Rosie’s #BookReview Team #RBRT THE FAIR & FOUL by Allie Potts #SciFi #TuesdayBookBlog

Today’s team review is from Noelle, she blogs at, http://saylingaway.wordpress.com

Noelle has been reading The Fair & Foul by Allie Potts

Book Review: Fair and Foul by Allie Potts @alliepottswrite #rbrt #sci fi #technological fiction

 

I chose to read Fair and Foul, Project Gene Assist Book 1, for Rosie’s book review team because I was very much attracted by the premise – a brilliant female programmer, Juliane Faris, determined to change the world through technological advancement but blinded by her ambition to create a legacy by participating in highly risky and uncontrolled experimentation. The procedure to which she willingly submits grants her unprecedented knowledge and control over her mind, it at will to the internet, making her brain a supercomputer. This is not without side effects which threaten her very sanity. It’s clear from the premise that the author has a real gift for seeing and imagining future technology.

The testy relationship at the outset between Juliane and her mentor, Alan (couldn’t find a last name), a superstar scientist, is all too real – he takes advantage of her work without giving her credit. She has guts and does stand up to him. She and Alan both work for ACI, a private-public partnership think tank devoted to research and development, established by Louis Evans, Sr. When Juliane meets Louis, Jr., reportedly a playboy with no interest in his father’s creation, she quickly finds he is neither dumb or disinterested. He has a quick mind and is determined to take ACI to even greater heights of discovery. When Juliane falls for Louis and engages in an affair, she thinks her future is rosy. But there are two caveats a scientist should always remember: don’t antagonize your mentor and don’t date the boss’s son!

I found Alan’s character two dimensional – loathsome, self-centered, egotistical – and some of the other characters weren’t much better. Juliane’s research assistant was the exception. Chad was delightfully and humorously all too human and I wish he hadn’t disappeared half way through the book.

I am not the most tech-gifted reader, but there were parts of this book that had me confused. It was especially frustrating when some of the descriptions of the laboratory work did not ring true, even for a computer lab. I spent several decades running my own lab, so more background work in running a research operation might have grounded the story to a better degree. The science itself is occasionally confusing, and experimenting on oneself – and without controls – is such a negative for me that I had to make an effort to suspend belief. But that’s what one does with science fiction.

There are editing gaps – an explosion that apparently occurs in Juliane’s lab to which there is a reference but no description, before the explosion in the foreign factory producing one of Juliane’s products. Color me confused.

I suspect there are a lots of sci fi fans out there who will dig into this book with great enjoyment, and Ms. Potts has received some strongly positive reviews. While there were parts of Fair and Foul I found interesting and compelling, it was a difficult read for me personally.

Book Description

Juliane has a supercomputer for a brain and she isn’t afraid to use it. Perhaps she should be.

Juliane Faris is a brilliant programmer determined to change the world through scientific and technical advancement. Blinded by ambition, she will do whatever it takes to secure her legacy including agreeing to participate in an experimental procedure. The procedure grants her unprecedented knowledge and cellular control over her body but threatens everything she holds dear including her sanity. When others undergo the same modifications it becomes apparent that not everyone can afford the price that this technology demands

Set in the not too distant future, The Fair & Foul is earth-based science fiction dealing with the next era of human evolution. The line between humanity and technology is blurring, and what seems like magic is only a scientific discovery away. 

About the author

Allie Potts, born in Rochester Minnesota was moved to North Carolina at a very early age by parents eager to escape to a more forgiving climate. She has since continued to call North Carolina home, settling in Raleigh, halfway between the mountains and the sea, in 1998.

When not finding ways to squeeze in 72 hours into a 24 day or chasing after children determined to turn her hair gray before its time, Allie enjoys stories of all kinds. Her favorites, whether they are novels, film, or simply shared aloud with friends, are usually accompanied with a glass of wine or cup of coffee in hand.

A self-professed science geek and book nerd, Allie also writes at www.alliepottswrites.com.

Goodreads | AmazonUK | AmazonUS | Twitter

 

 

Lost Souls by Penny de Byl

Lost Souls: Book One of the Disciples of Cassini Trilogy by Penny de Byl

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Lost Souls begins in Melbourne, Australia with the puzzling cause of death of David Layton. We are introduced to Detective Inspector Zoe Moore who will be leading the investigation.

