The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf

The Hidden Saint
Mark Levenson
Level Best Books
https://www.levelbestbooks.us
9781685120504, $17.95, PB, 312pp

https://www.amazon.com/Hidden-Saint-Mark-Levenson/dp/1685120504

Synopsis: With the publication of "The Hidden Saint" by Mark Levenson,
the historical horrors of eighteenth-century Eastern Europe are deftly interwoven with fantastic creatures drawn from 3,500 years of Jewish
myth and magic. For the first time, "The Hidden Saint" conjures up a
very human origin story for one of the greatest superheroes of Jewish
folklore: Rabbi Adam, famous for battling wizards, witches, and
demons.

The story opens on a long-awaited family wedding, which turns to
horror as Rabbi Adam's children are abducted by an ancient
supernatural evil. To save them, the rabbi is joined by a golem, a man
of clay pained by the burden of living among, but always apart from,
humans. He's goaded and mentored by an elderly, wisecracking
housekeeper who is secretly one of the thirty-six hidden saints, or Lamed-Vavniks, upon whom the fate of the world depends.

As he is both blessed and challenged by his wife, Sarah, who leads him
to a garden named Eden, and as tidal waves and fires ravage the earth
and the very stars above begin to disappear, can Rabbi Adam and his
companions succeed in time?

Critique: Inherently fascinating, deftly written, elegantly absorbing,
and always entertaining, "The Hidden Saint" is a unique masterpiece of
Jewish fantasy and will prove to be a welcome addition to personal,
community, college, and university library Jewish Historical Fantasy collections. It should also be noted that "The Hidden Saint" is also
readily available in a digital book formt (Kindle, $5.99).

Editorial Note: Mark Levenson is an award-winning dramatist,
screenwriter, and short-story writer, as well as a longtime
journalist. His Jewish-themed fantasy writing has won honors from The
National Foundation for Jewish Culture and the American Jewish
University, as well as a Union Internationale de la Marionnette-USA
Citation of Excellence. Levenson has also written The Return of the
Golem and The Wise Men of Chelm for the stage, and adapted S. Ansky's
The Dybbuk for actors and puppets. His Jewish-themed short fiction
credits include Mystery Weekly Magazine, Kindle Kzine, and Ami
Magazine. He also blogs about Jewish fantasy for The Times of Israel.

The Cool Thing: A Dark Comedy - Or Not
Robert Rife
Independently Published
9780578348193, $22.95, HC, 350pp

https://www.amazon.com/COOL-THING-DARK-COMEDY-NOT/dp/0578348195

Synopsis: A love besotted crook and his street girl acquire a device
taken from a long buried UFO. They think it's a medieval breastplate.
But it's not! It's part of a spacesuit that can nullify distance,
allowing access to a house above the wreck. Which is a site with a
terrifying history of failed species-splicing.

Not all of the failures die. Occasionally one escapes, vastly
invigorating the human staff. Especially those who get eaten. The girl accidentally activates the device and is snatched. Death would be an improvement on her fate. The lovesick crook blindly charges to the
rescue, running in circles on banana peels -- and the feces hits the
proverbial fan!

Critique: Original, compulsively entertaining, exceptionally well
written, "The Cool Thing: A Dark Comedy - Or Not" will have a very
special and enduring appeal to dedicated fans of genetic story based
science fiction with threads of horror and humor throughout.
Showcasing author Robert Rife's impressive flair for narrative driven
and memorable storytelling, "The Cool Thing: A Dark Comedy - Or Not"
is an especially and unreservedly recommended addition to community
library Science Fiction & Fantasy collections. It should be noted for
the personal reading lists of dedicated science fiction fans that "The
Cool Thing: A Dark Comedy - Or Not" is also readily available in a
paperback edition (9780578660875, $16.95) and in a digital book format
(Kindle, $2.99).

