Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix
My rating: Back It Up

I read this book on a whim. It was late before bed and looking for a book to read. I sure did not expect what I received from this 153 page turner.
In the future society of the United States. Is that what we are to expect after what we currently experiencing in our country?
In this story:

Families are only allowed two kids. It's illegal to have anymore than than 3. Luke(the protagonist) is the third child to a strapped farming couple living on the edge of civilization. The family is struggling to make ends meet. For most of his life, Luke's had the run of the back forty, but when a new housing development bring wealthy homes to their neck of the woods, Luke is forced to stay in the attic. He may never go outside again.

Luke watches the new neighborhood from his secret attic lookout. One day he notices a blind flutter on one of the extravagant homes. Without his parents' knowledge, Luke sneaks over to the new neighborhood and meets another shadow child--a girl! She's linked into an underground network of Shadow Children. It is an interesting book.

The authors has the reader wanting more. The reader will be sad, irritated and just pissed off at times throughout this book. I ordered the next 2 books in the series, in which has 7 books in all.

The Puppet Masters by Robert A. Heinlein

The Puppet Masters by Robert A. Heinlein
Series: None
Genre: Light Sci-Fi
Published: 1951
My rating: Save It



I read this book for the 2nd annual Vintage SciFi Month. This event Andrea has been hosting since 2012. I sure do enjoy reading some good old fashion SciFi. It is also nice to see what the author(s) think what the future to them would be like and how off or right on their thoughts were as well.

This is the second Heinlein book that I have read now. My first was The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, I liked that one. I thought that this one was a little better in my opinion. Getting this out of the way I thought that this book was quite a bit like Wells' War of the Worlds. I just cannot believe that this book was wrote 50 years ago. Heinlein was able to dream up cellphones,satellite relay, and other types of technology. I would like one of the cars though. Where can I buy one :)

This book starts off in 2007, and a flying saucer landed in Iowa...yes Iowa of all places.A Hoax. Two agents(Sam and Mary), however, of the U.S. Intellegence agency disappeared while on the scene. Four more agents are sent in, and they disappear. The head of the agency and two of his top agents are sent in and escape with their discovery. The earth is under attack and is being invaded by slug-like aliens who can latch on to a human and totally control his/her mind.

It is interesting to see how the government tries to institutes different "Acts" so the Agency can see whom is affected easier. I cannot imagine going around in the buff for LONG periods of time in public.

What I Liked:  This book was nonstop action and you were not sure what was going to happen on the next page. I was not sure if the solution that Sam's theory was going to work in the end. I thought that it was funny that the marriage license you could choose different durations for it.

What I Disliked:  The thing I did not like about the book was the RH portrays women, but that is where it shows its age.

I will be reading more of RH in the future.

Redshirts by John Scalzi

Redshirts by John Scalzi
My rating: Save It
How I Acquired It: Library

Summary:
Ensign Andrew Dahl has just been assigned to the Universal Union Capital Ship "Intrepid," flagship of the Universal Union since the year 2456. It's a prestige posting, and Andrew is thrilled all the more to be assigned to the ship's Xenobiology laboratory. Life couldn't be better...until Andrew begins to pick up on the fact that (1) every Away Mission involves some kind of lethal confrontation with alien forces, (2) the ship's captain, its chief science officer, and the handsome Lieutenant Kerensky always survive these confrontations, and (3) at least one low-ranked crew member is, sadly, always killed.

Not surprisingly, a great deal of energy below decks is expended on avoiding, at all costs, being assigned to an Away Mission. Then Andrew stumbles on information that completely transforms his and his colleagues' understanding of what the starship "Intrepid "really is...and offers them a crazy, high-risk chance to save their own live.

My Thoughts:

I grew up watching Star Trek:TOS and watching TNG every night. Back then it was like what Law and Order or CSI is today. I did not know anything about this book until I read some of the reviews of some of the blogging buddies.

After I go into this one there was no putting it down. It did read like a Trek episode.THis book brought me back to where some mind-boggling creaures were lurking around the counter when crew member went on Away Missions. In REDSHIRTS follows Andy Dahl, recently assigned to the starship Intrepid. Dahl quickly begins to realize that there is something peculiar about the ship’s away missions – the captain, the science officer, and other select crew members always live even despite apparently insurmountable odds while the poor ensign (or more) dies. But the truth about this strange "coincidence" is stranger than the "coincidence" itself.

