Beamo and the book factory (items received with guest kitteh)

All posts, Received

This items received post is proudly presented by guest kitteh Beamo.

Beamo is a rescue kitteh. Pregnant when fetched from the pound, her kittens were kept by her rescue home. Daniel Haynes has been looking to replace Smokey (who hasn’t forgiven him for leaving home) so Nom gave Beamo to Daniel for his 21st.

Beamo is a poster kitteh for adopting rescue cats: she’s timid yet curious and affectionate. When she brushed up against my legs her fur felt like silken feathers after all Daniel’s brushing.

Items received list (click on titles to jump to my comments and the publisher’s blurb)

Back to contents list

Earth Girl Earth Star

Earth Girl and Earth Star by Janet Edwards

I’ve heard a lot about Earth Girl so, when approached by Meghan of Pyr, I jumped at the opportunity to read this trilogy. I love the slightly sepia tone of the covers; Earth Girl in particular looks a little aged or antique.

Pyr says:

Earth Girl

Just because she’s confined to the planet, doesn’t mean she can’t reach for the stars.

2788. Only the handicapped live on Earth. Eighteen-year-old Jarra is among the one in a thousand people born with an immune system that cannot survive on other planets. Sent to Earth at birth to save her life, she has been abandoned by her parents. She can’t travel to other worlds, but she can watch their vids, and she knows all the jokes they make. She’s an “ape,” a “throwback,” but this is one ape girl who won’t give in.

Jarra makes up a fake military background for herself and joins a class of norms who are on Earth for a year of practical history studies excavating the dangerous ruins of the old cities. She wants to see their faces when they find out they’ve been fooled into thinking an ape girl was a norm. She isn’t expecting to make friends with the enemy, to risk her life to save norms, or to fall in love.

Earth Star

Romance, science fiction, action, and a look at the false assumptions we make about others combine in this light-hearted, fun, and well-conceived science fiction future.

Only She Can Save the World.

Eighteen-year-old Jarra has a lot to prove. After being awarded one of the military’s highest honors for her role in a daring rescue attempt, she finds herself-and her Ape status-in the spotlight. Jarra is one of the unlucky few born with an immune system that cannot survive on other planets. Derided as an “ape”-a “throwback”-by the rest of the universe, she is on a mission to prove that Earth Girls are just as good as anyone else.

Except now the planet she loves is under threat by what could be humanity’s first ever alien contact. Jarra’s bravery-and specialist knowledge-will once again be at the center of the maelstrom, but will the rest of the universe consider Earth worth fighting for? 

Back to contents list

Prince of ShadowsPrince of Shadows by Rachel Caine

Rachel Caine is a New York Times bestselling author of more than thirty novels and a lovely lady; I interviewed Rachel when she was in Australia.

Rachel has now dabbled in Shakespeare with this retelling of Romeo and Juliet.

Penguin says:

Two households, both alike in dignity, in fair Verona, where we lay our scene . . . 

In the Houses of Montague and Capulet, there is only one goal: power. The boys are born to fight and die for honor and – if they survive – marry for influence and money, not love. The girls are assets, to be spent wisely. 

Their wishes are of no import. Their fates are written on the day they are born.

Benvolio Montague, cousin to Romeo, knows all this. He expects to die for his cousin, for his house, but a spark of rebellion still lives inside him. At night, he is the Prince of Shadows, the greatest thief in Verona – and he risks all as he steals from House Capulet. In doing so, he sets eyes on convent-bound Rosaline, and a terrible curse begins that will claim the lives of many in Verona . . . 

And will rewrite all their fates, forever.

‘Rachel Caine is a first-class storyteller.’ Charlaine Harris

‘Smart and sexy and addictive – Rachel Caine reinvents a classic romance for a new generation of readers . . . I’m giving this book to everyone I know.’ Kami Garcia

‘Revisit a Shakespearean classic from a new angle. Romance and intrigue abound; I loved it!’ Melissa Marr

Back to contents list


Arrows of Time by Greg Egan

The final of the Orthagonal trilogy that Rebecca Muir has been reviewing (Clockwork Rocket, The Eternal Flame), Bec pursued me to secure her a review copy.

