empressofbookingham's reviews
184 reviews

“One day man will conquer time.”

To The Stars, L. Ron Hubbard

~~-

'To The Stars' is a captivating science fiction adventure that follows Alan Corday, a pilot driven by love, a desire to be financially stable, a relentless curiosity and a yearning to explore the unknown.

Through the eyes of the protagonist, Corday, we experience the thrill and danger of space travel, the complexities of time dilation, and the emotional struggles of a man torn between two worlds. Corday isn't just a daredevil; he's a resourceful and determined protagonist whose human flaws make him relatable. The supporting characters, while perhaps not deeply developed, serve to highlight Corday's journey and the challenges he faces.

The "science" in the book leans more towards imaginative concepts than hard facts and it doesn't take you out of the tale for the thrill will keep you turning the pages. It also reflects the optimistic, space-faring spirit of the era in which it was written.

The themes of sacrifice, loyalty, and the quest for knowledge reverberate throughout the book. But it's that of fate that left me with lots of questions at the end of the book along with the curiosity of what's next. 

This gripping tale emphasizes ingenuity and the power of human intellect to overcome technological hurdles. Some thing that was true then and so now. Beyond the adventure and the speculative science, *To The Stars* ultimately delivers a message of hope and the importance of pushing boundaries, both personal and scientific.

Hubbard's vivid storytelling and imaginative world-building makes this a compelling read for sci-fi enthusiasts and casual readers alike. It's a quick and enjoyable read with a lasting positive impact.
 

Pss.... The audiobook was a total blast: with a full cast and sound effects. 

“That's what I think is the real beauty of this Contest -that it nurtures hope, inspires creativity, and supports the next generation of Dreamers and Creators, in a world which discourages thinking beyond the demands of our own everyday lives.” 

Jody Lynn Nye  

~

It feels so powerful seeing others dreams fulfilled on paper. It's infectious even. This anthology sparks hope, ignites if not reignites faith and hope in dreams and the wonders in between... 

Every year, since I knew of it's existence, picking up a copy of Writers of The Future, getting lost in the myriad of worlds and ideas leaves me hungry for more and yet in a state of satiety. And every time I think I've tasted all the ways stories can be packed, delivered and had the picked pieces for the anthology test my literary buds leaving me with a new, full and a brimming appreciative heart. The stories keep raising the bar and the illustrations, uh la la, the illustrations tell stories of their own. 

The audiobook was an awesome treat that I felt I was watching movies. 

When one story drops you in an airship ready to crash and burn and only hope and can save, another story drops you right in the consciousness of an AI cat frantically searching for it's beloved creator cum owner. Another author's writing style will succinctly wrap around your mind in vividness and make stir your emotions the other will have you slow down and think long strings of 'what if's...'. A little taste of everything makes this anthology wholesome and worth anyone's time. 

For sure there will be stories that will walk with me for their mark was to deep to erase. Stories such as "The Edge of Where My Light Is Cast" by Sky McKinnon where a digital housecat goes looking for her missing owner becoming more than simulation to find her dearest companion through the virtual world. Sky's narration was so immersive and beautiful I kept wishing the story was longer. Could AI ever reach this level of power she left me wondering. 

Stories that touched on grief, loss, redemption, breaking traditions, forgiveness and the power of a community case and point “Son, Spirit, Snake" by Jack Nash, will leave you reevaluating the traditions you have that hold you back and the kind of community you keep around. 

"The Imagalisk" by Galen Westlake was like an ode to imagination, it's power and a reminder to never stop dreaming no matter what. It also spoke of old age and the loss growing older brings along. It was intense and yet fun. This will forever have my heart. 

When a teenage swamp witch fears her mama will be killed, she utilizes her wits and the magic of the bayou, no matter the cost to her own soul. Stephannie Tallent put me in trance by the way she wield her magic and brought to themes so heavy and things so intangible that every word made me hold my breath. Her story "Life and Death and Love in the Bayou" had a heart of it's own. 

What of "The Wall Isn't a Circle" by Rosalyn Robilliard, art by Guelly Rivera where a new app lets users see through the eyes of any human in history ? How much can the ones, zeros and the in between connect is further? What of the dangers the internet would bring? 

"Ashes to Ashes, Blood to Carbonfiber" by James Davies spoke of death and yet hope resuscitating life into the remaining humans on planet K2-18b where humanity is enslaved. Because of one man, Rickard. Now in his twilight years, he'd give an arm and a leg for redemption. Literally.

The first story made me thirst for more but the last story made me every hungrier: What if magic could undo the unthinkable, and undo Death itself? Would you use it no matter the cost? What would you sacrifice for love? "Summer of Thirty Years" by Lisa Silverthorne touches on love and the sacrifices we'd make to have it and keep it. Lisa delves deeper on the consequences of our actions through the life of characters that felt like friends. 