Reign of the Devourer
David Annandale
Aconyte Books
https://aconytebooks.com
9781839080944, $16.95, PB, 352pp

https://www.amazon.com/Reign-Devourer-Marvel-Untold-Novel/dp/1839080949

Synopsis: Victor von Doom saw his future for an instant, and now he
cannot rest. His obsession with regaining those memories leads him
into the arcane science of geomancy. As he delves into the ancient
memories that lie beneath his land, Doom discovers a tremendous
concentration of power -- a power that should never have been
explored. Doom's excavations and necromancy fracture the prison of
something awful: the Devourer of Souls. Now free to roam Latveria, the
Devourer spreads a plague of soul-hungry vampires. Doom must choose
between seizing this power for himself or destroying it, before his
realm is no more.

Critique: A deftly crafted and simply riveting read from first page to
last, "Reign of the Devourer" by David Annandale is a 'must' for the
legions of Marvel Universe fans in general, and Doctor Doom
enthusiasts in particular. A part of the simply outstanding Aconyte
Books 'Marvel Untold' series, and highly recommended for community
library Science Fiction collections, it should be noted for personal
reading lists that "Reign of the Devourer" is also readily available
in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.95).

Editorial Note: David Annadale is a lecturer at a Canadian university
on subjects ranging from English literature to horror films and video
games. He is the author of many novels in the Horus Heresy and
Warhammer 40,000 universe, and a co-host of the Hugo Award-nominated
podcast Skiffy and Fanty.

The Sterling Gospel
Atticus Mullon
DartFrog Books
4697 Main Street, Manchester Center, VT 05255
www.dartfrogbooks.com
9781956019100, $16.99 Paper/$5.99 Kindle

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09NHNWNCR

While one could call The Sterling Gospel a work of Christian fiction
or history, it's featured here as an unusual, powerful work of sci-fi
set in 2085 because it revolves around the conviction of a billionaire
that the miracles performed by Jesus were actually demonstrations of
high technology by a being from the future. Specifically, the
billionaire's future is one in which he finances those famous
miracles.

From this description, one might expect the story to open with a
high-tech jolt; but The Sterling Gospel provides an initial surprise
in following the actions of a petty thief who has made crime his new
vocation. He lives with his mother, who believes he's still working
daily at the valve factory. He's the last person on Earth who would
seem to be the candidate for giving new hope to the world. And that's
why twenty-seven-year-old Amir Saleh seems the perfect choice for
billionaire William Sterling to introduce miracles to the ailing world
of Jesus's times.

Author Atticus Mullon builds a powerful saga replete with not just
spiritual but social inspection and considerations as it views a man
rooted in poverty who receives the opportunity of a lifetime.
Christians might find the premise a challenge, as it follows not just
God's purpose in creating a Messiah, but a near-madman's intentions of injecting the past with an icon representing the source of these
miracles, based on a technologically-rich future. Moral and ethical
dilemmas arise as the story unfolds that will particularly enrich
reader group discussions, secular or religious.

The dialogue between Amir and those in this distant past world bring
its events and perceptions to life: "We are here to bring glory to the
Most High. We Nazarenes serve the Father and have avoided His wrath by
shunning sin. Yet, in our grass, we find you. A viper waiting with
tools of hubris to bring sin to our ranks and wrath upon our people. Accordingly, you will be raised up, positioned in the sky so all can
see that sin has no place here."

As Amir meets Jesus and comes to realize his strength and radical
message, readers receive a powerful saga that juxtaposes faith, past
and future world perceptions, and the origins of beliefs and
possibilities that influence Jesus, Amir, and those around them.

As an author, Mullon provides a powerful, rich story that holds much
food for thought and many discussion points about miracles,
technology, the teachings of Jesus and the Bible, and historical
events of the past. Much more than a sci-fi story but vastly different
from the usual Christian fiction approach, The Sterling Gospel is
highly recommended as a thought-provoking inspection of human and
godly affairs that includes a dialogue between the deity and Amir that questions the foundations of power, influence, and faith: "In fact,
there are some truths woven to the very fabric of being that are not a
question of might, but rather of being."

