Author Archives: Dona Watson

About Dona Watson

SFF writer, blogger, editor, ebook designer, and generally just an all-around geek mom.

Best New Science Fiction and Fantasy Links of the Week

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This was one of those mornings where I couldn’t find matching comfy socks, but I couldn’t let that stand in the way of celebrating Friday! Time to kick off the weekend with my favorite links from this week. Enjoy! (and may you find matching socks.)

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Enjoy your weekend, everyone! See you next week.

Disclosure of Material Connection: At times, some of the links in my posts are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

CSFF Blog Tour Begins for Night of the Living Dead Christian by Matt Mikalatos

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Today I’m going to take a minute and spread some love to my other CSFF (Christian Science Fiction and Fantasy) bloggers. This is the first of a three-day tour (wait…there has to be a joke in there somewhere in reference to Gilligan’s Island). Anyways…a blog tour is starting today for Night of the Living Dead Christian by Matt Mikalatos.

I have so many things on my plate this month that I opted not to review the book, but I’d like to call attention to those who have. The bloggers below have committed to participate at least once within the next three days, so if you click through and don’t find a post on the book yet, try again in the next day or two.

Gillian Adams
Julie Bihn
Red Bissell
Thomas Clayton Booher
Thomas Fletcher Booher
Keanan Brand
Beckie Burnham
Morgan L. Busse
Theresa Dunlap
Amber French
Tori Greene
Nikole Hahn
Ryan Heart
Bruce Hennigan
Janeen Ippolito
Becky Jesse
Jason Joyner
Carol Keen
Leighton
Shannon McDermott
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Nissa
Joan Nienhuis
John W. Otte
Crista Richey
Sarah Sawyer
Chawna Schroeder
Rachel Starr Thomson
Steve Trower
Fred Warren
Shane Werlinger
Nicole White
Dave Wilson

Here’s the official blurb for the book:

What does a transformed life actually look like?

In his follow-up to the critically acclaimed Imaginary Jesus, Matt Mikalatos tackles this question in an entertaining and thought-provoking way—with MONSTERS!!! While Christians claim to experience Christ’s resurrection power, we sometimes act like werewolves who can’t control our base desires. Or zombies, experiencing a resurrection that is 90 percent shambling death and 10 percent life. Or vampires, satiating ourselves at the expense of others. But through it all we long to stop being monsters and become truly human—the way Christ intended. We just can’t seem to figure out how.

Night of the Living Dead Christian is the story of Luther, a werewolf on the run, whose inner beast has driven him dangerously close to losing everything that matters. Desperate to conquer his dark side, Luther joins forces with Matt to find someone who can help. Yet their time is running out. A powerful and mysterious man is on their trail, determined to kill the wolf at all costs . . .

By turns hilarious and heartbreaking, Night of the Living Dead Christian is a spiritual allegory that boldly explores the monstrous underpinnings of our nature and tackles head-on the question of how we can ever hope to become truly transformed.

For more info, here are a couple of links: Amazon and Barnes & Noble

You can find the author at: http://www.mikalatos.com/

Disclosure of Material Connection: At times, some of the links in my posts are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Best Science Fiction and Fantasy Links of the Week

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Woo hoo! It’s Friday! Time for my favorite links I found this week. Enjoy!

And here’s my favorite: a how-to video for those of you looking to improve your skills with a lightsaber. I found this tongue-in-cheek video absolutely hilarious.

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That’s it, folks! Have a great weekend!

Disclosure of Material Connection: At times, some of the links in my posts are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Science Fiction with a Twist in Knox’s Irregulars by J. Wesley Bush

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Randal Knox, the first-born son of the Prime Minister wanted nothing more than to fit in, away from the world of politics that many assumed he would step into. That’s where the armored infantry comes in, the perfect place to get out of the limelight — or so he thinks.

When things go wrong, Randal finds himself in charge of a small remnant of survivors and thus the Irregulars are born. Together, they have to figure out how to survive and fight back against the invaders.

As a militaristic science fiction novel, Knox’s Irregulars differs from many others in that it was written on a framework of Evangelical Christianity — something that one rarely finds in this genre (that’s the twist). In addition, I found that it is also a solid science fiction novel with a strong techno/armed forces component.

As well it should. The author, J. Wesley Bush, has previously been an airborne infantryman and military intelligence cryptolinguist. Other roles he has played in life include an NGO worker, historian and…circus unicyclist.