Gollancz says:

After generations of travel, the spaceship Peerless may finally have achieved its goal – but the decision to return home may create more tensions than ever before.

In an alien universe where space and time play by different rules, interstellar voyages last longer for the travellers than for those they left behind. After six generations in flight, the inhabitants of the mountain-sized spacecraft the Peerless have used their borrowed time to develop advanced technology that could save their home world from annihilation.

But not every traveller feels allegiance to a world they have never seen, and as tensions mount over the risks of turning the ship around and starting the long voyage home, a new complication arises: the prospect of constructing a messaging system that will give the Peerless news of its own future.

While some of the crew welcome the opportunity to be warned of impending dangers – and perhaps even hear reports of the ship’s triumphant return – others are convinced that knowing what lies ahead will be oppressive, and that the system will be abused. Agata longs for a chance to hear a message from the ancestors back on the home world, proving that the sacrifices of the travellers have not been in vain, but her most outspoken rival, Ramiro, fears that the system will undermine every decision the travellers make.

When a vote fails to settle the matter and dissent erupts into violence, Ramiro, Agata and their allies must seek a new way to bring peace to the Peerless – by traveling to a world where time runs in reverse.

THE ARROWS OF TIME is the final volume of the Orthogonal trilogy, bringing a powerful and surprising conclusion to the epic story of the Peerless that began with THE CLOCKWORK ROCKET and THE ETERNAL FLAME.

Back to contents list


The Fell Sword by Miles Cameron

Part two in an epic fantasy series, the Fell Sword follows the Red Knight. Or it’s carried by the Red Knight. Or something. Knights, swords, they kinda go together.

Gollancz says:

THE RED KNIGHT was one of the most acclaimed fantasy debuts of 2012 – and now he rides again. Prepare for one epic battle. . .

Loyalty costs money.

Betrayal, on the other hand, is free.

When the Emperor is taken hostage, the Red Knight and his men find their services in high demand – and themselves surrounded by enemies. The country is in revolt, the capital city is besieged and any victory will be hard won. But The Red Knight has a plan.

The question is, can he negotiate the political, magical, real and romantic battlefields at the same time – especially when intends to be victorious on them all?

Back to contents list

Writing on the WallWriting on the Wall by Tom Standage

In this age of social media it’s interesting to reflect that, just maybe, the internet is a modernisation of archaic traditions instead of a ‘new’ thing.

Bloomsbury says:

Today we are endlessly connected: constantly tweeting, texting or e-mailing. This may seem unprecedented, yet it is not. Throughout history, information has been spread through social networks, with far-reaching social and political effects. Writing on the Wall reveals how an elaborate network of letter exchanges forewarned of power shifts in Cicero’s Rome, while the torrent of tracts circulating in sixteenth-century Germany triggered the Reformation. Standage traces the story of the rise, fall and rebirth of social media over the past 2,000 years offering an illuminating perspective on the history of media, and revealing that social networks do not merely connect us today – they also link us to the past.

Back to contents list

HBO EffectHBO Effect by Dean J DeFino

Possibly a mix-up, someone at Bloomsbury sent me a second copy. I’ve already started reading the first copy, some of which is a sad indictment on Australia (USA govt found they needed a broadband network in 1968). This copy is heading to the competition (giveaway) pile, so watch this space.

Bloomsbury says:

No advertisers to please, no censors to placate, no commercial interruptions every eleven minutes, demanding cliffhangers to draw viewers back after the commercial breaks: HBO has re-written the rules of television; and the result has been nothing short of a cultural ground shift. The HBO Effect details how the fingerprints of HBO are all over contemporary film and television. Their capability to focus on smaller markets made shows like Sex and the City, The Sopranos, The Wire, and even the more recent Game of Thrones and Girls, trigger shows on basic cable networks to follow suit. HBO pioneered the use of HDTV and the widescreen format, production and distribution deals leading to market presence, and the promotion of greater diversity on TV (discussing issues of class and race). 
The HBO Effect examines this rich and unique history for clues to its remarkable impact upon television and popular culture. It’s time to take a wide-angle look at HBO as a producer of American culture.

