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“Foresight” by M. R. Forbes – Mankind Erased

September 17, 2021 by David ben Efraim

“Foresight” by M. R. Forbes (Header image)

Estimated reading time: 7 minutes

M.R. Forbes has settled into the science-fiction genre like the comfortable home it ought to be for someone so immersed in the subject, having already explored quite a few interesting ideas in a relatively short amount of time. In Foresight, the first book in the Forgotten Space series, we follow the story of a test pilot desperately trying to save a tiny remnant of humanity (largely limited to his family) from an invasion, with only an experimental spaceship at his disposal.

“The Prague Cemetery” by Umberto Eco – No Rest for the Jews

September 15, 2021 by David ben Efraim

“The Prague Cemetery” by Umberto Eco (Header image)

Estimated reading time: 7 minutes

Umberto Eco is an author who has earned the right to write just about anything he wishes, and one of his more recent novels, The Prague Cemetery, he has taken it upon himself to write about a complex subject, hardly explicable in a sentence. In short, it follows a man responsible for creating conspiracies and spinning webs of prejudice as he tries to recollect his past and the event which led him to lose his memory.

“The Shining” by Stephen King – The Horror Genre Redefined

September 11, 2021 by David ben Efraim

“The Shining” by Stephen King (Header image)

Estimated reading time: 7 minutes

Stephen King has added nearly innumerable chapters to his legacy over the past few decades, but I still firmly believe none of his new works can hold a candle to the classics which defined him, such as The Shining. Having defined the horror genre in its time, the novel tells the story of a caretaker and his family stuck in a haunted hotel, slowly driven insane by its paranormal inhabitants.

“Nine Days in Vegas” by Brian O’Sullivan – The Investigator’s Instinct

September 8, 2021 by David ben Efraim

“Nine Days in Vegas” by Brian O'Sullivan (Header image)

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

Brian O’Sullivan has put Quint Adler through three cases already, but only in this fourth one, titled Nine Days in Vegas, does he finally take up the official mantle of private investigator. His first case has him travelling to Sin City in search of Emmy Peters, a missing showgirl from a rich family, who also happened to be an aspiring novelist.

“A Spy Among Friends” by Ben Macintyre – Decades of Treachery

September 5, 2021 by David ben Efraim

“A Spy Among Friends” by Ben Macintyre (Header image)

Estimated reading time: 8 minutes

Ben Macintyre has an evidently profound interest in the world of espionage, as evidenced by his large number of non-fiction books in the matter. In A Spy Among Friends, one of his bestselling books, he explores the life, relationships, thoughts and actions of Kim Philby, a British MI6 agent who spied for the Soviet Union for over three decades before being successfully extracted.

“Constance” by Matthew FitzSimmons – A Clone’s Purpose

August 18, 2021 by David ben Efraim

“Constance” by Matthew FitzSimmons (Header image)

Estimated reading time: 7 minutes

Matthew FitzSimmons has broken through on the literary scene with the Gibson Vaughn series not long ago, and has recently begun a new one, with the first entry simply titled Constance. It follows the story of a woman’s clone who tries to unravel the mystery behind her lost memories while also investigating the murder of her original self. In her search for the truth though, she becomes marked for death all over again.

“Revelation Space” by Alastair Reynolds – The Watchers from Afar

August 15, 2021August 12, 2021 by David ben Efraim

“Revelation Space” by Alastair Reynolds (Header image)

Estimated reading time: 7 minutes

Alastair Reynolds has written more than a few epic science-fiction books over the course of his career, but it all began with the widely-acclaimed Revelation Space, marking the start of The Inhibitor Trilogy. It follows the story of a scientist-archaeologist who discovers an ancient alien artifact pointing to the existence of beings who put contingency measures in place should civilizations reach certain technological advancements.

“On the Farm” by Stevie Cameron – The Botched Investigations

August 15, 2021August 9, 2021 by David ben Efraim

“On the Farm” by Stevie Cameron (Header image)

Estimated reading time: 7 minutes

Stevie Cameron has dedicated many years of her life to following and investigating the crimes of the North American serial killer who would eventually be identified as Robert William Pickton. In her book titled On the Farm, she unravels the sordid story behind the man and his victims, based not only on official police material, but also her personal experience with the case, even including some elements which never made it into official transcripts.

“All Our Wrong Todays” by Elan Mastai – Predictability and Chaos

September 11, 2021August 6, 2021 by David ben Efraim

all-our-wrong-todays-elan-mastai-header-final

Estimated reading time: 7 minutes

Elan Mastai has taken a bit of time before moving from screenplays to novels, taking the leap in 2017 with the publication of the novel All Our Wrong Todays, the film rights for which have already been optioned by Paramount Pictures. It follows the story of Tom, living in a utopic universe alternate to ours, and his accidental journey to the year 2016 of our own reality, which he comes to interpret as a dystopian wasteland.

“Where Eagles Dare” by Alistair MacLean – Schemes Within Plans

August 15, 2021August 4, 2021 by David ben Efraim

“Where Eagles Dare” by Alistair MacLean (Header image)

Estimated reading time: 7 minutes

Alistair MacLean is one of those authors whose works were begging to be adapted to the silver screen, something he helped realize with his screenwriting talents. Where Eagles Dare is likely his most acclaimed work, following the story of Major Smith and his tiny group of commandos, parachuted behind enemy lines to break a general out of a Nazi fortress in the mountains. However, the mission is just a cover, and a much more insidious game is being played by both sides.