Book Review: Mind Space Vol. 1: Conspiracy Book 1: The Martyrs by David S. Moore

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Mind Space Vol. 1: Conspiracy Book 1: The Martyrs by David S. Moore

A Science Fiction Novel published on amazon.com (01/10/2014)

Summary:

The Mind Shield is a medical miracle and for two years after FDA clearance, it is sold and subsidized to the public with specific focused targeting on those in office and those in the military, as well as those over the age of 50, a population susceptible to what the Mind Shield 1 monitors for: Hypertension and stroke. At the turn of the third year, the secret and real intentions of the Mind Shield are turned on and suddenly all those millions with the Mind Shield are not just being monitored by the device. Marianna sums up the struggle of those opposed to the Mind Shield on page 330, “The Mind Shield is a device that takes away our most sacred right — the freedom to think whatever we choose, without external influence! It is time we put a stop to this dangerous product. It it time we told the FDA to remove this psychological weapon from the market.”

Keywords:

Science Fiction, Mind Control, America 2050’s, Technology, Resistance Movement, Sabotage, the Martyrs

My Review:

In a world where healthcare is being reformed and new advanced medical devices are being developed all the time, David S. Moore’s novel hits hard. The essential essence of his book is wholly entrancing. The questions he brings up are deviously difficult to answer. After finishing his book, I am still wondering whether the Mind Shield is good or bad. Is our own society moving towards a product that could be taken advantage of and used for nefarious purposes just like the Mind Shield – a Trojan horse? The Mind Shield  is the greatest medical marvel of the 2050’s and newer versions get better and better,saving more and more lives, but at what cost? The technology is easily used to not only monitor but control and therein lies the paradox.

“There are some people who really need a Mind Shield,” Traci said. “They need the monitoring that the Mind Shield offers. People with high risk of stroke. People who have cancer.” (page 258).

The organization opposed to the Mind Shield cannot simply shut down and destroy the entire Jaimeson-Cale operations, because the Mind Shield undoubtably saves lives. But to many characters in the novel (those not currently under the influence of the mind controlling aspect of the Mind Shield) it is not worth the personality change and control just to have the comfort of the monitoring abilities of the device. It is not worth it to give up individuality for comfort and peace of mind. This essential question is answered by David S. Moore in his novel, just like it is answered in dictatorship-held nations or bland fictional Utopian societies. Moore brings up the question in regards to a life-saving and life-changing miracle. The Mind Shield can save your life, but what life will you have under its influence? Such an essential thought-provoking concept makes for such a beguiling read. As this is a series, Moore has given me ample reason to read on.

Not only has Moore intrigued me with the essential idea of his novel, but also with the way he tells the story. I love a good apocalypse novel, yet most of them focus on the aftermath and the destruction that society must live beyond. Moore gives us a taste for the actual apocalypse and the slow devolution of humanity through this singular device that is heralded both as a great medical miracle and as an evil instrument of mind control.

He tells the story with care and focus, specializing on the effects of the Mind Shield device and those leaders involved in its inception, production, and (hopefully) ultimate demise. As a reader, I am rooting for the triumph of humanity. I hold my breath for the second and third books in the series to find out if humanity will win in the end or realize their great mistakes in approving the Mind Shield and allowing it to pervade into society and then control its citizens.

At times, due to the way Moore focuses on the Mind Shield across time, I lose details into how the world is changing or what the world is like other than the few details and complete focus on the Mind Shield. In the 2050’s is the Mind Shield the only modern marvel? Moore does mention other everyday technological devices, hinting into the environment of the world and the advancement of the society. He gives just enough detail to quench my thirst while still leaving me wanting more. He reiterates the Mind Shield sales pitch and how the device works on a technical level to the point where a layman can almost completely understand its inner-workings, which, as a layman, I very much appreciate.

I was a bit disturbed that the “good” guys (those opposed to the Mind Shield) used kidnapping as a means to accomplish their ends, to deprogram those who had been under the influence of the device. As Dr. Orville declares to Lucia, “ We’re in the business of freeing minds, not enslaving them.” (page 88-89). Yet, he condones kidnapping, which one could argue takes away as much of a person’s basic human rights as mind control. Moore amends this by later saying that there was a case of a doctor being prosecuted for kidnapping and sent to prison for 30 years (page. 209), thereby re-establishing a world of justice and balance in his novel and in my mind as a reader.

