Terraform Me a New Ear Drum

Sorry for a lack of updates folks but this little blogger caught herself a nasty upper respiratory infection that caused her ear drum to rupture. So whenever I am not at work, I’m wandering around my house responding with a “HUH?!?!” to everything my husband says OR sleeping. I’ve slept SO much but it really does help.

I knew I was coming down with something when we left for our trip north a week and a half ago. I did not foresee becoming THIS sick. I was trucking along fine until my ear drum ruptured and then I was just down for the count.

Samus has done her best to help me recoup. Maximum snuggles while reading or sleeping.

As you can see, I’ve been working my way along Red Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson. It appears to be equal parts slightly boring and absolutely fascinating. I’m fairly certain it’s the terraforming the planet that is keeping me going. The characters are okay but the transformation to make the planet habitable for humans is the best part. It’s long though, highly detailed, so it will take me probably to the end of the month to finish it.

Alas, we’re heading back north this week for Thanksgiving. Every year we rotate where we spend Thanksgiving and it hasn’t been at my dad’s house in quite some time. So expect another small hiatus from me.

Speaking of my dad AND science fiction month, I guess it never really registered until I made the list of movies and TV shows but my dad has been my greatest influence into science fiction. It’s funny the things you never realize until it is very obviously pointed out in random fashion.

Who influenced YOUR love for science fiction??

#SciFiMonth: Saga; Volume 6 – Comic Review

Published Date: July 5, 2016

Publishing Co.: Image Comics

Pages: 152

Goodreads Synopsis.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Even after a time jump this comic is still running strong. I may be so head over heels in love with it that they can do no wrong. If you’re a Sci-FI fan who enjoys a little romance and family drama with their space fun, I cannot recommend this series enough.

Stop staring at this screen. Git off yer butt and go pick up this series NAOW.

#SciFiMonth – The Mechanical (The Alchemy Wars #1) – Book Review

Published Date: March 10, 2015

Publishing Co.: Orbit

Pages: 440

Goodreads Synopsis.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Three different antagonists take on the Dutch, in secret, to bring down their empire of mechanical servitude.

The Dutch empire rules much of the world. They invented mechanical slaves called Clakkers, and use them to control everything. They use them for household service, they make up much of the military and others yet, are used to subdue anyone violating the laws.

One thing the empire cannot abide to let the public become aware of is, rogue Clakkers. Clakkers granted Free Will. They are to be hunted down and destroyed at all costs. Their enemies cannot know that their Clakkers have any kind of soul, it would unravel all they have built if people knew that these weren’t just mindless robots.

Jax is a rogue. Accidentally granted Free Will in a mishap, Jax flees before his secret is found out. Unfortunately for Jax, other Clakkers can sense his difference if he slips up even a little. One command ingrained in all Clakkers, is to do everything to take out a rogue when detected. He’ll need the help of humans if he’s to get out of the Dutch grasp.

Only one country resists the Dutch, they’ve been at war for years and recently had a cease fire. New France. Their draw is precarious. One wrong step and war can begin again in an instant. Berenice is in the business of knowing everything about the enemy. When given a chance to study the inside of a military Clakker, she will risk everything to unwind the Dutch’s secrets. She’ll even risk the King’s wrath if he finds out she went against his wishes.

Pastor Visser works in secret through the church. He’s apart of a network of people working to bring about the destruction of the Dutch, free Clakkers that they believe are sentient and bring back the Catholic church, currently outlawed as heresy. He’s willing to martyr himself to do so but the price may be more than he expected, for the Dutch are especially cruel.

This was a decent read for ¾ of the book. I wasn’t really connecting with any of the characters but the premise was interesting enough. It began to really come together in the last quarter when a couple of the antagonists joined forces.

My lingering question is, how can robots taste or smell? It was mentioned briefly in the beginning of the book and I’m left wondering if it was a mistake. Or, are these sciences really THAT advanced?

I’m on the fence about continuing the series.

#SciFiMonth: Top 5 Favorite Sci-Fi TV Shows

As a kid, I regularly watched Star Trek: NTG and Star Trek: Voyage with my dad. Despite that, I don’t consider myself a Trekkie. Star Wars will always own my heart but I respect all the Trekkies out there.

Making this list made me realize, I don’t actually watch too many sci-fi TV shows. I’ll have to consider this when I pick out new shows to try.

I was SO into Alf as a kid, I don’t remember if anyone watched it with me. When Alf was on, nothing else existed.

Mr. C&M and I watched this some what recently. Each episode is it’s own story, so some are winners and some are just okay. I don’t think there were any episodes that I down right hated.

We aren’t caught up on this gem yet but I absolutely love the mix of western and sci-fi.

We just finished this last night and it was SO good. I went in not expecting a lot and ended up enjoying the absolute shit out of it.

I have no qualms about naming this my favorite sci-fi TV show maybe, ever. For the record, Eleven is my least favorite character.

What are some of your favorite sci-fi TV shows?

I’m about to jet off on a four day weekend in northern Michigan tomorrow, so I may not catch up with everyone until I get back. Hope your weekend is full of delicious science fiction things!

#SciFiMonth: Top 5 Favorite Science Fiction Movies

1. Oh yeah, I’m counting all three of these bad boys as one because otherwise, it would make this list too easy. I’ve been mad for Star Wars since I was a kid and burnt out my aunt’s VHS of Return of the Jedi. Pretty sure that’s how everyone got me to calm down, they just put Star Wars on.

2. I absolutely love this movie and I don’t watch it nearly enough. I should probably change that like ASAP.

3. If I was batty for Star Wars, I was equally batty for dinosaurs so this one is an obvious pick. I took me three times when I was little to sit through this movie because the raptors scared the shit out of me. I specifically remember running out of the theater and banging my broken arm in a cast on the seats on my way out.

4. I’ve been watching this movie since I was a kid too. I will forever love these aliens. Some of the coolest ones ever invented.

5. I had this really good hiding place as a kid, behind the couch. I was master level sneaky and watched a lot of movies my dad was watching that I’m sure he would not have let me if he knew I was there. This was one of them.

What are your favorite Sci-Fi movies of all time?

Science Fiction Month 2019

Hey guys! All that paranormal/horror reading was great leading up to Halloween but now it’s onto new things. I usually participate in my own way for Science Fiction month every November for the past couple of years. This year, I’ve signed up to participate with the current blog hosts of Sci-Month, Onemore.org.

Besides book reviews, I plan to do some other sci-fi related posts. I haven’t quite figured out what yet but I look forward to thinking something up.

I should FINALLY be finishing The Left Hand of Darkness this week. It’s only taken me over a month. I warn you now, it’s going to be an unpopular opinion.

I have started The Mechanical by Ian Tregillis as my next sci-fi read.

Are you participating in Sci-Fi month? If so, what are your big plans for it?