Category: Science Fiction

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Books Science Fiction

The Cost of Honor by Sally Malcolm

Stargate SG1-05: The Cost of Honor by Sally Malcolm

The Cost of Honor - Stargate SG-1 - Sally MalcolmThis is a sequel to A Matter of Honor, which was book 3 in the Stargate SG-1 book series.

A description for more info

Paying the price…

In the action-packed sequel to A Matter of Honor, SG-1 embark on a desperate mission to save SG-10 from the edge of a black hole. But the price of heroism may be more than they can pay…

Returning to Stargate Command, Colonel Jack O’Neill and his team find more has changed in their absence than they had expected. Nonetheless, O’Neill is determined to face the consequences of their unauthorized activities, only to discover the penalty is far worse than anything he could have imagined.

With the fate of Colonel O’Neill and Major Samantha Carter unknown, and the very survival of the SGC threatened, Dr. Daniel Jackson and Teal’c mount a rescue mission to free their team-mates and reclaim the SGC.

Yet returning to the Kinahhi homeworld, they learn a startling truth about its ancient foe. And uncover a horrifying secret…

Find more of the Stargate books here.

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Books Science Fiction

Trial by Fire by Sabine C. Bauer

Stargate SG1-01: Trial by Fire by Sabine C. Bauer

Trial By Fire - Stargate SG-1 - Sabine C. BauerThe description for Trial by Fire

On a hidden world…

Tyros – an ancient society teetering on the brink of war. A pious people, the Tyreans are devoted to the Canaanite deity, Meleq. When their spiritual leader is savagely murdered during a mission of peace, they beg SG-1 for help against their sworn enemies, the Phrygians.

Initially reluctant to get involved, the team have no choice when Colonel Jack O’Neill is abducted. O’Neill soon discovers his only hope of escape is to join the ruthless Phrygians – if he can survive their barbaric initiation rite.

As Dr Daniel Jackson, Major Samantha Carter and Teal’c race to his rescue, they find themselves embroiled in a war of shifting allegiances, where truth has many shades and nothing is as it seems.

And, unbeknownst to them all, an old enemy is hiding in the shadows…

You can find this book at most online book stores.

Links:

More Stargate books are here.

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Books Movies Reviews Science Fiction

Quick Sci-fi Movie Review: The Maze Runner

The Maze Runner Movie Poster

I saw The Maze Runner movie yesterday and the movie was better than I expected for the first in a planned series (I hear the sequel is already being planned/filmed). Although there’s the requisite non-ending that leaves us hanging a bit, the movie actually felt pretty complete—certainly more complete than a few spoilers on the web had led me to believe it would be.

The Maze Runner movie appears to be part of the dystopian sci-fi genre, although without listing out spoilers to explain why I think that, I can’t really say definitely that it’s anything more than a science fiction film.

The Maze Runner Movie
Teen Wolf isn’t the only place where Dylan O’Brien shines as a performer.

I left the theater satisfied that I’d watched a full movie and not just a piece of one. That said, I’m thinking I’m going to read The Maze Runner books because I really don’t want to wait a year and more just to find out what’s really going on. Some people say the movie had significant changes from the book; some say the changes were minor to the overall plot. I guess I’ll find out for myself.

The acting was good, the maze was clever, and the movie moved really fast, especially considering I expected it to drag in places like so many other movies based on YA books. I was surprised that the nearly two hours went by super quick.

Dylan O’Brien is a great actor. Of course, I’ve known that for a while, because I’m a huge fan of his role on Teen Wolf. But this movie really just emphasized that he has skill.

Several of the other actors stood out, but I’m not certain of their names so I’ll just use their character names: Alby, Minho, Gally. Newt was kind of bland, but the actor playing the role seemed competent—I’d watch him in something else.

Anyway, this is just my quick review of the movie, and if you’ve been on the fence about watching, like I was, go ahead. The cliffhanger is nothing to be scared of and the rest of the movie is great!

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Science Fiction Television

Defiance season one is on Amazon Prime Instant Video

I had avoided watching Defiance, because I’d seen some photos prior to the airing of the show, and frankly, I wasn’t impressed. I also didn’t know if the show would make it past a first season, and over the last few years, I’ve gotten extremely leery of Syfy and their ability to stand behind a promising series. So, long story short, I chose to wait and see.

Defiance

Then I forgot about the show.

Yeah.

Last weekend, however, I saw it pop up on Amazon Prime Instant Video and was like, wow, totally missed that one. I watched the Pilot and then more than half the season, and although it’s not the best thing ever, there are definitely aspects of the series that I enjoy and certain themes I’d like to see explored in the rest of the first season and in season 2 when it comes (season 2 of Defiance premieres June 19, 2014).

The most underdeveloped part of the series, in my opinion?

Christie and Alak. Their interspecies relationship has a ton of  conflict and while the show touches on that story every so often in the first season, it hasn’t really broken out. (I’m not quite finished with the season, so if there’s something I’m missing here, I’ll update later.)

The most overdeveloped parts of the series, in my opinion?

Kenya. This is really the most glaring, uninteresting part of the show. I can’t even really think of how this could have played out better, although I’m sure someone could have figured it out. I’d accept this a lot better if the prostitute angle had played some kind of integral role so far, but it hasn’t. It’s mostly been set dressing, and bland at that.

Irisa’s badassery. She kind of annoys me. I mean, horrible childhood = bitch with issues. I want to like her and I think I could if she softened up a bit. She could give some of her bitchery to Amanda. That’s one I’d like to see toughen up. I find her mommy vibe as annoying as I find Irisa’s bitchiness.

And that’s the thing. The female characters on the show, with the exception of Stahma, all seem to be a tad too cliche for me. The men? Not bad at all, well rounded and interesting. The women? Not so much.

