and brilliant, beautiful Australian zookeepers. And then there's the matter of the murders...

Alex thought he was choosing the easier career when he decided to specialize in non-urban cryptids, leaving the cities to his little sister, Verity. He had no idea what he was letting himself in for. It's a family affair, and everyone—from his reanimated grandfather to his slightly broken telepathic cousin—is going to find themselves drawn in before things get any better.
          
There are some things you can train for. And then there are the things you have to figure out on the fly. 
This is definitely the latter.

Saturday, March 22, 2014

Jax Reviews Mark of the Dragonfly by Jaleigh Johnson


Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Release date: March 25, 2014
Format: ebook
Source: From publisher in exchange for an honest review
Buying links: Amazon*  Barnes & Noble The Book Depository*
*affiliate links; the blog receives a small commission for purchases made through the links.


Blurb from goodreads:
 
Fans of The City of Ember will love The Mark of the Dragonfly, an adventure story set in a magical world that is both exciting and dangerous.
   Piper has never seen the Mark of the Dragonfly until she finds the girl amid the wreckage of a caravan in the Meteor Fields.
   The girl doesn't remember a thing about her life, but the intricate tattoo on her arm is proof that she's from the Dragonfly Territories and that she's protected by the king. Which means a reward for Piper if she can get the girl home.
   The one sure way to the Territories is the 401, a great old beauty of a train. But a ticket costs more coin than Piper could make in a year. And stowing away is a difficult prospect--everyone knows that getting past the peculiar green-eyed boy who stands guard is nearly impossible.
   Life for Piper just turned dangerous. A little bit magical. And very exciting, if she can manage to survive the journey.