The format of the novel was fairly standard and easy to read. I got a bit bogged down in the lengthy title and amount of exclamation points, but on the whole I thoroughly enjoyed David S. Moore’s first book in his Mind Space series and look forward to reading the next novel, Restoration.

I recommend this book for anyone who enjoys a well written novel and easy-to-read science fiction novel. This book reminds me of Childhood’s End by Arthur C. Clarke  in it’s sweeping narration through long periods of time with a focus on a single aspect of society.

This novel was published through Createspace Independent Publishing Platform 01/10/2014 and is available on Amazon here.

TLDR Star Rating: 4.75

Links for more information:

David S. Moore’s Website

FreeValley Publishing’s David S. Moore

David S. Moore’s novels will be available for purchase at the local North Bend Days Event, so make sure to look for his books there where you might be able to get a personally signed copy by the author himself and ask him what he really thinks about the Mind Shield.

Author Thursdays: The First 1000 Words of a Story by Rachel Barnard

by in Author Thursdays, Rachel Barnard and tagged | 2 Comments

A young boy stood silhouetted, perched like an animalistic predator awaiting a sign of its dinner. He pulled out a thinned and long instrument from a sling around his neck and blew into one end of it. A low drone undercut the wind in the air, whipping around the hill, wavering slightly in tone but never in pitch. The boy carefully stuffed the vuvuzela back in its place and turned to glance behind him. He was soon joined by three other boys, each carrying a different weapon that glinted fiercely in the dying light. One weapon was a simple instrument, only one piece of wood, easily grasped within one of the boy’s hands with a sharp metal piece attached to one end. The second boy carried his weapon with the awkwardness that usually accompanies unfamiliarity. His weapon was also quite lengthy but it tapered at both ends and was connected by a string. He carried a sling of small pointed arrows on his back. The third boy held in his hand a wickedly curved knife with a crudely cut but elaborately worked wooden handle.

The first boy tensed, peering deep into the distance. He was met by trees and bushes. His face lit up and he gestured to his buddies. They stopped shoving each other and bragging about their bravado back in the heart of the silver zone. They looked where the first boy pointed. Ten seconds passed and they were all still staring straight ahead, down the hill. A brushy bush between the bottom of the hill and the trees beyond shook itself, like it was shedding a layer of leaves. Two disheveled and dirty adolescents fell out of the bush running, trailing bits of twigs behind them. The four boys on the hilltop let out war cries. The first boy whooped and started running down the hill, leaving his mates behind. They didn’t wait a moment before racing after him, catching up steadily. Adrenaline pumped as they gathered speed down the hill. The two adolescents picked up their pace ahead of the other boys, sprinting as if their lives depended on it.

The four predators gained foothold on level ground and pounded after the two boys ahead of them. The trees became taller and taller as the chase took itself to the forest’s edge. The distance between the two parties waned, disappearing at a rapid pace. The four boys were long-legged and sure-footed, hampered only by the menacing weapons they brandished in their hands. The two ahead of them ran with a different speed, one fed by the fear of an untimely and early death at the hands of Los Ricos. The distance grew tighter and the first hunter hefted his spear, moving its glinty point from the sky to a horizontal point, aiming at the terror-stricken two in front. The boy knew that if he waited until they were all within the confines of the forest, his weapon would be less than useful. He straightened out his stride, gliding forward and readied his arm to throw. He released his spear at the same time that the two adolescents were about to vanish within the tangle of the trees. The taller adolescent let out a cry and grasped at his right arm with his left, still moving forward, but at a wounded pace. A growing rorschach
of red appeared on his dirt-crusted sleeve, mixing in with sweat and dust. His friend cried out as well but kept going, leaving his friend in his wake. The two melted into the forest. The four boys converged at the edge of the trees. The boy with the other long weapon hefted it up. The bow was fitted with one of the arrows in his quiver at his back and he walked forward. He was swallowed by the forest, followed by the rest of the clique. They were not cheetahs chasing their prey anymore, now they stalked like true hunters.

“That was a crap shot, Jorge,” the first boy, Carlos, said as he pulled out his primitive slingshot and a couple of spiked stone-sized objects from the same sack that housed the vuvuzela. He was careful not to prick his own finger; the spikes were filled with poison that dispersed when contact was made. He definitely had to handle his ammunition gingerly.