All that said, though, I’m enjoying the show, and I’m willing to overlook the trite and cliché for the good stuff.

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Science Fiction Television

The 100 hasn’t been cancelled

The 100The 100 is about “100 young exiles from a dying space station [that] are sent to the planet Earth 97 years after a nuclear apocalypse to see if it’s habitable.”

The premise intrigues me, and since the show hasn’t been cancelled, I think I’ll give it a try. I love post-apocalyptic settings and this sounds like it’s going to have that in abundance (a supposition based on having read some of the descriptions for episodes beyond the Pilot).

I feel kind of lost sometimes about what to post here, because I don’t like writing reviews of single episodes of a show, because I’m just not sure how helpful those kinds of reviews are. I do enjoy writing (and reading) commentary, just not the kind that spans an entire showing of an episode, so maybe I’ll do more of that.

Anyway! I’m just happy to have found another sci-fi show to try that hasn’t been cancelled already.

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Science Fiction Television

Orphan Black

I sat down to watch Orphan Black last week, and before I was done, I’d watched the entire first season on Amazon’s Prime Video. The series is sharp and entertaining, and the actress playing the lead, Tatiana Maslany, is excellent. I don’t know that I’ve seen so much range in one person before. Maybe, but I certainly can’t remember off the top of my head.

Here’s the summary of the first episode. If I say much more, I’ll spoil the show.

Sarah, a streetwise hustler on the run, witnesses the suicide of a stranger who looks just like her. Sarah assumes her identity, hoping that cleaning out the dead woman’s bank account will solve all of her problems. Instead, after taking on the new identity, Sarah quickly finds herself caught in the middle of a deadly conspiracy and must race to find answers.

—From Natural Selection (Episode 1, Orphan Black)

If you haven’t heard of this one, check it out. I couldn’t stop watching once I’d started.

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Books Science Fiction

The Breakers Series: Books 1-3 Bundle, a 99¢ Bargain

I’m not usually on the lookout for cheap books because I tend to be a reader who wants now whatever it is I want to read and waiting for a bargain isn’t in my nature.

That’s not to say I never run across bargains though, and today I did.

The Breakers Series: Books 1-3

So what’s it about?

In the Breakers series, humanity faces not one apocalypse, but two: first a lethal pandemic, then a war against those who made the virus. This collection includes the first three books and is over 1000 pages (350,000 words) of post-apocalyptic survival.

See the little screencap (11/3/13)? Apparently a lot of people like this set. :)

Breakers Series, books 1-3 bundle Screencap of ratings at Amazon

Including Breakers, Meltdown, & Knifepoint, this bundle isn’t the complete Breakers set, but it definitely will give you a good start on the series. I personally haven’t read these books, but I have started reading The Cutting Room, which is a serial (now complete) by the same author, Edward W. Robertson.

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Science Fiction Television

What’s With All The Walking Dead?

No, not talking about all the zombies running around in my supermarket who won’t get out of the way so I can get through the line faster. I’m talking about all the posts on the site about The Walking Dead. I have no idea why I’ve posted so much lately about this one particular show when my poor little site needs so much more attention.

Part of the reason could be that this is one show that’s really captured my interest, even when it really shouldn’t have. I am not a fan of gore. Never have been. The very idea that I’m enjoying sitting down and watching dead people make lots of other people into dead people is so WRONG I can’t even describe how wrong it is.

But The Walking Dead has that something special in it that makes it more appealing that it sounds just from a bare description of the series. But, in a nutshell, here’s what it’s about.

Rick Grimes wakes up in a hospital bed after having been shot in the line of duty. The world has gone to hell. Dead people walk the streets and try quite valiantly to turn the living into the dead—and fill their tummies while they’re at it. Rick makes his way to his house, discovers his wife and son gone but not necessarily dead, and after a few interesting things happen, he goes out into a world now overrun with zombies to find his family.

What pulled me in and made me stay was the people. The writers have a winner here and they need to tread carefully. This is the kind of show that makes you set aside your prejudices against horror flicks and watch (horrified) as you feel for every character you meet. I don’t really know why I like this show. But I do. And so does my sister, my brother-in-law, my friends, and my colleagues. And they, like me, can’t believe they’ve been sucked in.

I’m sure they thank me for that every time they sit down to watch. ;-)

Here are a few quick links to take to you the main parts of the site that deal with the show.

Categories
Science Fiction Television

Can’t Miss Episode: The Walking Dead Finale

The Walking Dead

I have saved the last two episodes of The Walking Dead so that I can watch a little mini-marathon myself just before the big season 2 finale on Sunday. That’ll be three episodes all at once. Although I’ve tried watching single episodes at a time, I’ve found that I really do enjoy the show more when I watch several episodes back-to-back.

Even if that’s you, you probably don’t want to wait past Sunday to catch up, because why would you ever want to miss the big season 2 finale if you didn’t have to?!

Here’s a sneak peak photo from The Walking Dead’s 13th episode (aka the season 2 finale). Click the image for the original on the AMC website. Don’t do it if you want to be surprised about EVERYTHING about the episode. Or, oops, maybe that’s already too late.

walking-dead-episode-13-sp1

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Science Fiction Television

The Walking Dead Canceled? No Way

I’ve seen people asking if The Walking Dead has been canceled. No way. The show has been renewed for a third season by AMC not that long ago. Here’s a link if you want to know more: "AMC Announces 16 Episode Order for The Walking Dead Season 3".

Next week is the season finale in case you didn’t know. Episode 13 of the series’s second season marks the end of season 2 of The Walking Dead, but thoughts of what’s to come in season 3’s 16 episodes will keep me going until the show returns to AMC. :)

Sci-fi fantasies