The Conception of Terror is a collection of four short scary stories presented as full-cast audio dramas. From a nightmarish stalking to a teenaged giThe Conception of Terror is a collection of four short scary stories presented as full-cast audio dramas. From a nightmarish stalking to a teenaged girl’s worst fears coming to life with a foster parent to a couple trying to recover after the death of their child to a man who thinks his prep school teacher’s treasure hunt is haunting him as an adult. It’s a unique collection of stories and I enjoyed them.
My only concern was that they’re presented as audio dramas... I’m kinda new to them and a bit mixed in my opinion. I tried Locke & Key a couple years ago and couldn’t get through the first half hour. Dooku: Jedi Lost was decent but I found myself mixing up characters. William Gibson’s Alien III was the first one where the dramatic presentation actually kinda clicked for me even if the story wasn’t all there.
I shouldn’t have worried, though. These four stories were very well directed and presented. All the voice actors involved brought the tales to life better than I could’ve hoped....more
Tom Stranger is an insurance agent who covers people and businesses and everything else that normal insurance agents cover. Except that he does so acrTom Stranger is an insurance agent who covers people and businesses and everything else that normal insurance agents cover. Except that he does so across multiple dimensional versions of Earth. As zany as these alternate realities get. And he’s the best in the biz at it.
Another reviewer likened this to The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy as interpreted by right wing media. Add to it some Christopher Moore wackiness and a 100% lack of discernible plot and I’d say that’s a dead-on review. I’m fairly certain Larry Correia (who appears as himself in multiple dimensions) wrote it with actor Adam Baldwin looking over his shoulder to make sure enough lip service was paid to him to justify narrating the book.
It’s an odd bird.
This was a free download from Audible.com and I fear I may have overpaid. ...more
In the aftermath of their defeat at the hands of the First Order on Crait that has left them with enough crew to populate the Millennium Falcon and noIn the aftermath of their defeat at the hands of the First Order on Crait that has left them with enough crew to populate the Millennium Falcon and not much else, the Resistance is scrambling to re-group while simultaneously attempting to shore up their forces through recruitment. Journey to Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker – Spark of the Resistance highlights one such mission in which the crew of the Falcon receives a distress call from the planet Minfar. Despite orders to the contrary, they head out and are met by the Zixon, to whom they swear they will protect from the First Order who are also on the planet. Our heroes, however, must balance the importance of keeping their word and protecting the Zixon while also knowing that they are shirking direct orders.
In the second book of Disney’s new Star Wars series related to the Galaxy’s Edge theme park, Black Spire focuses on spy Vi Moradi’s attempts to resuscIn the second book of Disney’s new Star Wars series related to the Galaxy’s Edge theme park, Black Spire focuses on spy Vi Moradi’s attempts to resuscitate a flagging Resistance in the days immediately following the eighth film, The Last Jedi. With the New Republic’s central government destroyed by Starkiller Base and their forces all but defeated, Vi is sent by her mentor, General Leia Organa, to seek promising new worlds on which to re-kickstart the Resistance.
In Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge – A Crash of Fate, the first of a new series of books centered around the Black Spire Outpost on the planet Batuu, Jules aIn Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge – A Crash of Fate, the first of a new series of books centered around the Black Spire Outpost on the planet Batuu, Jules and Izzy are the best of friends. They do everything together. And when you’re six and five years old, respectively, living in the last known habitable outpost on the edge of wildspace, you come to rely on having that friend. You need each other.
Star Wars: Alphabet Squadron is the first in a promised trilogy of books focusing on Navy pilots in the years following the Battle of Endor, after theStar Wars: Alphabet Squadron is the first in a promised trilogy of books focusing on Navy pilots in the years following the Battle of Endor, after the Rebellion transitions into being the New Republic. The reason for the naming is because the squadron consists of pilots flying practically every letter-designated ship we’ve ever seen in the Star Wars saga — X-Wing, A-Wing, B-Wing, Y-Wing, and even Rogue One‘s U-Wing.
Alien III? Didn’t that already happen back in the ’90s? By no less than William Gibson, the author of Neuromancer?
Yes, Alien3 was and still is a thingAlien III? Didn’t that already happen back in the ’90s? By no less than William Gibson, the author of Neuromancer?
Yes, Alien3 was and still is a thing. Possibly much to the chagrin of many fans of the franchise. But, before that happened, there was an attempt at a script written by William Gibson (father of see above).
It was only a matter of time, given the hype over the Sandra Bullock-starting Netflix film, that I finally read this novel. As the first in a series oIt was only a matter of time, given the hype over the Sandra Bullock-starting Netflix film, that I finally read this novel. As the first in a series of books, this novel opens on the onset of a plague spreading around the world that makes otherwise normal and healthy humans lose complete control of their minds and bodies and kill themselves often in the most gruesome way available.
