Tag Archives: science fiction

November 8, 2024 · 7:00 am

Rika Saves A Cat by Lamar Golden and Liana Golden (Book Review)

A story of two sisters from Planet Venesha playing hide and seek in the woods when they hear a strange sound and go to investigate.
They look and find a cat who appears to be all alone and wait for its mother to return.

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I received a complimentary copy of this book from Reedsy Discovery.  I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

 

Rika and her little sister, Jari, live in the northern forest region of the largest planet of the universe: Venesha. Its appearance is vastly different from ours from a distance, but it does possess qualities found in our world: oceans, swamps, rivers, mountains, deserts, and plains. The two children (Jari and Rika) look slightly different from Earthlings, but each play as typical children do. They climb trees, play hide-and-seek, and are curious about the world around them. 

While playing outside with Jari, Rika heard a strange sound, went to investigate, and discovered a scared baby kitten inside a hollowed-out log. Children will love the adorable uni-kitty (orange kitten with yellow horn). They’ll probably yell they want a unicorn-kitty too. I know I wouldn’t mind adopting one! 

Rika and Jari could’ve left the animal to fend for itself, but they didn’t. Instead, they nestled together on the forest floor, waiting patiently for the sweet furbaby’s mother to return. Their patience and kind hearts paid off; momma cat and her baby were reunited, and momma cat was just as cute as her baby! 

Rika Saves a Cat by Lamar and Liana Golden is a sweet, quick read that children will want to read often. The main story is less than 30 pages, with simple text and adorable illustrations. As a family of Star Wars fans, I liked Rika’s Princess Leia hairstyle and her pointy ears (Artist: Veronica Guarino.) 

Amazon’s recommended reading age is baby-10 years. The color palette will capture a baby’s eye; kids of all ages will adore the pictures, while the text will appeal to older children. This short story is perfect for children who are practicing reading alone. 

I encourage you to check out Rika Saves a Cat and the author’s other works. Their stories are wildly creative, with out-of-this-world designs and engaging storylines. 

 

Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: ❤❤❤❤❤

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Meet the Authors

Lamar:  I am a Navy Veteran who has traveled the world, met wonderful people and have enjoyed the culture, diversity and cuisines from around the world. I enjoy making up stories with my daughter to pass time and love to smoke ribs, brisket and any other meat or fish that I think would taste good.

I love hunting and fishing and believe in passing on lessons learned down to the younger generation. My motto is reach for the stars and see where it takes you.

 

Liana:  Second grade student who enjoys playing with friends, going to KidZania & Disneyland, learning at school and spending time with my mom and dad.  I love the zoo, learning about nature which my dad alw

 

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November 1, 2024 · 7:00 am

Nortis Goes Swimming by Lamar Golden and Liana Golden (Book Review)

Everybody needs a new friend – even in other worlds!

Dive into the enchanting world of “Nortis Goes Swimming,” where science fiction meets fantasy in this delightful children’s story book about making friends!

Join Nortis, a young explorer from the distant planet Venessa, as he embarks on a thrilling school field trip to a sparkling swimming pool.

In this captivating tale, young readers aged 2-6 will be transported to the far reaches of outer space, where lovable creatures much like our world on earth are faced with making new friends. As Nortis and his friends splash and play, they’ll discover the true meaning of friendship and cooperation, making this sci-fi adventure a heartwarming journey for both children and parents alike.

With charming illustrations and a whimsical storyline, Parents will love sharing this imaginative tale with their little ones, using Nortis’ adventures to teach valuable lessons about inclusivity and the importance of making new friends.

So pack your bags and join Nortis on this unforgettable school field trip to the stars!

With “Nortis Goes Swimming,” the magic of friendship shines brighter than ever before.

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I received a complimentary copy of this book from Reedsy Discovery.  I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

 

Far, far away in outer space lies the largest planet of the universe – Venesha. This alien planet has rivers, oceans, mountains, swamps, and forests like Earth; however, the inhabitants are not Earth-like in appearance, and they possess special powers too. 

Up in the high glacier region of Venesha lived Nortis. He was orange, with three large eyes, four fingers, and pointy ears. His day began like a typical child’s day: eat, dress, brush teeth, and head off to school. His day differed from ours via the mode of transportation and how the students looked. Kids will love the vast collection of aliens at the bus stop and on the flying yellow bus. Classmates varied in shape and coloring. One eye, Eight eyes. Each alien was unique and beautifully drawn!

Today was an exciting day for Nortis and his friends. Instead of the bus dropping them off at school, it was flying them to the local swimming pool for a field trip. Field trip days are usually the highlight of a school year, so if your child has been on one, they will probably voice which one was their favorite. 

