Science Fiction Books > 10 GBP to 14 GBP Science Fiction Books > a

Will Earth be destroyed?

Advantages: A brilliant read and an escapism novel, A well respected author
Disadvantages: It's Sci-Fi - a disadvantage for me but not in this case!

...to the Oxford English Dictionary, NEMESIS means: 'One that inflicts relentless vengance or destruction.' So in the year 2220 when a new planet is discovered and named Nemesis by the scientist who first saw it you start to wonder about the implications of the new name. 'Nemesis' (the book, not the planet) is set way in the future and although Sci-Fi isn't usually my choice of reading material, this book had me enthralled from the minute I started ...
...terrible discovery is made. Nemesis is travelling at such a speed and in such a direction that in 5000 years it's going to pass close enough to Earth to completely mess up Earths ecological system and this in turn will make Earth uninhabitable. So the Superluminal is now a necessity, Earths people may have to be evacuated..... I can't tell you any more about the story as anything else wil be a spoiler. Does Nemesis complete it's journey of destruction? ...

Fruity_Tart 02.08.2003 · Read full review
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Review of Nemesis - Isaac Asimov

Let the Darkness Swallow You Whole

Advantages: one of the most iconic stories of the genre ever written
Disadvantages: excelnt, but nowhere as great as the original short story

This is one of Asimov's best ever tales, and is based upon a short story he wrote by the same name. That short story was to be one of the most famous and influential short stories of the genre for all time, actually being named as the best science fiction short story ever written. The original short story was written in 1941, and appeared in the September issue of Campbell's Astounding Science Fiction magazine.We have more than just that to thank ...
...quoted Ralph Waldo Emerson to Asimov one day. The quote was, " If the stars should appear one night in a thousand years, how would men believe and adore and preserve for many generations the remembrance of the city of God! " Asimov's response was very apt. What we get in the short story (and the expanded novel version), is a tale of a world that is ringed by multiple suns, so that at no time is it ever in natural darkness. Various professionals ...

Shroud 07.11.2007 · Read full review
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Review of Nightfall - Isaac Asimov

Closer to Heaven

Advantages: Great character building
Disadvantages: A little slow paced for my taste

Fantasy and science fiction are genres that mesh well together. Some authors have written successfully across both genres, but not usually in the same story. Jaine Fenn has managed to combine both in one book and it's an interesting read. One night, a stranger is found lying unconscious in a bog just outside the village of Dangwern. He appears to have come from nowhere and, apart from a strange piece of cloth lying near his naked body, there is nothing ...
...Unfortunately, this includes the stranger himself, as he is suffering from amnesia and has no idea even where he is, much less how he came to be there. Fortunately for Sais, as he is nicknamed, the boy who finds him is "sky touched". This means he is soon to travel to the City of Lights to be tested to see if he is worthy of being a consort of the goddesses. The village elders permit Sais and the boy's mother Kerin to accompany him to see if anyone ...

Soho_Black 19.12.2009 · Read full review
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Review of Consorts of Heaven - Jaine Fenn

It is not just about football!

Advantages: It's very funny, and oh so true!
Disadvantages: None

The Disc, for those who don't know, continues to float in space, supported by the elephants who ride the back of the great swimming turtle A'tuin. The Hub about which the planet spins is a centre of great magic, and best avoided if you want to live a happy and contented life. At the outer perimeter is the great circle sea which unendingly streams over the rim into the void, which is best avoided if you want to continue to live at all. Most Discians ...
...Smeems, for instance, is the Candle Nave at the Unseen University. He has to worry about keeping the candles not just alight, but properly melted, artistically, gothicly, dribbled, as it were. Of course, there's Trevor to help. And there's Nutt. With two t's. Trevor Likely has a tendency to skive off work whenever possible, and to kick a tin can around. His dad was a legend. Nutt is… well, no-one's quite sure what Nutt is, even him. Goblin isn't ...

hiker 07.12.2009 · Read full review
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Review of The Unseen Academicals - Terry Pratchett

From Dead to Worse

Advantages: Good read
Disadvantages: Lots of threads, can be confusing

...A failed attempt of takeover from werewolves in another area results in Alcide becoming the new packleader. This, however, comes with a price which is the death of a few weres in the community including the previous packmaster Patrick, Maria-Star, Alcide’s girlfriend. As for the vampires, the explosion in the vampire summit results in the loss of various main personnel in Queen Sophie’s court and the King of Nevada, Felipe, grabs the opportunity. ...
...Louisiana apart from Eric and his gang. Eric surrenders to the new regime and manages to keep his area. And with Sookie saving the King from the attack of the Sophie’s last surviving child, Eric is slowly gaining the trust of the new King. And as for our heroine Sookie, a surprise meeting with her great-grandfather Niall reveals her heritage of being part-fairy. This completes Andre’s discovery of Sookie having fairy blood. And also explains the ...

medgenie 21.11.2009 · Read full review
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Review of From Dead to Worse - Charlaine Harris