Next the book introduces us to Marcela Warrick arriving in Sydney at Everjein Enterprises. She is an ecologist and is about to go on a five year experiment to simulate the possibility of inhabiting and surviving on other planets. In a world race to create off-world technology Everjein have created an experiment in Antarctica and a carefully selected team are about to spend the next five years in Biojein, learning to grow their own food and continue the human population, replicating a situation similar to living on Titan. Marcela meets fellow Biojein inhabitants and in just a few days they find themselves in Antarctica.

Meanwhile Zoe has a second body with a puzzling cause of death. Farid Husain died at exactly the same time as David Layton. Research into both men revealed letters from Everjein Enterprises. When a third body turns up, Zoe’s investigation is shut down from above. But it doesn’t stop her and the team going to Sydney themselves to continue digging into an IVF system which looks like it links people dying at the same moment a mother gives birth. They uncover a drug called JQ2 but the doctor they really need to speak to is unavailable for the next five years.

In the Biojein dome complex the inhabitants must adjust to growing their own food. An IVF program is also underway with experiments on a hormone to speed up the human incubation period. But there is also a sinister side to the experiment. Marcela has a suspicious accident and something in the water killed her plants. She quickly begins a relationship with Barrett and finds herself pregnant. But most shocking is finding Jason Reid naked and near to death in the gardens. Constans Rijnder the Dutch Counsellor for the project must try to help keep things under control as Barrett is left in charge of the project and becomes under increasing pressure.

Back in Sydney, Everjein’s lawyer Warfield tries to keep the police at bay and the media quiet but with eight day communication blackouts and hours of delay between messages to simulate the off-world experience it’s a hard job. On top of this as the police dig deeper he too wonders if Barrett has been breaking the medical ethics law with his IVF programmes.

This book is an interesting concept with the off-world experiment. It took a while for me to connect with several of the characters. The science and the medical details are very good and reflect the author’s background. I picked up on Azaleas and Rhododendrons being used to describe the same situation. To me they are the same plant family but one is a large plant and the other a small shrub, I think one or the other should have been used. I also found a reference to Polar bears which I didn’t think went with the Antarctica region. I felt the book could do with one more run through editing which would take it from a shaking 4* to a more solid 4-4.5*.

Find a copy here from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

View all my reviews on Goodreads

Penny will be our guest author here tomorrow, do come back and find out more about her and her book.

Guest Author Dr. Gary M Vasey

Today our guest is Dr. Gary M Vasey author of yesterday’s book The Last Observer. Here is a link to the post if you missed it. http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-5gU

Let’s find out more about Gary.

1) Where is your home town?

I’m not sure I have one to be honest. I am originally from Hull and I am a rabid Hull City supporter but I have not lived there since 1978! The last 26-years I have lived in Houston and Dallas, TX and then Brno and Prague, Czech Republic. I constantly have itchy feet and so I could be moving again soon. I have never put down roots and I am sure I never will – until I do literally push up daisies.

 

2) Can you tell the readers why you wrote this book?

I am fascinated by the nature of reality and also very interested in the esoteric and magic. My son and I were in a pub and discussing how science and metaphysics seem to coming together and the idea was born right there over a beer or four. The idea was that some people observe reality better than others and that if you could kill these people off you might be able to hijack reality. We thought what a great idea and wouldn’t that make a great movie! After we had finished casting it the idea died for about 4-years until my son asked me if I had written it yet. I hadn’t but I started the project right there and then.

 

3) Please briefly explain how magicians think the Universe is formed?

Gosh – that’s not an easy answer and I am not sure I can purport to represent others in my answer either to be honest. We would in simple terms, see a world of ideas or thoughts as being behind the physical world – its been called the astral plane by some. There thoughts take on form and can become reality. It is really much more complex than that but we would see the Universe as mental.

 

4) Stan has a wonderful gift, how does he see an ordinary cup of tea?

He sees or tastes an ordinary cup of tea as like a second best version of tea he can imagine! I guess the idea I was trying to get across there is that we can and often do imagine something as being so much better than the actual reality of a thing.

 

5) When in Yorkshire, your characters went to a stone circle, did you base this on any particular circle in Britain today?

No – just a generic stone circle but I wanted it to be in the Moors and I naturally thought of the North Yorkshire Moors as I am familiar with them. There is just something about The Moors isn’t there? Raw, natural and yet beautiful.

 

6) In the book the characters discuss “Sleepers” can you briefly explain to the readers the definition of a “Sleeper”?