“He moved at the last second. It was a perfect shot,” Jorge whined, unsheathing a machete from around his waist, leaving the gps trackable spear lying on the ground behind him. Word was the Gypaetus would not pick up or use their weapons. What pussies Jorge thought to himself.

“Shut up! They can hear you,” whispered the archer, Luís.

“So?” waid Jorge, slightly louder than his normal voice. “Ouch. Stop it Esteban!” Jorge said even louder.

Esteban, the fourth boy was poking Jorge with the tip of one of his throwing knives.

“Come on. They’re getting away. Let’s go already,” said Luís.

“You want to use the heat sensor or the locator or go blind hunting?” asked Carlos, his slingshot at the ready, even though the two adolescents had run far beyond his shooting range.

“No blind hunting, stupid. We need to get points. Can’t fall further behind,” Esteban answered.

“Last kills for the day, then,” Jorge commented.

“Or night,” Carlos added.

“It shouldn’t take that long. These ones don’t seem too smart. Running out into the open. Tsk.” Esteban shook his head sadly and then grinned. “You may have gotten the first hit Jorge, but I’m going to take the kill.”

“There’s two of them. We can share you know,” Jorge answered Esteban’s boast.

“Not if I get there first!” shouted Carlos as he whooped again and took off into the jungle.

The other boys set off as well, spreading out to cover more distance.

Book Review: Rosehead by Ksenia Anske

by in Author Tuesdays, Book Review, Local Authors and tagged , , | 3 Comments

Rosehead by Ksenia Anske

A Young Adult Fantasy Novel published on amazon.com (3/31/2014)

Summary:

Lilith, along with her mother and father, arrive in Germany for the funeral of Lilith’s grandmother. During her stay, Lilith discovers some very peculiar happenings at the Bloom & Co mansion, where Roses of immaculate red color and scent are grown. She investigates the peculiarities with her trusty Whippet, Panther, and all trails lead to the roses. How do they maintain their color and beauty longer than any of their counterparts? Lilith is determined to find out.

Keywords:

Roses, Germany, twelve-year old, peculiarity, investigation, magical roses, tradition

My Review:

There is almost always something I find fault with as a reader nowadays, but reading Rosehead by Ksenia Anske broke all of my expectations. I could not put the book down and though there are close to 400 pages, I devoured the novel in one day. The only comment I would give is to the format of the book, the font is too large for my liking, which is entirely my own personal preference. There were also a larger-than-average number of minor spelling and grammar issues, but I read over them, noted, and kept going because the style of writing was so easy to follow and read through, even with the errors.

The author’s writing style was quite sophisticated. She crafted her sentences with care and her dialogue with entertaining closeness to reality. The dog’s voice is adorable and true to form of both dog and sidekick, “Pink is my favorite color. Besides, it’s more blush. Very delicate. Matches my tongue.” (Page 47). The Whippet is described as a, “…talking cat in a dog’s body with an unrivaled passion for steak, rosy jackets, and squirrels.” (Page 366).

Lilith is also a very well-drawn character. Immediately Anske lets us know that she is no ordinary twelve-year old girl because she, “… only felt sill when she was moving and [she] could smell things other people couldn’t.” (Page 366).

Lilith has her faults and eccentricities, such as her unique vocabulary and the way she is always trying to utilize as many sophisticated words as possible in her speech and the author will even italicize them to give them more emphasis. Lilith also, instead of getting emotional and angry at any bad thing done to her, finitely controls her language to be poisonously polite.

Lilith is such a loveable character because of her stubborn single mindedness. She gets fixated to a fault and she sometimes cannot seem to control her outbursts of accusations. It may be maddening for her to momentary lose control like this, but for the reader it adds tension and excitement. Panther, her Whippet companion puts it well, “I simply love your attention to detail and your inability to hear what others are saying once you set your mind to something.” (Page 186).

 

I recommend this book for anyone who enjoys the hijinks and imagination of Calvin and Hobbes, the sidekick element of Pantalaimon in Philip Pullman’s Dark Materials series, or the whimsical darkness of Pan’s Labyrinth.

This novel was published through Lulu.com 8/19/11 and is available on her website here and Amazon here.

