September Spotlight
THE SWARM. Volume One of the Second Formic War. Orson Scott Card. Aaron Johnston. TOR.
Cover courtesy of TOR.
The Fall season emerges with this notable novel from Orson Scott Card and Aaron Johnston. In volume one of the trilogy, we find ourselves in the midst of the Second Formic War. The Formic is intent on erasing all life forms from earth. Although the Formic’s first attempted invasion was extinguished by an amalgamation of military forces together with the Chinese army, it is obvious to all nations that this threat is not going away. Now, new fighter-ships are aimed at earth, immune to any and all existing lines of defense. Nations are scrambling to build a weapon to protect their very existence. In The Swarm, Card and Johnston have created an edge-of-the-seat fantasy thriller featuring real-time characters that embody the best and worst of the human condition. Will earthlings be able to suspend their dark plotting codes of self-interest and come together to save the planet? It’s a question all Americans should be asking themselves as we hover at the precipice of the most important presidential election of the last 50 years.
Also of Note From TOR
MIRROR IMAGE. Michael Scott and Melanie Ruth Rose. TOR.
Cover courtesy of TOR.
Mirror Image is a suspense-thriller worthy of Stephen King and Alfred Hitchcock. Here, we meet Los Angeles antique dealer Johnathan Frazer who has happened upon a valuable antique mirror at an auction. However, this is no mere antique. This mirror is alive and it shelters an array of spirits who thirst for the blood of the world.
On the Audio Watch
TRULY MADLY GUILTY. Liane Moriarty. Macmillan Audio.
Cover courtesy of Macmillan Audio.
This is an incredibly layered book that delves deep into the ordinary face of the human condition to test our collective foundation: guilt and sin; penance and redemption. The story introduces us to six people and their three children who’ve come together for a weekend. Much like we all do on our precious day breaks, these folks are just trying to get away from their busy lives for a few hours and re-ignite their batteries. But for Sam and Clementine, this break changes them drastically (as the storm that follows them home attests). Moriarty does a brilliant job at dissecting the concept of relationships and nailing her readers to the wall, compelling us to reveal what we’re hiding from our spouses and lovers – and from ourselves. Read by Caroline Lee, whose captivating performance brings the faces on the page to everlasting life. 17 hours on 14 CDS.
Also of Note From Macmillan Audio
COLLECTING THE DEAD. Spencer Kope. Macmillan Audio.
Cover courtesy of Macmillan Audio.
Magnus “Steps” Craig is on the trail of a killer who’s murdered a young woman. Along the way, he is reintroduced to a murderer he’s been after for a decade. Kope, a real-life crime analyst for the sheriff’s office in Whatcom County (Washington state), has an undeniable talent for giving shape and substance to the criminal mind. This true crime is Elmore Leonard good. Read by P.J. Ochlan. 10.5 hours on 9 CDS.
Electric Review 