Sigh! Honestly every story had something amazing to give making me love this volume more than the last one.  It's keeps on getting better and better. 

Read it!

Not in the frame of mind for the book.

Will pick it up later though. 

“How could any being consider itself so right as to think it should make all other beings into robots to do it's bidding?” 
 
~~~
This story is proof that man can survive anything!

What started out as a lone journey of not only discovery but also questioning what our main character was made to believe about life turned into a whirlwind, gripping adventure with man's future at stake.

Eventually the battle of centuries, a battle to save the last vestiges of humans on earth come what may was what ensues. 

We follow Jonnie Goodboy Tyler who connects every human character in a bigger purpose than who they are, kindling hope when all was ashes and rousing a fire that in them to fight an alien race so formidable and weaving a story that's gripping, captivating, tense, immersive and so hopeful you won't help but root for fellow humans. 

Hubbard gives us the privilege to see things from the point of view of not only our hero but also the point of view of the alien. He also includes characters that are not only flawed but who'll do anything to move our race forward even if it means to learn a bit of the alien knowledge and technology. 

Remember, “Knowledge was the key out of captivity.”

From remaining occupants in Russia, Denver, Lake Victoria to the Himalayas we see Hubbard showing us the importance of oneness. And he goes on to poke at some of the things that separate our race such as religion, politics, greed... 

I'd say the science fiction, bountiful adventure, good versus evil trope that holds up the story but it's that power of the human spirit and it's resilience beautifully showcased that makes it come to life and  makes you turn the pages over and over till that last one. 

If you love you hero journey stories, good vs bad, high adventure all wrapped in science fiction then this is your jam here, jump right it and brace yourself. 

“If you didn't grow up with racism, it could hit you in the face and you wouldn't even know it.” 

How lucky was our main character, Soila? I initially felt like she was more privileged than lucky. But perhaps her privilege does make her lucky as she doesn't experience somethings like prejudice and hate till later on in life.  

She was lucky to be able to get education, go abroad to expound on it and have much better quality opportunities. She was lucky to have so loving, present, ambitious friends. She was was lucky to have another chance at love. She was lucky to come from money and that allowed her to provide better health access for her mum who has mental illness. She was lucky to have amazing aunties and grandma who helped her forward and held her when things were crumbling. 

I've disapproved my initials thoughts 🤣

I enjoyed reading this book for most parts; I love reading about the diaspora experience and Soila dished this out aplenty. 

The story is told from the first person POV from Soila from a child till adulthood: writing was simple with its sprinkles of beauty here and there letting the story flow seamlessly. 

I did enjoy the diverse characters with their myriad of life challenges. However, I found Soila's boyfriend just filling the pages and nothing else. He wasn't fleshed out for me to see him. Akhenaten was a whole other story. He stood out like the Empire building. Soila was a bit annoying what with letting the mum push her here and there. Till she took her power back. 

 The 9/11 account wasn't expected and added a interesting layer. That element of self-whipping though... And I felf some facts about race were just thrown in. 

The author touches on racism, tribalism, abuse, love, redemption, healing, religion... 

“It took me a minute to realize I was part of the problem. A lot of well-intentioned people come to Africa and fail because they haven't addressed the deep-rooted problems, just the symptoms. People want to save Africa. You can't save Africa. Africa has to save herself.”

“Sometimes stories take us by surprise, and then drag us on rides we didn't expect.” 

Spencer Sekulin

~~~

Its safe to say these volumes get better and more powerful year by year. The bar is set high and we get stories from the best of best. You can also clearly see how impactful WOF are to these new writers. I immensely loved and enjoyed this volume than I did last years. That's not to say volume 38 didn't have its magic mind you. 

Volume 39 of Writers of The Future features twelve diverse, captivating stories and beautiful illustrations from the best new writers and illustrators of the year. And that's the beauty of the anthology: you'll get served with different writing styles, themes, delivery, worlds, questions...in one platter/book. It was a wholesome and filling read. 

In between the stories the whose who in the Sci-fi and Fantasy genres drop anecdotes about writing, prioritizing your time and writing, working with other writers (last years volume)... And these pieces always makes me appreciate writers more and that process of writing as a whole. 

I also deeply appreciate seeing writers fresh off the oven sharing there creations, writers who have tried time and again and finally gotten published: these in themselves are stories of resilience, faith, hard work, persistence, perseverance. 

These writers dare to ask deep questions that have you thinking. These writers dare to break barriers on writing. In the end, you're left craving more. 