I think the book’s strengths lie in it’s characterization, action, and if you’re a Christian, you probably will appreciate the strong spiritual component. In terms of ranking, I give Knox’s Irregulars 3.75 stars. I enjoyed reading it and would consider reading it again but to do so, I’d first have to dig my way out of my stack of books still to be read, and…well, I’d probably get distracted first. If you like Christian fiction and science fiction, you’ll probably enjoy Knox’s Irregulars and I encourage you to check it out. Here’s a link to Amazon.

You can find the author online at: http://knoxsirregulars.com/

Now how about you? I’d love to hear what your favorite military sci-fi novels are. You can let me know via the blue link below or by clicking on the gray comment bubble at the top right of this post.

Disclosure of Material Connection: At times, some of the links in my posts are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Best Science Fiction and Fantasy Links of the Week

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It’s Friday! Time for me to share my favorite links from this week. Prepare to smile, gasp, or clap. Ok, just kidding about that gasping and clapping bit, but I hope you enjoy them nonetheless.

  • Giveaway: Author Bradley P. Beaulieu is so excited about his new book, The Straits of Galabesh, coming out that he is having a big giveaway featuring Nooks, Kindles, signed books and more. The deadline is April 3, 2012.
  • What’s fantasy fiction without swords? Swordplay is so cool, even Jedi have to get in on the action. Mande Matthews has posted a few video clips of awesome sword fights, from a Con demonstration to the background behind the epic battle behind Inigo Montoya and the Dread Pirate Roberts in Princess Bride. Fun stuff.
  • Is John Carter a Christ figure? Redeemer Christ figures often appear in many works of fiction and in an article posted this week, Forrest Wickman writes about how that applies to John Carter. I find it interesting that Christian themes can be found throughout much of Edgar Rice Burrough’s work.
  • Giveaway: Onlythebestscifi.blogspot.com is giving away a copy of Songs of the Earth by Elspeth Cooper. I suggest you hurry as I couldn’t find a deadline listed.
  • Geek news alert: Scientists have discovered a new species of horned dinosaurs and apparently, they’re among the littlest ones found. All the same, I wouldn’t want one chasing me, even if it were only three feet long.
  • Freebie: Matt Forbeck is a writer with vision. His goal is to write 12 novels in 2012. I know! Is that crazy or what? Regardless, I have to respect his ambition — and the fact that he is on target so far. To celebrate, Matt is giving away a copy of his first short story ebook, Goblintown Justice. Also, I want to offer my congratulations to Matt. His latest Kickstarter project was funded at 426%!! For those of you who don’t know what this means, Matt has received more than enough pledges to cover the cost of producing his current series of novels. Good work, Matt!
  • Ever heard of the New York Jedi Club? Here’s your chance to read up. The article’s title cracked me up: ‘They come in geeks and go out Jedi warriors’: Inside the strange world of the New York Jedi Club. Nonetheless, I myself wouldn’t mind visiting just to see them in action. You never know, they just might let me hold one of those really cool lightsabers.
  • What’s a party without food? How about Star Wars themed party food? In case you’re feeling ambitious, here are instructions on how to make your own (impressive) Death Star cake. For other (easier) Star Wars party foods, check here. The R2D2 carved out of cheddar is kind of cute and who wouldn’t smile at seeing Vader Pataters or Carbonite Jello? But the Yodamole and Trooper Scoopers is kind of scary.
  • If you’re looking for more giveaways, I posted a list of Tor/Forge SFF book giveaways yesterday. If you missed them, check here.

To wrap it up, I want to send a little love over to Kevin Hanrahan. This has nothing to do with SFF, but hang with me here a bit. Kevin — a writer, soldier and dog advocate — is the author of Paws on the Ground, a novel about U.S. soldiers and the dogs that protect them in the treacherous terrain of Afghanistan. I haven’t read Kevin’s writing, but something about his project caught my eye.

You see, Kevin has 20 years of Army service, including three combat tours, company commander in Iraq, and Deputy Provost Marshal for U.S. forces in Afghanistan. While there, he was instrumental in spearheading the efforts toward inserting military service dogs into conflict zones. He also lobbied the Army to adopt an explosives-detection dog program. I think he knows what he’s talking about.

If you want to find out more about Kevin and his work, head on over to his web site or his blog. I’m sure he’ll be glad you did.

Disclosure of Material Connection: At times, some of the links in my posts are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”