It’s not a nice term is it? It’s akin to being a muggle really and that’s not a nice term either is it? It means asleep to the reality or actuality around them. They are sucked in to the realism of the material and physical world and all of their focus is on it as opposed to the spiritual world. We are all asleep for most of our lives I think and when we awaken its probably through a spiritual experience or an initiation in which suddenly we realize we have been lied to all of our lives. You start to look harder and question harder and not just accept what you are told.

I actually think you can sleep on multiple levels. For example, you can be so occupied with worry that as you walk through a city you really see nothing of it at all. At the other extreme, you are asleep to what you really are and what is really around you and you fail to see the spiritual side of reality. In the book of course, it is used in a derogatory manner because the person who is making the observation is essentially full of herself….

 

7) Zeltan is angry with the world of science. Does he believe that science is stumbling towards revealing secrets of the universe to the mass population?

Yes – Zeltan believes that Science is creating an easy route to making magic and that it is on the very verge of understanding the basis of magic. In essence, science is about to prove what philosophers have proclaimed about reality for more than 2000 years. He doesn’t want ordinary folk – sleepers – to have access to such power especially when it has been hidden for centuries. I can’t say much more without giving away the plot I am afraid.

 

8) What talent does Alison bring to the group?

Alison is a polar opposite to one of the protagonists but in character she feels superior and she is vain. Not quite the right qualities for a super magician…

 

9) The 4 elements; Fire, water, air and earth are important in the balance of the universe. Which characters match these elements?

Again, I fear if I answer this question it gives too much away… Let’s just say that the elements are the building blocks of reality and each is counterbalanced by the others. Similarly, the elements within each of us dictate to some extent the kind of person we are and so we work upon the elements and metals within us as the Great Work in order to perfect ourselves.

 

10) Where can readers find out more about you and your work?

They can visit one of my blogs at www.garymvasey.com or www.asterothsdomain.com and there they will find masses of further reading.

Find a copy of this book here from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

Thank you Gary.

The Last Observer by G. Michael Vasey

The Last Observer: A Magical Battle for reality by G. Michael Vasey

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Last Observer is a short novel written around the different schools of thought which revolve around the universe. Science versus magical manifestation.

Edward Bright has been collecting data on unsolved crimes relating to suspicious deaths of people with magical abilities. Edward is a magician himself and believes he’s found the next victim.

Stan lives alone and loves his books. He gets absorbed in reading and has a great imagination which at times he’s put to good use when he finds a situation that he’d like to change. Edward contacts Stan and persuades him that he is in danger from a group of people who want to make a different reality. He explains that because of Stan’s amazing imagination he is what is called “An Observer”.

In Houston, Texas, Alison has been in contact with an man called Zelton from London. He runs a school of Elements and offers to help her with her psychic awareness. He invites her to London, paying her fare and hotel.

Stan soon finds himself under attack and goes on the run with the help of Edward and Jo, a lady that Stan is instantly attracted to. Stan learns that “Imagination is the engine room of creation” and begins to understand the danger he is in.

The story opens the reader’s eyes and echoes many teachings. Just what is reality and what is imagination? Just a couple of questions which this book may leave you thinking about.

Find a copy of this book here from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

View all my reviews on Goodreads

Gary will be our guest author on the blog tomorrow, come back and read more about this book and Gary’s writing.

The Omega Paradox by Richard Kellier

The Omega Paradox by Richard Kellier

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The book introduces a new type of human being, a step on from Homo Sapiens. It starts with a theory based on scientific and mathematical research. Then the theory turns to reality when a post mortem inspection of a baby reveals several new anomalies. Alongside this is a story from the end of the second world war, history is re-written as Hitler escapes death and lives out his days in a hidden place in Antarctica along with many Nazi elite. They still plot to breed a pure race and take over the world. Science and myth intermingle with biblical writings as the book takes you on a complicated and often uncomfortable journey studying the evolution of man on this planet. It gives you plenty to think about regarding the past, present and future of man.

Find a copy here from Amazon.co.uk. or Amazon.com

View all my reviews on Goodreads

School Uniform and Intech

If you need to buy school uniform, I see that George at Asda are offering 10% off when you spend £15 or more on-line. Plus free delivery to your local store. Now that’s a bargain and a time saver.

We spent the afternoon at Intech Science Centre at Winchester. (Thanks to tickets that I won from Fleetlife.org.uk) They have several new exhibits that went down well. There is a new active zone “Science of Sport with 12 activities including sprint speed, mind ball, reaction time and design an athlete. We ended the afternoon in the Planetarium watching one of the shows (there are several to choose from), and floating through the cosmos. A good trip out!