This book is a laugh-out book. It seemed that this book had great humor throughout this adventure as well as some interesting twists.

If you have read this book what were your thoughts?

Book Review: Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

Title: Fahrenheit 451
Author: Ray Bradbury
Format: Paperback
Genre: Science Fiction/dystopia
Year: 1953
Acquired: Library Loan
Challenge: Vintage Sci-Fi Not a Challenge Month
Ranking: Back it up


Summary: Guy Montag was a fireman whose job it was to start fires...

The system was simple. Everyone understood it. Books were for burning ... along with the houses in which they were hidden.

Guy Montag enjoyed his job. He had been a fireman for ten years, and he had never questioned the pleasure of the midnight runs nor the joy of watching pages consumed by flames... never questioned anything until he met a seventeen-year-old girl who told him of a past when people were not afraid.

Then he met a professor who told him of a future in which people could think... and Guy Montag suddenly realized what he had to do!


My Thoughts: I just finished reading Fahrenheit 451 book this morning. I was not impressed with the ending of this masterpiece. I still cannot believe how Bradbury accomplished writing this book. He wrote the entire novel in the basement of UCLA's Powell Library on a pay typewriter that he rented for a fee of ten cents per half an hour. To me that is craziness, but what is one to do if they do not have a typewriter of this or her own. It was the 1950’s after all.

About the book, I just could not even fathom a world not being able to have access to books. In this world that Montag lived in it was against the law to own or possess a book. Look at what you learn from reading through the pages of people from the past and learning from their mistakes. It is good to know why something is or isn’t true. Bradbury did a wonderful job putting the reading in Montag’s shoes and you could feel so deeply what he was feeling about the world that he was living in. I would recommend that if you did not read this book yet. Just give this one a shot, you will not be sorry.

Foundation Group Read Part II

Hello Everybody.Welcome to Part II of the Foundation Groupread, hosted by Carl from Stainless Steel Droppings. A big thumbs up for taking on the task of hosting this Group Read. I cannot help the fact while reading this book I did compare it the Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. I am sure that there were more of you out that did the same and I did.




The answers to some of the question may include spoilers to the book...here is your warning. 

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Salvador Hardin was the first character in the book that we got to spend any significant time with. What are your thoughts on the grande finale of his plotting, scheming and maneuvering to get the Foundation through to the next Seldon crisis?

Now talk about a politician through and through. Hardin continued to manipulate events to his favor throughout this section of the reading. With the Foundation that Hardin built with its technologies. You would think that the Four Kingdoms would want to work with Hardin. Instead being in a war with someone that cut vital technologies that you rely one. Just don’t mess with someone that can make you life miserable. We had Seldom in this section as well so it is always great to hard him to bring us back.

What are your thoughts on the way in which control/manipulation to achieve Foundation ends began to shift with The Traders?

I will admit that the The Trader section was a big yawner compared to Hardin chapters. A short tale, set fifty-five years after “The Mayors,” “The Traders” is a tale of how the application of religion to science has effectively become a stagnant policy. After witnessing the fate of the Four Kingdoms, no nearby star systems are will accept Foundation technology. A new force for expansion is revealed, however, through the use of trade.

From the shift from religion to the trading just give one a interesting perspective on how things do change throughout time. Just that is how it used to be done does mean that it way that it use to be. Thus it can change from year to year.


One of the interesting things about Seldon’s psychohistory is how much one man can actually affect it. In Foundation we see characters like Hardin and Mallow as key figures for positioning things just right to work towards Seldon’s later predictions. Do you see this as a contradiction to what Seldon said about psychohistory at the beginning of our story or part of an overall plan? Discuss.

I will admit some of the information was hard to grasp in an audiobook. As much and Hardin and Mallow want the Seldons plan to go accordingly.  I have a feeling that it is not going to happen as smmoth as they think it will go. A monkey wrench somewhere is going to thrown into the mx and askew the smooth sailing.

This has happened throughout history. The interesting part is going to be be how will the Foundation be able to regain after being diverted.



Has your concept/thoughts of what Seldon was trying to do changed at all since the book began?

It has not changed much for me at least. I know he is a genius and I like it when he draws us back in if we get side tracked. One thing that I still waiting for is how his  grand plan is going to eventually unfold.  

Any final thoughts on the story as a whole, its structure, what it did or did not accomplish, how it worked for you, etc?