Jestin Kase and the Masters of Dragon Metal
J. Michael White
Teer Publishing
9798985221305, $14.99 paper/$4.99 ebook

https://www.amazon.com/Jestin-Kase-Masters-Dragon-Metal/dp/B09NRJT55W

How can one individual make a difference in the world? Jestin Kase and
the Masters of Dragon Metal presents an unlikely young hero in the
battle between good and evil. He is Jestin Kase, a Chicago foster kid
who finds himself drawn into a world of monsters, corruption, and the
lure of Dragon Metal, an ancient magic that holds the key to mankind's
future.

Young adult to adult fantasy readers may anticipate some of the
trappings in this classic good/evil confrontation, but the proof of an exceptional story lies in how the author spins it. J. Michael White
produces a vivid, creative tale that excels in both a spunky
streetwise neo-hero and a wry sense of humor that permeates the
action: "Apparently, the cops didn't like it when you burned down your
foster home. Who knew? Police lights flashed across the dark streets
as Jestin ran through the back alleys of Chicago. He pumped his legs
as fast as he could, hopping over fences, dashing up and down fire
escapes, and cutting across rooftops. His legs burned with fatigue,
and his chest ached as his heart pounded. Christ, I need to get back
into shape."

As compatriots Colt and Zadie lead Jestin into a demon-killing mission
and they all face magical struggles that spill into human
neighborhoods and realms, White creates a fast-paced story of
confrontation and action that mirrors Jestin's roots as a foster child
buffeted by events beyond his control.

The process of empowerment is revealed as Jestin learns new rules and possibilities and finds himself in a revised role that introduces new challenges ("He had to learn how to handle himself alone."). Part of
the lure of this magical adventure lies in Jestin's growth process and realizations not just of revised realities, but his own strengths in confronting beings not of his familiar world. As demon powers, cursed
auras, distracting friendships, and altered perceptions come to light,
White crafts a fantasy adventure replete with both action and
interpersonal connections. These grow insights on the parts of a wide
range of characters that compliment Jestin's growth experience and
newfound abilities.

These elements are flavored by the humor that runs throughout serious encounters to strengthen a story that rests on more than magical
adventure alone. How can one individual make a difference in the
world? Jestin and his readers learn about this process in a compelling
saga that is both gripping and thought-provoking. Take a magical
adventure and wind it into a story of evolving courage and revised
perceptions for a taste of how Jestin Kase and the Masters of Dragon
Metal helps foster a feeling of empowerment and ability in readers.

It's a story highly recommended for teenage to adult fantasy audiences
who want their tales cemented by action, unexpected encounters, and thought-provoking emotional growth.

Baen Books
P.O. Box 1403, Riverdale, NY 10471
www.baen.com

Four new sci-fi books are top recommendations for discriminating
readers looking for something new.

https://www.amazon.com/Generation-Warriors-Planet-Pirate-5/dp/1982125853

Anne McCaffrey and Elizabeth Moon's Generation Warriors
(9781982125851, $16.00) tells of a starship captain and her
grandmother who battle slavers with the help of a few friends who push
against pirates and those who would benefit from the pain of others.
The duo seems an unlikely force in a battle against injustice, but
they are joined by exiles and would-be heroes who, together, present a formidable obstacle to the status quo.

https://www.amazon.com/Deep-Man-Michael-Mersault/dp/1982125845

Michael Mersault's The Deep Man (9781982125844, $16.00) tells of an intergalactic milieu which has enjoyed centuries of peace due to
advanced technology from mysterious "Shapers." Few of the great
Families have experienced battles and are ready to defend their
kingdoms against threat. Luckily, Saef Sinclair-Maru clings to the old
Honor Code and maintains a frigate that may prove the only key to
successfully completing his efforts to restore his Family to honor and
prevent disaster.

