C Gockel Writes

Book Review: The Thief (Queen’s Thief Book One) by Megan Whalen Turner

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I picked up this book on the recommendation of two of my fans (the guilty parties know who they are.) I am now hooked on the series. Mickey7 explores hi-tech immortality, The Thief explores the God given kind in a high fantasy setting inspired by ancient Greece. A wonderful engaging protagonist, a richly drawn fantasy world, humor, and a gentle philosophical undercurrent, I was sucked in. It also delivered a satisfying ending with a twist. The first book has a real ending, but I want more. Fortunately, there are quite a few more books in the series.

Highly recommended.

This is a traditionally published novel (and series) and you may be able to find it at the library. It’s currently available at Scribd in eBook and Audiobook. Also, the used paperback version on Amazon is very affordable (and it has a pretty cover.)

Book Review: The Bastard Brigade by Sam Kean

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The Bastard Brigade by Sam Kean is everything I’ve come to love about Kean revved up a notch. It’s a scientific history through the lens of deep compassion and humanity. It’s blisteringly funny at times, educational, gut wrenching, and hard to put down. It doesn’t tell the story of the American race to get the atomic bomb–though it does give an excellent outline of the characters involved in that–so much as it tells the story of the allies’ struggle to keep the Germans from getting the atom bomb first. You’ll be thinking about the characters: Fermi, Heisenberg, the Curies, Goudschmit long after you finish the book.

Highly recommended.

This is a traditionally published book, and you may be able to find it at your public library.

P.S. This book does some justice to the Norwegian resistance’s struggles at Vemork, but for a deeper, just as thrilling look at those adventures, I cannot recommend The Winter Fortress enough.

Book Review: The Ice Pick Surgeon – Murder, Fraud, Sabotage, Piracy, and Other Dastardly Deeds Perpetrated in the Name of Science by Sam Kean

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Book Review: The Ice Pick Surgeon - Murder, Fraud, Sabotage, Piracy, and Other Dastardly Deeds Perpetrated in the Name of Science by Sam Kean

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This book was thoroughly entertaining … even when it was devastating. I see a lot of memes out in the world about “Trust the Science,” and yes, we should trust science, but we should also remember science is a process. Also, scientists are human. They can be swayed by greed, glory, fame, or politics. We need to trust the process not the people.

This book starts in the age of colonization and works its way up to the present day. It covers a lot of ground, and so doesn’t cover all of the scientific scandals that occurred in my lifetime (the massive fraud that fueled the opioid epidemic, bone marrow transplants for breast cancer, Elizabeth Holmes and Theranos, and the false memory syndrome epidemic are notable for their absence.) But truly, there have been so many scandals just in my 50 years of life, it’s easy to see why not everything could covered. I think this book gives a good overview of the various reasons scientists can do bad things, how they lie to themselves, and how they lie to the public (and those who give grants.)

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Book Review: Only Bad Options (Galactic Bonds Book 1) by Jennifer Estep

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Featured Science Fiction: Only Bad Options (Galactic Bonds Book 1) by Jennifer Estep

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This was the most fun in sci-fantasy fiction I’ve had in a while. If you loved the original Star Wars, but could have had a little more romance (although it is not technically a romance*), I think you’ll like this book. It’s definitely Space Fantasy. There is “magic” and there are also “soul bonds.” It is satisfyingly complicated, and the character development well done. If you’re looking for a fun read this holiday, I highly recommend it.

*Also, this is not blue alien erotica.

Here is the setup:

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Featured Science Fiction: Adventures in Intergalactic Backpacking

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Featured Science Fiction: Adventures in Intergalactic Backpacking

New Release
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***Editor’s note: Bought this. Loved it. It doesn’t take itself too seriously, but isn’t vapid either. If you need a fun, out-of-this-world adventure, this book is it.***

You know what’s worse than being abducted by aliens, poked and prodded, then dumped on a weird planet with nothing but a bag of food pellets and my backpack?

Having to go through all this with Ethan.

He’s the walking stereotype of a rich, privileged dude-bro, and it was the worst day of my life when the aliens grabbed him along with me.

I need to learn how to survive, to find food and shelter and not get eaten by the monsters that roam this place. I need to figure out where I am, and why these aliens keep showing up to gawk and throw canned tuna at me. And I need a cup of coffee. I seriously need a cup of coffee.

Most of all, I need to not kill Ethan, because although he’s a jerk, at least he’s a human jerk. Besides, I might need to trade him for a spaceship ride home.

See all the Box Set List Featured Fantasy | See All Featured Sci-Fi

Book Review: Lilith’s Brood by Octavia Butler

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As of December 4, 2022 $2.99 … check for current price: Amazon US, Amazon UK, Amazon CA, Amazon Au, Amazon DE, Nook, Apple, Kobo, and GooglePlay

Ah, the classic alien abduction for purposes of breeding trope…innocent human women abducted by hot, blue, warlike aliens whom the human women inevitably tame with the power of sexy times.

If you’re looking for that story, Lilith’s Brood by Octavia Butler is not it. Her aliens are not sexy–think giant sea anemone–but they do want to breed. They’re not particular when it comes to male or female.

I recently reviewed Sue Burke’s Semiosis and Interference, and praised those for having genuinely alien voices. Sue’s aliens are very alien, but Butler surpasses even her. This is one of the most disturbing series I have ever read, and I highly recommend it. 

It asks a lot of the biggest questions that sci-fi is so good at addressing. What does it mean to be human? If you sacrifice your humanity in order to survive, have humans survived at all? A great, weird, and wonderful read. I highly recommend it.

Lilith’s Brood is available at Amazon US, Amazon UK, Amazon CA, Amazon Au, Amazon DE, Barnes&Noble, iBooks, Kobo, and GooglePlay