The Children of Desolation, a story set in Southern Africa after the apocalypse, left me deeply thinking. About life, race, love, forgiveness, my history... Can't wait for the full book. 

Kitsune, A Trickle in History, Piracy For Beginners, Timelines and Bloodlines, The Last History, Death And the Taxman, Under My Cypresses  also left me ruminating. 

That's not to say the rest didn't leave a dent. I enjoyed exploring the vast themes they had to offer while they question life and writing. 

I highly recommend the book. 

“For the first time since Thabo died, Tumelo felt the heaviness lift from his heart. It was time to let go. To break the cycle. It was time to live on.”

"That's something very few people are willing to do. They stumble along, hoping, dreaming, pretending. That doesn't change a single storming thing in life. You have to stare the world in the eyes, in all its grimy brutality. You have to acknowledge its depravities. Live with them. It's the only way to accomplish anything meaningful."

~

To say I enjoyed this book is an understatement of the year because I deeply, truly was gripped and thrilled by it. 

Things get better: characters that in book one I disliked ended up being my fave as Sanderson went in deep humanizing them with their backgrounds, their past and feelings.

The plot is much more fast paced than the prequel and it gets more tense, exciting, profound. While the world is still being built so easily and vividly. It reached a point I'd forget I was in Kenya reading a book. All else faded and Words of Radiance was radiating with life. 

Still enjoy the subliminal commentary Sanderson makes about class, mental health, slavery, religion, love. 

There has been room for humorous banter for comic relief, a bit of love that adds so much spice. And uuh the adventure filled my heart up with joy. 

I laughed, cried, learnt as the characters learnt about their world, even threw the book during that battle.... Now that's the mark of a GREAT book.

Did I mention the writing style and how he describes his world? Aaargh

And that cliffhanger.... 

Eh no words can explain the experience I had. Only you reading the books. And only if you want too.

“Oh, Maeva...what I'd I told you that love isn't only how we feel, but it's about how we treat ourselves and other people too? Love is also how what we do,” Dad said. 

~~~

What better way than to teach your child about love than to begin right there at home. 

If you're looking for a diverse, colorful and educative read for your child then 'I Love You More Than Cereal' might just be it. 

Can Maeva learn what it means to love her friends and family even more than she loves cereal?

The debut follows Maeva and her dad as they explore what it means to love, its impact on others and actually taking the time to actually redefine it according to its truth.

The illustrations are beautiful and vibrant to catch your child's eye, the characters lovable, the story is simply written thus easy to digest with a clear message and the story is totally relatable. 

Hopefully in the end your kid will learn “How love is not just about feeling good but it's about sharing love...” just like sharing your favorite cereal no matter what. Along with learning to love oneself as well as others. 

“They always say you should look at someone's friends before you marry them, that you can always tell a lot about a man by his mother...”

~~~

Babyville connects the story of three women so beautifully and effortlessly as they traverse the world of babies, love, pregnancy, career, motherhood and friendship. And in the end they found more than they bargained for. 

I love it when you go into a book expecting one thing then you encounter a fun, humorous, insightful and deep experience that you don't want to put the book down. Babyville did just this. The romance was an extra plus. 

I enjoyed how Green explored the challenges of getting pregnant, motherhood, postpartum depression and effects of adding a baby to a relationship in a delicate yet funny way. This part I didn't expect but was so welcome. 

Fans of Sophie Kinsella, Jenny Colgan might enjoy this one. 

I'd say why not read more from Jane Green. Everybody needs a bit of (literary) romance from time to time. 

“I stood in my truth because I needed the next woman to know that she needs to know that being a victim is not an option, but being a champion for herself is possible because I did it.” 

What is it about the color of our skin that can make one turn on another? Why is it despite having the same blood running through our veins that we deem another race inferior than the other? Who will fight against such injustices? ? 

Taetrece delves deep into the lives  of five extraordinary African American women who have sworn to do right by the judicial system and help others but in turn have been hunted, vilified and even 'hunged'. Losing their standing in society, their self respect and their livelihood that they were so passionate about. 

Could have things have gone different for these five women if their skin color/race were different? What of all the great they did for the community? Will the system be always be rigged against them? 

These real life stories go into details on how the system can work against people of color who work for the system, in a manner as if they were common everyday working citizens.

And as much as the author points out this gruesome injustices she does not subscribe to the victim mentality and did fight through the adversity to champion for herself. And as a set example, Harrison, advocates to other African American women to keep on fighting for change begins with them. 

"...The women I know
Are strong and proud
They have walked through the mud of life and environment
Only to emerge, victorious
They have suffered the slings and arrows of adversity and wrong
Stumbling but not going down.
Loving, Living, Prospering
The women I know...”

Donnias Harrison