I am liking what Asimov did in the second half of the book with character development. It seems more rushed in the first part of this book. I liked how he had elaborated more on who and what Hardin in to the Foundation. I could not stop listening to this book. I was either listening to it in the car or at home. I sure wish I could listen to it at work..:) I am excited to be able to read the next two books. Speaking of which the second book in the series is at the library right now.



So are you going to join the group in the next book Foundation and the Empire..it start tomorrow.

Foundation by Isaac Asimov, Group Read-a-Long Part I

Welcome to Part I of the Foundation Groupread, hosted by Carl from Stainless Steel Droppings.


Asimov’s “Foundation” is divided into five parts.  This week’s discussion covers up until midway through Part 3.


The answers to some of the question may include spoilers to the book...here is your warning.

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For those reading it for the first time, what expectations did you have and has it held up, or not held up, thus far?

I was not really sure what I was expecting from the Foundation in the group read. I am with Grace and that is being an Asimov virgin. I have heard that he is one of the BIG 3  of high Sci-Fi. I saw that Carl was doing a group read. I thought why not join into this event. I know that I am little behind,  I know that will caught up considering that the reading of the second book is in a week or so.


What are your thoughts about the structure of the novel thus far? (I am referring to the brief glimpses of different parts of the history of the Foundation with big time gaps between events in the novel)


The structure of the novel is that not big of deal to me at least. I am listening to the book is it is not that bad. I like the fact that they go back and forth to the Encyclopedia Galactica. I would have like a more vast introduction to the Foundation and there is a lot of jumping around and such so it sometimes gets hard for one to be in a particular characters shoes. I am getting use to the way that  Asimov structured the novel.

The good thing about this book is that it reminds me Star Wars episode 4. A trilogy that I was basically raised on in which I could probably recite with a drop of a hat.


What are your initial thoughts on the field of psychohistory?


The psychohistorians make general predictions about the future behavior of very large groups of people. It is interesting to see Asimov is unfolding how vast the field is throughout the book thus far. To me that field of not a plausible theory, it has loop hole, but there is a reason why it is considered science fiction. 


What, if anything, is holding your interest thus far, what are you enjoying about Foundation?


I am a HUGE fan of Hari Seldon. He is like Obi-Wan Kenobi (yes another Star Wars reference). He is always there to explain what is currently going on. Hari explains to everyone what is going on in the book.
I like the Time Vault as well. It is just interesting to see how everything is going to unfold when the celebration do take place of the 50th year of the Foundation’s existence.
It is hard to pinpoint all of what I am liking in this book, because it is all great so far throughout this masterpiece. 



You may have covered this in answering the other questions, but if not, what are your thoughts/feelings about the Galactic Empire.  Is it a practical thing to have a galaxy spanning government? Can you imagine such a thing and do  you think it would work?


I do imagine that it could work, but could it really work I have my doubts.I am not that sure if the galactic empire would over long periods of time as Asimov has in the Foundation. There are many factors to consider that being so many people and planets. The government would not be able to be fair and consistent government throughout. 


What are your thoughts on Hardin’s creation of a religious system in which to house scientific ideas and technology while keeping the users of that science and technology in the dark?

I thought Hardin’s invention of a religious system was quite interesting. He gave everybody a set of beliefs to abide by, retaining all the knowledge to the Foundation.  In doing so it’s almost like the rest of the system is going backwards and losing the knowledge they once had as they become more and more reliant upon these beliefs. It is different creation that is for sure.

I hope that everyone is enjoying the read a long. I think I will be caught up by mid to late week..:)

Audiofiles:The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert A. Heinlein

Title: The Moon is a Harsh Mistress
Author:Robert A. Heinlein

Genre: Science fiction
Length: 13h
Audio publisher: Blackstone Audiobooks
Read by: Lloyd James
Rating: 4/5

Summary:
It is a tale of revolution, of the rebellion of the former Lunar penal colony against the Lunar Authority that controls it from Earth. It is the tale of the disparate people—a computer technician, a vigorous young female agitator, and an elderly academic—who become the rebel movement's leaders. And it is the story of Mike, the supercomputer whose sentience is known only to this inner circle, and who for reasons of his own is committed to the revolution's ultimate success.
The Moon is a Harsh Mistress is one of the high points of modern science fiction, a novel bursting with politics, humanity, passion, innovative technical speculation, and a firm belief in the pursuit of human freedom.