While everyone was frolicking in the water, Nortis saw a classmate sitting alone. He did the right thing and asked Jun, who resembled a blue, one-eyed rabbit, to play with him. Nortis’s kindness brightened Jun’s face for the rest of their day. 

Nortis Goes Swimming teaches children to be kind to one another, be accepting, and be open to new friendships. Remember, one small act of kindness might seem insignificant to you, but it could be life-changing to the recipient! 

I adored the artwork by Patrick Girouard. I also loved the message and the overall creativeness of Nortis Goes Swimming by co-authors Lamar Golden and Liana Golden. I wish there were some elaboration on Nortis’s “magical powers.” 

Nortis Goes Swimming is a short read, perfect for children with short attention spans. It is also a prime choice for kids learning to read independently. I recommend this book for children 2 to 10 years of age. 

 

Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: ❤❤❤❤

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

 

Meet the Authors

Lamar:  I am a Navy Veteran who has traveled the world, met wonderful people and have enjoyed the culture, diversity and cuisines from around the world. I enjoy making up stories with my daughter to pass time and love to smoke ribs, brisket and any other meat or fish that I think would taste good.

I love hunting and fishing and believe in passing on lessons learned down to the younger generation. My motto is reach for the stars and see where it takes you.

 

Liana:  Second grade student who enjoys playing with friends, going to KidZania & Disneyland, learning at school and spending time with my mom and dad.  I love the zoo, learning about nature which my dad alw

 

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February 23, 2024 · 7:00 am

The Fall Gauntlet: BEAR by J. A. Merkel (Book Review)

Benji and Soren will do anything to save their family, but the Crown isn’t going to make it easy . . .

Ten years after his mother was thrown into her off-world prison, Benji finally has a chance to save her. All he has to do is win the Fall Gauntlet, a fight-to-the-death tournament on the planet of Calypso, designed to please the gods and goddesses and keep them at bay. Benji’s success will usher in a new era of science and innovation, and he’s come too far to lose now.

But the Crown is three steps ahead. They’ve orchestrated every move, pushing Benji to the victory that will serve their own agenda. Winning the deathmatch will grant his wish to save his mother, but the Crown has other plans and won’t let go of Benji so easily.

As Benji learns the truth about the Crown’s desires, he is forced to make impossible choices, especially when he learns that his final opponent—the hulking young man behind the bear mask—is his brother, Soren.

J.A. Merkel’s Bear is part of The Fall Gauntlet, a collection of short stories about Benji and Soren’s adventures on the planet of Calypso.


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I received a complimentary copy of this book from Reedsy Discovery.  I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

 

Ten years ago, the Crown imprisoned Soren and Benji’s mother for treason. Seven years ago, the Crown jailed their father and separated the two brothers. Now, the Crown is forcing Soren and Benji to fight in the Fall Gauntlet tournament, where only one will win, or so that was the Crown’s plan. 

Thanks to D, a guard, Benji was notified his opponent was none other than his brother, Soren the Bear. Benji could never take his brother’s life and had to devise a way to unveil his identity to Soren. Representing the lynx, Benji was a genius when it came to technology. Through his apprenticeship with Master Gherus, he furthered his understanding of the principles of physics and helped develop weaponry and tech for the Crown. He used his knowledge to find a way to break the technologically advanced mask he wore in battle and turn the tables on the Crown. 

For sci-fi or tech fans, you’ll love the author’s attention to detail when they describe what the arena sees when looking at the opponents: “two masked humans representing both a bear and a lynx, human-shaped with the ability to walk upright, but phospho-imaged to imitate those beasts, our masks morphing and sprouting hair, and our gauntlets growing retractable claws and fur.” The platform is impressive, as intimidating as the opponent standing before you: one hundred feet off the ground with spikes jutting into the air like giant shark teeth as deadly as a Megalodon’s. Fans of this genre will also love the fighter’s two prime weapons. Lynx carried a 6-foot-long gem staff while the Bear wielded a massive spiked club that could slaughter a whale. 

The Fall Gauntlet: BEAR is a non-stop thrill ride featuring exhilarating fight scenes and futuristic tech. It’s a novella I know gamers will want to see made into a game so they can play it for hours and hours. Brother versus brother. It’s a story that would captivate teens and adults on the big screen!

With the humorous final line of dialogue and cliffhanger ending, you’ll be ready to tackle the next book in the series (The Fall Gauntlet: Rat). 

J. A. Merkel is a master of imagery and a terrific storyteller. I recommend giving this new series a chance! 

 

Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: ❤❤❤❤❤

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Meet the Author

J. A. Merkel writes speculative and science fiction filled with anti-heroes and tragic reversals. For Merkel, writing isn’t a chore. It’s a fantastical kingdom with thousands of doors where readers can stumble into their own special adventures, laughing, shouting, and journeying to find home.