What people don’t know is what the cause is. What they do know is that it somehow spreads by sight. Yes, if you go outside with your eyes open, you catch it. So they don’t. They instead wear blindfolds and hope for the best.
Mallory is a pregnant woman whose sister just killed herself in front of her. With nowhere to go and all alone, she answers an ad in one of the last newspapers offering refuge to any survivors. The catch? They have to get there themselves.
This timeline is interspersed with a five-years-future Mallory and two children now outside the refuge house trying to make their way down a river to another safe house.
Moving back and forth between the two stories, we see a juxtaposition of situations, one with a green Mallory facing this new world and one with a more experienced and cynical Mallory protecting the two children she refers to as “boy” and “girl” in an attempt to not give them an identity which could make their likely loss that much more painful.
It’s a very dark and sad tale that really doesn’t give you much hope for humanity. But it’s well written even if a lot of your big questions go unanswered. ...more
Before he was the Count of Serenno, the leader of the Separatist Army and became known as Darth Tyranus, Dooku was a Padawan to Jedi Master Yoda and bBefore he was the Count of Serenno, the leader of the Separatist Army and became known as Darth Tyranus, Dooku was a Padawan to Jedi Master Yoda and best friend to Sifo-Dyas. He also served as a teacher to a young Qui-Gon Jinn before leaving the Jedi Order entirely. This is the Dooku that assassin Asajj Ventress is interested in learning more about and how the story in Star Wars: Dooku: Jedi Lost sets down its roots.
I am neither a lover nor a hater of the Star Wars Prequel Trilogy. I saw each of the three movies in theaters as they were released and I even own a cI am neither a lover nor a hater of the Star Wars Prequel Trilogy. I saw each of the three movies in theaters as they were released and I even own a copy of each on DVD. However, I don’t really watch them regularly and I’m not very familiar with related content, such as The Clone Wars animated series. I don’t identify with them as I do the Original Trilogy or, for that matter, the Sequel Trilogy or the Star Wars Story films. They’re just kinda, well, there.
Hanna is a sweet little girl to almost everyone who meets her. Except to her mother Suzette who, as her 24 hours a day caregiver, knows the truth behiHanna is a sweet little girl to almost everyone who meets her. Except to her mother Suzette who, as her 24 hours a day caregiver, knows the truth behind the façade. She’s a devil and she’s out to make her mom’s life a living hell for coming between her and her beloved father, who is completely oblivious to her darker tendencies.
Suzette now must find anyone sympathetic to her plight that can help her either reform Hanna or get her put away forever before one of them kills the other.
It’s a dark nightmare of a tale about the worst possible parent-child relationship you can imagine. But, for as terrifying a story as I was promised, I felt a little let down. It was a very slow build that never provided as much payoff as I’d hoped. ...more
A very honest and relatable delve into the life of one of the USA’s most well-known and respected First Ladies. Michelle pulls no punches when it comeA very honest and relatable delve into the life of one of the USA’s most well-known and respected First Ladies. Michelle pulls no punches when it comes to describing how she was impacted by major life changes like education, employment, love, children, and politics. It’s nothing earth shattering, but still a good listen. Although, to be honest, she reads her own story rather slowly. I wound up playing it back at 1.25x to save time and don’t feel like the sound quality lost anything at all. ...more
No, before this point in my life, I had never read any of the Oz books. I always wanted to. I just didn’t. So it was a pleasant surprise when an audioNo, before this point in my life, I had never read any of the Oz books. I always wanted to. I just didn’t. So it was a pleasant surprise when an audiobook copy was offered to me for free from iBooks.
The book? It’s amazing to realize just how much different it is from the movie we all know and love. Sure, the essence of it is still there, but a lot of details are changed. No Mrs. Gulch, no ruby slippers (they’re silver), Dorothy is about seven years old instead of 15ish, that sort of thing. But the strangest thing for me was hearing how quickly seemingly major plot points were glossed over. In fact, the story that we all know is basically done by chapter 15 (of 25). So while what we know passes quickly, there is a lot of additional stuff that was left out of the movie. Give and take, I suppose. Still a lot of fun.
This audiobook was narrated by Tituss Burgess of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt fame. And Tituss is amazing. I don’t watch UKS so my familiarity with him is limited to commercials for the show, really. But with what little I knew of him, I had high hopes for his performance and he didn’t let me down. A great, whimsical voice that lends loads of childlike amazement to a story rich with it already. And he does distinguish character voices (unlike other narrators recruited by Apple). Five stars just for the vocal performance. ...more
Do you remember the pirate Hondo Ohnaka from either the Star Wars: Clone Wars or Star Wars: Rebels animated series? You don’t? That’s a little shockinDo you remember the pirate Hondo Ohnaka from either the Star Wars: Clone Wars or Star Wars: Rebels animated series? You don’t? That’s a little shocking. Sure, this Weequay was a background character, but he managed to insinuate himself into some pretty unforgettable sequences, both for better and for worse. I was never much of a fan myself. So imagine my dismay when I tuned into Star Wars: Pirate’s Price only to discover he was the front-and-center character driving the plot?
