Anne Hayward read History at Oxford University and went on to become a teacher. She is a Licensed Lay Minister in the Church in Wales In recent years, she has walked thousands of miles to places of pilgrimage in Wales, Ireland, Brittany, England and the Isle of Man, with each pilgrimage beginning and ending at her home in the Brecon Beacons. .
Monday, April 22, 2024
A Pilgrimage Around Wales
Anne Hayward read History at Oxford University and went on to become a teacher. She is a Licensed Lay Minister in the Church in Wales In recent years, she has walked thousands of miles to places of pilgrimage in Wales, Ireland, Brittany, England and the Isle of Man, with each pilgrimage beginning and ending at her home in the Brecon Beacons. .
Thursday, April 11, 2024
Bomber by Len Deighton
- The Blurb...
- Our Review...
- Selected Quotes...
“You are,” said Kokke. “It’s called poverty.”
- If You Liked This You May Like...
- About The Author...
Monday, April 8, 2024
Q&A With K.J. Dando Author of Lies After Death
Your debut novel has an air or authenticity regarding tough guy Tom Crane. Can you tell us a little about your background. From school, I served in the British Army and actively engaged in operational duties in Iraq, Kosovo, and Bosnia. I then pursued a career in the health and fitness industry before falling into my current profession as a business manager for a large motor group. So now I work with numbers all day and words in my spare time!
Friday, March 22, 2024
2001, A Space Odyssey by Arthur C Clarke
- The Blurb...
The discovery of a black monolith on the moon leads to a manned expedition deep into the solar system, in the hope of establishing contact with an alien intelligence. Yet long before the crew can reach their destination, the voyage descends into disaster . . .
Brilliant, compulsive and prophetic, Arthur C. Clarke's timeless novel tackles the enduring theme of mankind's place in the universe.
- Our Review...
The story begins when man is just an apelike creature, no different to all the other creatures. A black obelisk, one morning, arrives and performs some mind altering experiments on the apes. After the obelisk leaves the apes have new thoughts and feelings and this is how they developed from apes to humans over the following millions of years. All due to seeds that the obelisk planted in their minds.
Fast forward thousands of years and a black obelisk is discovered on the moon. As a result a mission is sent to a moon of Saturn looking for alien life. However on the journey disaster strikes the ship. And this is just the prelude to an even more disastrous encounter.
NB It's very difficult to talk about the themes of the book without giving away spoilers.
One of the issues is that this is a very visual book. Words are very good at describing intangible things such as thoughts or feelings, visual extravaganzas not so much. Imagine watching a fire work display or having someone describe a firework display using only words, which would you choose. Clarke's magnum opus is full of such displays.
In addition I have always found that the best books have a way of immersing you in the story. I didn't feel that with this book. I felt I was being talked to, rather than being immersed in... Of course this may just be a me thing.
I still cant make up my mind whether the ending is profound or pretentious. However I did enjoy the section where, while on the mission to Saturn, our astronaut encounters sentient computers/algorithms. Wow.
But overall it's a bit of a mixed bag for me, I don't know if it works as a novel. It's more of framework for Clarke to theorize on science fiction (future and past.) In fairness to the great man, considering the short story was developed in 1948 and the novel in 1964, he does a bang up job. Among other things he predicts the Ipad and A.I. In fact, as a small homage, the "about the author" section in this review is written by A.I. It even put in the emoji's! I don't know if Clarke would be happy or horrified with this. We are on the road to the future and we cant get off.
- Selected Quotes...
“The more wonderful the means of communication, the more trivial, tawdry, or depressing its contents seemed to be.”
“. . . Moon-Watcher felt the first faint twinges of a new and potent emotion. It was a vague and diffuse sense of envy--of dissatisfaction with his life. He had no idea of its cause, still less of its cure; but discontent had come into his soul, and he had taken one small step toward humanity.”
“But he knew well enough that any man in the right circumstances could be dehumanised by panic.”
“But was even this the end? A few mystically inclined biologists went still further. They speculated, taking their cues from the beliefs of many religions, that mind would eventually free itself from matter. The robot body, like the flesh-and-blood one, would be no more than a stepping-stone to something which, long ago, men had called “spirit.” And if there was anything beyond that, its name could only be God.”
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Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep by Phillip K Dick. Review...here
The Three Body Problem by Liu Cixin
- About The Author...
Let’s delve a bit deeper into the fascinating life of Arthur C. Clarke:
Science Fiction and Beyond:
- Clarke’s imaginative science fiction works captivated readers worldwide. His novel “Childhood’s End” explored themes of human evolution and extraterrestrial influence.
- His short story “The Sentinel” inspired Stanley Kubrick’s iconic film “2001: A Space Odyssey”. The movie’s enigmatic monoliths and cosmic journey left an indelible mark on popular culture.
- Beyond fiction, Clarke was a prolific science writer, explaining complex concepts in accessible ways. His nonfiction works covered topics like space exploration, telecommunications, and futurology.
Space Odyssey and Legacy:
- The collaboration with Kubrick on “2001: A Space Odyssey” elevated both their careers. The film’s visual effects, philosophical musings, and haunting soundtrack remain influential.
- Clarke’s vision extended beyond the screen. He envisioned geostationary satellites for global communication—a concept that became reality with modern telecommunications satellites.