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September 18, 2023 · 7:00 am

Look Out for the Little Guy by Scott Lang (Book Spotlight)

Look Out for the Little Guy is the in-movie memoir by Scott Lang, also known as Ant-Man, that he’s written and shared with the world, as seen onscreen in the new Marvel Studios film Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania. Hyperion Avenue is proud to bring this book to real life.

This is the incredible story of an ex-con turned world-saving Super Hero.

In Look Out for the Little Guy, Scott Lang shares with the world a bracingly honest account of his struggles and triumphs, from serving time to being a divorced dad to becoming Ant-Man and joining The Avengers. These are stories of epic battles won and lost, as this everyman turned Super Hero finally tells all—from the official account of what really happened between The Avengers and Thanos to how shrinking down to ant-size really feels to the challenges of balancing the roles of hero and dad.

Across his many adventures big and small, Scott has gathered the wisdom of countless amazing experiences into this, the first memoir from a real-life Avenger. Once you learn the unforgettable details of his epic journey, you won’t need to be reminded . . . to look out for the little guy.

 

 

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Meet the Author

Scott Lang is a scientist and inventor with a master’s degree in electrical engineering. He has been an ice cream scooper, a corporate whistleblower, a consultant for The Pym Van Dyne Foundation, and an Avenger. He lives in San Francisco.

 

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July 10, 2023 · 7:00 am

The Ickles®. They’re Everywhere! They’re Everywhere!: An Adventure in an Overlapping Parallel Dimension! by A. J. Eccles (Book Review)


An Adventure in an Overlapping Parallel Dimension!


We are Ickles. A proud, and independent people.
We just didn’t know we were such tiny little beings.
To us we seemed normal size.
Until the day we came face to face with our greatest challenge.
How would you feel if your world was suddenly overrun by giants five times taller than you and your friends?
How would you react if you and your neighbors were driven out of your homes and had to watch your town being turned into a theme park for the giants?


This was the situation facing Mac, a ten-year-old boy, as a rift in the fabric of space and time brought together two worlds of very different sizes. The invading giants were not monsters, not aliens, but normal-looking people just like the Ickles themselves. Only much, much larger. For the briefest moment in time, the tiny world of the Ickles and the larger world of humans overlapped, in a small bubble of physical space. Our hero, Mac, has an amazing adventure in both worlds and manages to help his fellow Ickles return home after the humans are pushed back to their own parallel universe.

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I received a complimentary copy of this book from Reedsy Discovery.  I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

 

The Ickles reside in a parallel dimension to our world. According to an Ickles historical book, our universes have only overlapped once, in the mid-1800s. The well-documented incident occurred in a farmer’s field in Ireland. The rift in the fabric of space and time closed up as quickly as it opened, shocking both sides. But now, for a reason unbeknownst to either side of the border, the two worlds can see one another again. This time around, their meet-up is significantly impacting both sides of the invisible wall.

The Ickles call “our world” the land of the giants, and I can’t fault them for their name choice. Our house pets are the same size as them. When a bull from our dimension entered theirs, its horns spanned the entire street and knocked down their power lines. Through their eyes, it looked monstrous and behaved accordingly! 

In the “giant” world, our dimension, we were shocked by a sudden miniature town appearing in thin air. Every morsel of food was real. Every aspect of the town was functional, including the vehicles that ran on the same fuel we use. With dollar signs in their eyes, the “giants” didn’t waste a moment capitalizing on the discovery. 

The “giants” had theories about who the “little people” were, and the Ickles had theories about the thin veil separating the parallel universes. Each was curious about the other, which led to scenes with action, humor, and danger. 

The Ickles®. They’re Everywhere! They’re Everywhere!: An Adventure in an Overlapping Parallel Dimension! by A. J. Eccles is a thrilling science fiction story; however, it lacks one component that readers would wish the author added: images. Young readers will want to see the little town surrounded by the train track (Earth realm), the bull smashing its way down the tiny streets, Mac facing off with the “giant” cat, and especially the surprising development in the final chapter. 

If your child loves science fiction stories, I recommend you purchase The Ickles®. They’re Everywhere! They’re Everywhere!: An Adventure in an Overlapping Parallel Dimension! It’s a fantastic read! 

 

Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: ❤❤❤❤

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

 

Meet the Author

I first turned my hand to writing fictional stories after a career as a copywriter, video producer, and senior global marketing executive. I love writing for strong characters and developing unusual stories with unexpected plot twists. The stories range from comedy to adventure to sci-fi drama.

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