Yeah, I wasn’t happy. But then I started listening and, I’m going to be honest with you, hearing Jim Cummings bring Hondo to life through a mostly first-person accounting of his multiple times aboard the Millennium Falcon made me come around a bit. I actually kinda like the guy now.
This review relates to the Apple Books audiobook version narrated by Aaron Mahnke of the Lore podcast.
There’s no reason to really get into the detailThis review relates to the Apple Books audiobook version narrated by Aaron Mahnke of the Lore podcast.
There’s no reason to really get into the details of this story as we all know it already. That said, I had waited many years to read this. Always wanted to, never did. I kinda wish I hadn’t. Why? It was such a huge letdown.
This is a 25 chapter, 8.25 hour audiobook that could’ve been better served by being no more than a two-hour short story as Mary Shelley clearly never had to suffer from the pains of working with an editor. I realize this book is 200 years old and language has changed a lot since then but, damn, it’s more than just a little over flowery and verbose. The first act could’ve been cut in half, the second act practically eliminated entirely, and the third act also cut in half or even a third of what it is. I was bored to tears.
Now onto Aaron Mahnke’s narration of it. As a note, I love Mahnke’s Lore podcast and I get that Apple thought with his fascination with the macabre and inexplicable that he might be the perfect choice to read one of the world’s most well-loved horror/science fiction tale. He was not. His voice was so deadpan the entire time. No emotion, no change of timbre or speed, no attempt to give different characters a unique voice. What results is a story that has zero emotion and no way to tell what is internal monologue or external dialogue and no way to tell when one person stops talking and another starts. Combine his performance with the flowery language and I’m stuck in Dullsville, population: me.
I know I’m gonna get some hate for this review but it is, after all, my opinion. I make no apologies for it.
One interesting note, though, after years of being told the monster is not called “Frankenstein” because there is a Dr. Frankenstein and the monster is, therefore, “Frankenstein’s Monster,” it was interesting to hear the doctor, himself, call the monster “Frankenstein.” At least twice. ...more
I've known about Goosebumps books for many years. Probably since they started although it feels like it's been longer. Yet, I never read any of them. I've known about Goosebumps books for many years. Probably since they started although it feels like it's been longer. Yet, I never read any of them. Turns out I wasn't doing too much young adult reading when these were at their peak. Well, with a young son and the recent release of two related movies, it seemed as good a time as any to try one. So I started at the beginning as any good reader should.
Welcome to Dead House is the story of two tween siblings whose family relocates to a small town because they inherited the estate of a heretofore unknown uncle. Almost immediately, the kids uncover odd happenstances both in their new house and the people in the town. If it sounds familiar, it is. It's a tale as old as time… weird town, weird house, children who are more attuned to what's really going on than their parents ever could be. But it's a lot of fun and a quick read (or listen, if you picked up the audiobook like I did).
While I have not yet moved on to book 2 in the series, I would like to. I think my son will be into these sooner than I realize....more
Lale Sokolov is a Slovakian Jew imprisoned at Auschwitz-Birkenau beginning in 1942 at the height of WWII. While there, his multilingualism catches theLale Sokolov is a Slovakian Jew imprisoned at Auschwitz-Birkenau beginning in 1942 at the height of WWII. While there, his multilingualism catches the attention of Nazis running the camp and he is put to work as the Tätowierer — or tattooist — who stamps all prisoners firearms with the numbers that will forever brand them. As the Tätowierer, Lale is given several perks not shared by other prisoners such as being able to spend time with a woman named Gita with whom he had fallen in love. This love carries the two through the next three years of interment until they are rescued by liberating armies.
Based on a true story, the author had recently come under fire for taking creative license with plot details. Honestly, it’s still an enjoyable enough tale if that’s your thing. And this story just wasn’t my thing at this point in my life. ...more
Lando Calrissian has always been one of my favorite characters in the Star Wars universe. He’s a gambler, a swindler, a pilot, a warrior, a general, aLando Calrissian has always been one of my favorite characters in the Star Wars universe. He’s a gambler, a swindler, a pilot, a warrior, a general, and he’s probably the only person that can make Han Solo blush. From that first moment on Bespin in The Empire Strikes Back when Billy Dee Williams faced off with Harrison Ford, that was it for me.
If you’ve seen the Solo movie starring Alden Ehrenreich, Donald Glover, Emilia Clarke, and Woody Harrelson, then you already know the story behind thiIf you’ve seen the Solo movie starring Alden Ehrenreich, Donald Glover, Emilia Clarke, and Woody Harrelson, then you already know the story behind this book. That’s all it is… a book version of what happened in the movie, scene by scene...
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