My Thoughts:

It took me a while to get use to the Luna speak compared to earthly speak. I couldn't figure out what was going on or why the language was so rough and unpolished and choppy. Eventually, though, I found the rhythm of it and settled in just fine -- I didn't even notice it after a while. It makes sense; Luna started off as a penal colony and has since developed completely separate from Earth. Luna does trim down the language and use as efficient as possible. 


I will say this my favorite "character" in the book was Mike. Yes a super computer was my favorite. I was saddened to see what happened to him in the end of the book. Nobody was quite sure what happened to the super computer he did not respond back to Mannie after revolt was over. 

Throughout the book it was scary to see what knew about anyone and everyone on a drop of a hat. I think that Heinlein hit this nail right on the head. Considering that this book was published in 1966. It was like reading a Clarke novel. So close that it is scary. 

All in all, though, this is a novel about politics -- a very complex, deep, intellectual and sophisticated look at politics, government, revolution and war. The Moon is a Harsh Mistress has a very definite world-view and political philosophy, some of which I agreed with, and some of which I really, really didn't. My agreement (or lack thereof) with the politics espoused in this book didn't seem to have much bearing on my enjoyment of it. This is a book that requires the reader to think. This is something that some books these days are lacking. Look and some of the books that the teens these days are reading like the Twilight Series.

So if you need a book that make you think this you pick. I want to thank Andrea from Little Red Reviewer for recommending this book to me  to read.  

AudioFiles:The Minority by Philip K. Dick

Author: Philip K. Dick
Genre: Science Fiction
Year:1956
Read by:  Keir Dullea
Acquired: Library
Rating: 3/5


Overview of the Book: In the world of The Minority Report, Commissioner John Anderton is the one to thank for the lack of crime. He is the originator of the Precrime System, which uses "precogs"–people with the power to see into the future–to identify criminals before they can do any harm. Unfortunately for Anderton, his precogs perceive him as the next criminal. But Anderton knows he has never contemplated such a thing, and this knowledge proves the precogs are fallible. Now, whichever way he turns, Anderton is doomed–unless he can find the precogs's "minority report"–the dissenting voice that represents his one hope of getting at the truth in time to save himself from his own system.

My Thoughts:  I just watched the movie with my wife over New Years and I was not that sure what to expect. I was hope that there was not a hack job in this case. Considering that we did really enjoyed the movie. Being a short story there was not that much to hack out in the first place, but there was plenty that Spielberg could add to the book if desired. Anyways lets get to book review.

We're set up to think Anderton is the protagonist because he's the one being sought after for a possible murder. But when he finds out that there really is no minority report, that the precogs' reports cancel each other out instead of having a majority report, he still doesn't seem to be remorseful for any of the people that he has put into the internment camps throughout his years in Precrime. When someone suggests to him that Precrime should instead let the accused future muderer know about his/her possible crime to see if he or she changes his or her mind, he's very blaise about it. The only reason the precogs' reports change is because Anderton knows that he's being accused of a future murder to which he believes he won't commit but then after realizing why he might commit murder he changes his mind. 

This short story did not take very long for me to get through. I was a good story, but not great overall.The action packed in this short story is crazy. Dick does shows that even you try to prevent  crime in the future, but there is only so much that you can do. Also this is my first Dick story that I have read.

Finished Falling Skies

I sure am glad that their is a DVR these days. For those who did catch the series Falling Skies and those who did not here is the jist. Falling Skies tells the story of the aftermath of a global invasion by several races of extraterrestrials (including the lizard-like Skitters; a race of seemingly humanoid grey-skinned beings that seem to be their commanders; and mechanical Attack Drones called mechs) that neutralizes the world's power grid and technology, quickly destroys the combined militaries of all the world's countries, and apparently kills over 90% of the human population within a few days. The invasion and the objectives of the Aliens is not explained, though the aliens try to round up children between 8 and 16 and attach a metallic obedience device onto (and into) their spines. Forcibly removing the device instantly kills the child. The story picks up six months after the invasion and follows a group of survivors who band together to fight back.

 I for one have always been a fan of alien takeover and such,  but I did enjoy every episode in this TNT series. It has been a while a Sci-Fi TV series has caught my attention this much. For those whom did not see the series, and wonder what happens after the aliens do invade earth and how we may resist them.

This series has so many layers (like an onion) in this series. There are so many points of view and different people are affected on the decisions from the upper ranks of the group.

How far whould people last with no electricty? So of the people that I work with 2 minutes:)
For those who did see the series, I am curious on what your thoughts are on the Falling Skies series?