Champion of Space Exploration:
- Clarke’s passion for space exploration was unwavering. He advocated for manned missions to the Moon and Mars.
- As chairman of the British Interplanetary Society, he fostered scientific discussions and inspired future generations of space enthusiasts.
Life in Sri Lanka:
- Clarke’s move to Sri Lanka allowed him to explore not only the cosmos but also the depths of the Indian Ocean. His underwater discoveries included ancient shipwrecks and the submerged Koneswaram Temple.
- His TV series “Arthur C. Clarke’s Mysterious World” delved into unexplained phenomena, captivating audiences with tales of the supernatural.
Honors and Titles:
- Knighted in 1998, Clarke received numerous accolades for his contributions to literature and science.
- Sri Lanka recognized his impact by awarding him the prestigious title of Sri Lankabhimanya.
In summary, Arthur C. Clarke’s legacy transcends fiction, reaching the stars and the depths of our imagination. 🚀📚
Wednesday, March 20, 2024
Tuesday, March 12, 2024
Make Room! Make Room! by Harry Harrison
- The Blurb...
- Our Review...
- Selected Quotes..
After the damp hallway the heat of Twenty-fifth Street hit him in a musty wave, a stifling miasma compounded of decay, dirt and unwashed humanity. He had to make his way through the women who already filled the steps of the building, walking carefully so that he didn’t step on the children who were playing below. The sidewalk was still in shadow but so jammed with people that he walked in the street, well away from the curb to avoid the rubbish and litter banked high there. Days of heat had softened the tar so that it gave underfoot, then clutched at the soles of his shoes.
It was hard to get your hands on cash money, and cash money was the only thing that counted. They never saw any at home. The Welfare ration cards took care of everything, everything that kept you alive and just alive enough to hate it.
On the end of a string they carried their prize, a large gray dead rat. They would eat well tonight. In the center of the crowded street the tugtruck traffic moved at a snail’s pace, the human draught animals leaning exhaustedly into their traces, mouths gaping for air.
- If You Liked This Then You May Like This...
- About The Author...
Harry Max Harrison (born Henry Maxwell Dempsey; March 12, 1925 – August 15, 2012) was an American science fiction (SF) author, best known for his character the Stainless Steel Rat and for his novel Make Room! Make Room! (1966). The latter was the rough basis for the motion picture Soylent Green (1973). Harrison was (with Brian Aldiss) the co-president of the Birmingham Science Fiction Group.
Aldiss called him "a constant peer and great family friend". His friend Michael Carroll said, "Imagine Pirates of the Caribbean or Raiders of the Lost Ark, and picture them as science-fiction novels. They're rip-roaring adventures, but they're stories with a lot of heart."
Monday, March 4, 2024
Lies After Death by KJ Dando
⭐⭐⭐⭐
You can buy "Lies After Death"...Here
You can follow KJ Dando Facebook page...Here
- The Blurb...
But now, Crane, who works as a fixer for the wealthy and powerful, begins receiving mysterious letters and phone calls from someone claiming to know the truth about his wife's death. Can he trust these messages, or are they part of a larger conspiracy?
As Crane uncovers more and more lies and secrets, he finds himself pulled into a dangerous game of cat and mouse. But will the truth bring him closure, or will it plunge him even deeper into the darkness?
Lies After Death is a fast-paced, gripping crime fiction novel that will keep you guessing until the very end.
- Our Review...
- Selected Quotes...
Beth’s heart had stopped beating the moment her hatchback struck the tree. The other smaller heart inside her continued to beat a little longer. A tiny heart that fought valiantly for its own survival but unfortunately faced a losing battle. Without its mother’s support, the little heartbeat weakened until it eventually faded away.
He was clearly a bodybuilder who was no stranger to steroids and growth hormones. His silhouette looked part man, part mountain gorilla.
In his experience, bodybuilders were never great fighters. They were big and heavy but sloth-like slow. Most of them struggled with the range of motion to throw a decent punch; in fact, most of them struggled with the range of motion to wipe their own arse properly.
“Are you a policeman?” Would he ask to see my ID if I lied? Probably. “No.” “Sorry,” said the cashier, “it’s company policy to only show the camera footage to the police.” “Why?” The cashier shrugged. “To protect people’s privacy and personal data and stuff like that, I suppose.” “Okay,” said Crane. “In that case, I am a policeman.” The cashier peered at him through dubious eyes and stretched one corner of his mouth to the side. “Can I see some ID?” Crane took out his wallet, removed a twenty, and placed it on the counter. The cashier smiled. “Follow me, officer.”
- If You Liked This Then You May Like...
- About The Author...
Keith lives in Wales with his wife, two young daughters and a cockapoo called Buddy. Before he began writing thrillers, Keith served in the British Army and actively engaged on operational duties in Iraq, Kosovo and Bosnia. He then pursued careers in a number of industries until he finally decided to follow his true passion - writing thrillers. When he isn't writing, you can usually find him up one of the many mountains or on one of the many beaches of Wales, probably with Buddy in tow desperate for him to throw the ball again and again and again.
A Pilgrimage Around Wales
You can buy "A Pilgrimage Around Wales"... Here 157 pages The Blurb... In 2015 Anne Hayward spent three months as a pilgrim, tra...
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You can buy Delio... Here You can follow R.R. Heywood... Here This review is by Owen Powell Click Here to find out more about Owen The ...
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