Coming Soon: After the Bombs by Julia Scott-Douglas

My short story After the Bombs is being published by the fantastic people at Fiction Reborn! It is a post apocalyptic story about the human race after an apocalypse. I'll have more information (release dates and locations) later on, or you can follow my publisher's blog to find out where you can get it! So... stay tuned!

Book Review: Final Blackout by L. Ron Hubbard

Book: Final Blackout
Author: L. Ron Hubbard
Genre: Sci Fi

Julia Rating: 10

Comments:
This book is a short and fascinating read. It's a sci-fi/action/adventure/military type book. The story is about a man - The Lieutenant - who has grown up amidst war torn nations and decides to make a change for the good of his men - and later for the good of England. It's very inspiring, but people who like more up-beat books may not like it. The ending is hopeful, not happy.
I think that if you like the movie V for Vendetta or liked the book 1984, you'd like L. Ron Hubbard's Final Blackout.

Book Review: Writers of the Future Vol XX presented by L. Ron Hubbard

Book: Writers of the Future, Vol. 20
Author: A collaboration of talented authors

Genre: Sci Fi/Fantasy

Julia Rating: 10 out of 10

Comments:

I'm not always always enamored with these collaboration pieces, however this particular Writers of the Future volume really stood out for me. The majority of the stories were fantastic, and there's little nuggets of gold in there from acclaimed writers and editors like Robert Heinlein, Algis Budrys and L. Ron Hubbard. So, these books really have something for everyone.

I really love the Writers of the Future contest because it gives such a wonderful opportunity to aspiring writers. The winning writers get their work published in one of the Writers of the Future volumes and some get cash prizes. The judges of the contest are writers and editors themselves, so they generally pick excellent material for the books.

Just as a note, my favorite stories in the book are:
Asleep in the Forest of the Tall Cats by Kenneth Brady
Shipwoman by Roxanne Hutton
The Key by Blair MacGregor

Book Review: The Shore of Women by Pamela Sargent

Book: The Shore of Women
Author: Pamela Sargent
Genre: Science Fiction, Feminism

Julia Rating: 10

Comments:

This is a singular book - I've never read a work of feminist Science Fiction before, but I love it! Pamela Sargent's moving tale of a post apocalyptic world where women have enclosed themselves in cities and men are thrown out into the wild to treat with each other is thought provoking. The basic story is told from the point of view of a woman in the city (Laissa), her twin brother who lives outside of the city (Arvil) and a young woman who has been expelled from the city (Birana). Birana and Arvil meet each other and Arvil becomes her protector and then, later, something more. It is not believed that men are anything about animals to the women in the city, but Laissa finds out about Birana and Arvil and hopes to change the world they live in with their story. It is a touching story about love, as well as a very thought provoking story about the condition human beings can put each other in. This story is not only feminist, it also delves into humanity and is one of the only feminist stories I've read that doesn't bash guys - but shows them as human beings that are able to experience and show love, compassion and respect.
Definitely recommended reading - even for guys.

Book Review: Fragile Things by Neil Gaiman

The Book: Fragile Things
The Author: Neil Gaiman

The Genre: Sci Fi/Fantasy (mostly Fantasy)

Julia Rating: 10 (out of a scale of 1-10, 1 being the lowest and 10 being the highest)

My Comments:
A fabulous compilation of short stories and poetry by a modern master.
I loved reading this compilation of Fantasy, Sci Fi and Supernatural stories by Neil Gaiman - he is one of my personal favorites.

A fun feature of this book is that with each story comes author commentary, which is great for writers and readers alike.
Writers constantly get asked the question, "Where do your ideas come from?". This book is not only a great compilation of stories and poetry, but also delves into the answer to that question - at least as far as Neil Gaiman is concerned. Neil Gaiman's commentary gives you a peak into his interesting, dark and somewhat twisted mind.