Back to contents list

Halo: Mortal DictataHalo: Mortal Dictata by Karen Traviss

New York Times bestselling author Karen Traviss is doing her thing in the Halo universe!

Macmillan says:

Wars end. But hatred, guilt, and devotion can endure beyond the grave. With the Covenant War over, the Office of Naval Intelligence faces old grievances rising again to threaten Earth. The angry, bitter colonies, still with scores to settle from the insurrection put on hold for thirty years, now want justice-and so does a man whose life was torn apart by ONI when his daughter was abducted for the SPARTAN-II program. Black ops squad Kilo-Five find their loyalties tested beyond breaking point when the father of their Spartan comrade, still searching for the truth about her disappearance, prepares to glass Earth’s cities to get an answer. How far will Kilo-Five go to stop him? And will he be able to live with the truth when he finds it? The painful answer lies with a man long dead, and a conscience that still survives in the most unlikely, undiscovered place.

Back to contents list

Doctor Who: The MoonbaseDoctor Who: The Moonbase

Another golden oldie featuring Cybermen and Patrick Troughton.

Roadshow says:

Starring Patrick Troughton, this classic Second Doctor adventure is complete at last with two animated episodes!

Back to contents list

Day of the DoctorDoctor Who: The Time of the Doctor

That’s right, the Christmas Special is out on DVD. The minion and I watched it the other night with copious quantities of wine and much pausing to hammer down thoughts. Once polished a tad (but edited possibly less than it should be), I will post it online.

Gah. It’s the wrong cover image (although I have that one on my coffee table too). I can’t find the right one and I have to leave for uni shortly. I will update this when I can a) find the right cover and b) have the time.

Back to contents list

Web of FearDoctor Who: Web of Fear

The minion and I haven’t seen this episode yet. In fact, the minion thought this was the one where the third doctor went to Metabelius 3 before regenerating into the fourth doctor! This will be fun to watch.

Roadshow says:

Recovered and restored – a classic Patrick Troughton adventure!

In order to escape an attack in space, the TARDIS makes an unscheduled landing and ends up deep inside the London Underground.

Here the travellers soon find themselves engulfed in a thrilling battle with the Great Intelligence and the Yeti, a deadly enemy set to invade the Earth. But as events take a turn for the worse, it becomes clear that the golden prize is not just the Earth, but the Doctor’s mind too…

Back to contents list

Vampire Academy: The Official Illustrated Movie Companion

Vampire Academy: The Official Illustrated Movie Companion

Regardless of how fans feel about the Vampire Academy being interpreted as a comedy, they’ll probably want this movie companion. I know a certain reviewer who squeed LOUDLY.

Penguin says:

The international bestselling series is now a major motion picture.

Director Mark Waters (Mean Girls), writer Daniel Waters (Heathers), and a talented creative team have brought the first book in Richelle Mead’s international bestselling Vampire Academy to the big screen.

Packed with never-before-seen photographs and exclusive interviews with the cast and crew, this official movie companion takes us on a tour of all the behind-the-scenes action. Let this book be your guide to the making of Vampire Academy―from the screenwriting process to casting, filming, and editing. This definitive companion is a must-have for fans of Vampire Academy!

Back to contents list

Urban OutlawsUrban Outlaws by Peter Jay Black

An action book for kids!

Bloomsbury says:

In a bunker hidden deep beneath London live five extraordinary kids: meet world-famous hacker Jack, gadget geek Charlie, free runner Slink, comms chief Obi and decoy diva Wren. They’re not just friends; they’re URBAN OUTLAWS. They outsmart London’s crime gangs and hand out their dirty money through Random Acts of Kindness (R.A.K.s). 

Their latest mission – hacking the bank account of criminal mastermind Del Sarto – has landed them in serious trouble. Del Sarto is going head-to-head with MI5 for control of Proteus, an advanced quantum computer able to crack any code and steal top-secret documents in nanoseconds. It’s down to the URBAN OUTLAWS to use their guile, guts and skill to destroy Proteus, avert world domination . . . and stay alive.

Back to contents list