 

TLDR Star Rating: 5.0

 

Links for more information:

Ksenia Anske’s Website

Goodreads Profile

Foodie Fridays: Loaded Angry Orchard (Hard Cider)

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angry orchard (1) angry orchard (2)

 

I’m not an avid drinker of beer and slide towards the hard cider end of things. I love some good hard apple cider and Washington is full o f Angry Orchard. I saw this bad boy at Costco and decided to give it a try. It came in around $9 and around 10% alcohol by volume and boy could I taste it. This was so far from the lovely sweet hint of alcohol taste of the regular Angry Orchards that I was deeply disappointed. The flavor was more like cough syrup than any hard cider I have ever tasted. My opinion? Stay away from high percent ABV beers/ciders if you’re in it for the taste.

Book Review: The Kansas Connection by Kathleen Gabriel

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The Kansas Connection by Kathleen Gabriel

A Romance Novel published on lulu.com (August 19, 2011); formerly published by Aardvaark Creative Publishing in UK

Summary:

 Traveling through Kansas, Cori is pulled over by a cop. Instead of a warning or a ticket, he treats her to dinner and a friendship between like-minded people who live in different states begins. She is a vulnerable sweet lady who lives in Oregon as a substitute teacher. He is the steadfast cop and uncle to his sister’s kids. As they get to know each other, they begin to fall for each other more and more.

Keywords:

Romance, Kansas, Oregon, Travel, History Teacher, Cop, Love, middle-aged characters

My Review:

The author handled intimacy like a professional in her book “The Kansas Connection,” showing the passion and emotion of the characters without throwing any grody unnecessary details in my face.

The book felt real, the characters felt real, the situations felt real. I almost forgot I was reading a book, I felt like I was really viewing the world Gabriel had created and the situations her characters were part of. I was pleased that the book’s main character was not some yuppie young’un with no sense of romance or responsibility. Both the male and female main characters had worth and wisdom and grew and developed as the book progressed. The interactions between Cori and Ken was very realistic as well, the author even adds that human touch of uncertainty and assumption. For example, when Cori and Ken are exchanging emails, Cori assumes that this is a friendly gesture, but that they would probably never get around to talking again. You can guess what happens next…

As Cori and Ken get to know each other, so does the reader get to know these characters. They aren’t instantly perfect examples of the human race. The character flaws gave the main characters’ struggles more meaning and the book more depth.They are real and alive in their faults, which lets the reader know this won’t just be another silly romance but a real story. Cori even tells Ken, “You’re more than the sum of your little quirks.” (page 124).

I especially enjoyed the snappy banter, though I would have liked some indication every now and then to show who was speaking. The humor present in the dialogue would make for a wonderful audio book. I wish I could hear Ken recite the Miranda Rights fast in Spanish, much to the chagrin of the Spanish-speaking kids in one of Cori’s substitute classes.

My favorite quote from the author was one of Cori’s thoughts, spoken to one of her classes. “Your heritage is only the beginning of who you are. You make up the rest, you write a part of your life every day.” (page 110). She is such a wise character, who every reader falls for as much as Ken does.

The only parts that made me squirm in my chair were the author’s thinly veiled thoughts on love and sex. Her two main characters want to wait until they are really together before they make love, which is adorable until the author repeats and repeats this concept until I am as annoyed with the author for bringing it up so often as I am with the characters for being so stubborn about waiting.

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a soft romance.

This novel was published through Lulu.com 8/19/11 and is available on Lulu here and Amazon here.

TLDR Star Rating: 4.50

Links for more information:

 Kathleen Gabriel’s website

Kathleen Gabriel’s Facebook Page

Maple Valley Days a Success

by in Author Thursdays, Free Valley Publishing, Geocaching, Local Authors, Local Events, Maple Valley, Rachel Barnard and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Image

(Photo courtesy of Sheri J. Kennedy)

What a beautiful booth! The new canopy tent worked out really well, easy set up and tear down. We sold a good number of books even though the weather was quite poor over the weekend and the entire festival had record low numbers of attendance. Jeff was wonderful and manned the booth the entire time! Go Jeff! We met a number of aspiring authors. Overall the event was a success and thanks to all for helping out.

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(Photos courtesy of Sheri J. Kennedy)