https://www.amazon.com/Gunfight-Europa-Station-David-Boop/dp/1982125721

David Boop edits Gunfight on Europa Station (9781982125721, $16.00), a
lively mix of space opera, weird West, and frontier stories presented
by a range of notable authors such as Elizabeth Moon, Cat Rambo, Alan
Dean Foster, and many more. Each story in this anthology adds another
dimension to the frontier milieu that embeds tales with adventure,
mystery, and even romance.

https://www.amazon.com/Stolen-Skies-Vickery-Castine-Powers/dp/1982125837

Tim Powers knocks it out of the dark with Stolen Skies (9781982125837,
$26.00), and is especially recommended for fans of UFO stories. Here,
the flying saucers are in Los Angeles and visitations indicate an
invasion. Former secret service agent Sebastian Vickery might be the
only man to thwart the threat, but the new knowledge he's learned
about the UFOs pits him against his own people, who employ his old
partner to work against him. Both are in the middle of an invasion
controversy as they struggle to uncover the truth before it's too
late.

These four new titles from Baen Books are all powerful collections
that should be in any discriminating science fiction library.

Baen Books
P.O. Box 1403, Riverdale, NY 10471
www.baen.com

Four new books from Baen provide readers with works that are solid,
good sci-fi adventure stories.

https://www.amazon.com/Wellstone-Wil-McCarthy/dp/1982124776

Wil McCarthy's The Wellstone (9781982125882, $8.99) presents a future
in which humanity has conquered space and abolished death. Wellstone
is programmable matter that ensures immortality, but for the children
of immortal parents, life remains the same. With princes who will
never become heirs, what is the meaning of the future? Conrad is one
such soul who determines to find new meaning in an immortal life,
changing his world in the process.

https://www.amazon.com/Domesticating-Dragons-Dan-Koboldt/dp/198212511X

Dan Koboldt's Domesticating Dragons (9781982125875, $8.99) blends
aspects of Jurassic Park with the fun story of a brilliant genetic
engineer charged with helping a company build custom-made dragons.
There's only one problem: the effort is not as benign as it seems. As
it leads to trouble, events emerge which are both whimsical and
action-packed, providing readers with a very different kind of dragon
story that entertains in a lively, revealing manner.

https://www.amazon.com/Liaden-Universe-Constellation-Sharon-Lee/dp/198212590X

Sharon Lee and Steve Miller's Constellation (9781982125905, $16.00) is especially recommended for prior fans of the Liaden universe, and
presents the fifth volume of action-packed adventures. Ten tales
provide new dilemmas, more than a touch of romance, and encounters
between conflicting forces in the galaxy which expand this universe in satisfying ways.

https://www.amazon.com/Call-Insurrection-Manticore-Ascendant/dp/1982125896

David Weber, Timothy Zahn and Thomas Pope's new Honorverse novel A
Call to Insurrection (9781982125899, $27.00) adds to the Manticore
Ascendant series with a powerful saga of turmoil and strife in the
Star Kingdom of Manticore. Travis and his wife Lisa are tasked with
building a navy to protect the kingdom, but further political and
military engagements emerge that threatens to draw them into a civil
war. The interstellar struggle emerges on different levels, cemented
by four individuals whose actions and alliances may change the balance
of power as well as their lives.

These four new titles are solid picks for fans of Baen's special brand
of sci-fi action stories.

EDITOR'S NOTE:

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All are available for free on the Midwest Book Review website at www
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Anyone wanting to submit books for review consideration can send them
to:

James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575-1129

To submit reviews of any fiction or non-fiction books, email them to
Frugalmuse (at) aol (dot) com (Be sure to include the book title,
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James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review


--
Stephen Hayes, Author of The Year of the Dragon
Sample or purchase The Year of the Dragon: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/907935
Web site: http://www.khanya.org.za/stevesig.htm
Blog: http://khanya.wordpress.com
E-mail: shayes@dunelm.org.uk

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