Book Review: How to Survive a Robot Uprising by Daniel H. Wilson

Book: How to Survive a Robot Uprising
Author: Daniel H. Wilson
Genre: Humor/Speculative Fiction/Non Fiction

Julia Rating: 10

Comments: If you are looking for a humorous, yet factual guide to understanding where modern day robotics is headed, what is in the works and what to do when the inevitable robot rebellion occurs a la iRobot, Terminator, The Matrix and more, you've come to the right place.

Daniel H. Wilson has a great sense of humor as he tells us how to protect ourselves against the robot menace, while instilling information of current scientific strides being made in modern robotics. I took a little scan through his amazon page (which you can do by just clicking his name under "Author" in this post) and he has some more books that I can't wait to read.

Whether you proudly proclaim yourself a nerd or simply are interested in modern technology, check out Daniel H. Wilson.

Have any of you read any other of his books? Let me know how they were... they look pretty funny.

Book Review: 20th Century Ghosts by Joe Hill

Book: 20th Century Ghosts
Author: Joe Hill
Genre: Horror, Fantasy, Supernatural... Other

Julia Rating: 10

Comments: This book of short stories is a fantastic piece of work by Joe Hill. And...(at least in the audio book) there's a secret story in the back. :)

I'd say my favorite short that is in this compilation is Best New Horror, a story of a man who edits the volume Best New Horror each year. He gets a submission that quickens his blood, one that he simply must have. However, finding the author of the story proves to be difficult... and what the editor finds is unexpected and horrifying. I love it because of the ending, which I will not spoil, but it's truly a must read.

My next favorite is an ultra short called Dead-Wood about ghost trees. It's hard to explain, you'll just have to read it... you can go to audible.com and hear that one for free - it's the one that got me excited about buying this book.

Another great story is the last one - the one that is hidden much like a "secret song" that one used to find on CD's. I don't want to spoil the surprise, but let's just say it's about a father and his typewriter.

The last story I will mention here is the one the book is named for, called 20th Century Ghost. About a girl who haunts a classic old theatre called the Rosebud. She was beautiful in life and makes for a lovely, shocking sight to all that see her.

I really recommend this book to anyone who loves ghost stories. As Christopher Golden says in his introduction, they are not all horror stories, but gems from an author who represents promise fulfilled.

Book Review: The Burglar Who Liked to Quote Kipling by Lawrence Block

Book: The Burglar Who Liked to Quote Kipling

Author: Lawrence Block

Genre: Mystery

Julia Rating: 10

Comments: This is a Bernie Rhodenbarr mystery. It's about a professional burglar who has given up a life of crime for a nice used book store. He is co missioned to burgle a particularly easy home and does so, but when he's trying to hand over the goods, his contact is murdered and Bernie is framed for the murder! Now he must discover who killed the lady and why before the cops get on his tail.

I really loved this book and when I bought it, I swore I would buy more Lawrence Block because he's funny and really pulls you into the story. I haven't yet... but I will!

Book Review: Night Watch by Terry Pratchett

Book: Night Watch

Author: Terry Pratchett

Genre: Fantasy

Julia Rating: 10

Comments: This is a great Discword book. Sam Vimes (Commander of the city watch) is one of my favorite Terry Pratchett characters and I think this book is a great one for those who are just starting to read about Discworld, as well as for those who are old hands. (Come one, come all!)
The basic idea is that Sam Vimes accidentally travels back in time with a really horrible criminal. Sam travels back to when he was just beginning in the city watch, before the current regime and during the time when he was first learning how to really be a watchman. Unfortunately for Sam, the wretched criminal he's brought with him has interfered with a very major part of Sam's coming into his own. The monks of time step in and talk Sam (the Commander of the City Watch in his time) to teach Sam (a snot nosed kid just joined up with the city watch) all about how to be a good copper.
Terry Pratchett always makes me laugh and usually makes me hope. He has succeeded in doing both of those things in this great book.
Let me know if you have read it or would like to recommend any other Terry Pratchett books to me!

A New Website is Forthcoming

I am going to visit my super-smart dad in May and he is going to help me set up my own website - which will really be a blog like this one, just fancier looking and with my own URL, along with some extra pages and maybe a story or two. I will make an announcement with the new URL around that time. I hope all of you who enjoy reading this blog will check out and subscribe to the new website. I promise there will still be book reviews, but there will be a few more pages that will have updates about my writing and perhaps a story or two of my own.

So, I'll keep you posted, but I thought I'd let all of you, my faithful friends, know about this upcoming change.

Thanks and happy reading!

Poll: How Many Books Did You Read Last Year?

The "How Many Books Did You Read Last Year" poll has closed. Thank goodness for all you avid readers out there! You've restored my faith in humanity. The following are the results:

53% voted that they read ten or more books last year
30% read between five and ten books
23% read somewhere between three and four books

Thanks to everyone for voting. Happy reading for 2008! I hope you will include my short story After the Bombs - due for release in a couple of months - as part of your 2008 reading material.

(I know, I'm shamelessly plugging, but hey, it's my website)