Tag Archives: Watch The Skies

Unexpected Shore Leave

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This post was originally published in the July 2026 edition of Watch The Skies.

This past weekend I had the opportunity to attend a portion of Shore Leave, a fan run convention that has been around for a very long time. I hadn’t ever been to Shore Leave. It had always been in my peripheral vision, but the emphasis on media guests never held appeal to me. I hadn’t planned the trip, but the invitation was too good to pass up.

The convention itself looked to be running smoothly. The registration tables didn’t have lines. The lobby was buzzing with activities. There was even an attraction set up under the entry canopy out front. Cosplay had a very strong presence here – and the outfits were on point. I saw such effort and obvious care it was impressive. The myriad activities were all laid out on an easy to read grid. The convention also had a big blood drive going on, and while I was unable to participate I was glad to see it so prominently displayed.

There was a big area that was specifically for the media stars. I did not stand in line to talk to any of them nor purchase photos and autographs, but it was a decent showing for what I could see. They were all placed with space for lines, with large banners making them easy to locate. Fans seemed to be having a great time chatting and swapping stories.

The vendor area was bigger than I was expecting. There were bunches of people and any time I was in there it always seemed busy. While I didn’t chat with a large sample of vendors, those I did speak with seemed to be moderately happy with how sales were going for the weekend. There was an excellent variety of fan made things, books, toys and collectibles lined up and waiting to catch your eye.

The panels seemed well attended, though there was one that was a bit of a bust while I was there. I got to participate in one of the crafting workshops. I listened in on some interesting tidbits from authors and editors and got to hear a couple of funny stories along the way. In all, a well attended panel series.

There was a game room, though I didn’t spend much time there. There was an art show, but it was smaller than I had hoped. It was tucked back in a corner behind the celebrity area (and the entry was at one point partially blocked by an overflowing autograph line). The art on display was really nice and all of it high quality, there just wasn’t much of it.

Shore Leave hadn’t been on my radar before, but now that I’ve been I suspect I’ll be going back for more!

Space Opera!

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Artifact Space by Miles Cameron

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Potential Spoilers.

I read, and did very much enjoy this book. The pace didn’t slow down and there was plenty of action. A true space opera. The world building / universe building was well done. The actions of the book clearly changed based on other things happening outside the main character and her sphere of influence.

I have two main quibbles with this book.

The first is names. Having names, ranks and alternate pronouns gave everyone about 6 different combinations of name that are all used at various times, sometimes in multiple forms on the same page. There were times when I just couldn’t figure out who the hell was talking or being spoken to and it pulled me out of the flow of the story. One or two names or alternates per character might have been easier.

The second is the end. This book is not the same as some other transgressors I have read in the past – they did not commit the unforgivable sin of just stopping without any conclusion as if the back half of the book just fell out of the binding. That said, the great ship reaches the point where they’re going to complete their trade mission (the goal) and then it stops. I understood going in that this was a trilogy. I was hoping that the first book would stand alone and the others would be ‘more’ but not necessarily mandatory. That is not the case.

I am on the fence about getting the next one. We’ll see. If you like space opera, this is worth a read.



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King Sorrow

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I’m keeping this review on my website and not leaving it on Goodreads because it’s likely to be longer than what Goodreads wants. It is also going to have SPOILERS in it. Also, I want to retain control, own it and have it be totally mine, much the same as many of the things on my website. I want to be able to come back to this later. Using a website run by someone else, particularly something like a Goodreads, there’s no guarantee that I can come back to this later. By later I mean it could be next week, next year, or 5 years from now. Saying Goodreads will be there or accessible in the way that it is now (particularly since it’s in the realm of Amazon now) is a risk.

This book was a selection (by me – more on that soon) for Watch The Skies.

Description:


Arthur Oakes is a reader, a dreamer, and a student at Rackham College, Maine, renowned for its frosty winters, exceptional library, and beautiful buildings. But his idyll—and burgeoning romance with Gwen Underfoot—is shattered when a local drug dealer and her partner corner him into one of the worst crimes he can imagine: stealing rare books from the college library.

Trapped and desperate, Arthur turns to his closest friends for comfort and help. Together they dream up a wild, fantastical scheme to free Arthur from the cruel trap in which he finds himself. Wealthy, irrepressible Colin Wren suggests using the unnerving Crane journal (bound in the skin of its author) to summon a dragon to do their bidding. The others—brave, beautiful Alison Shiner; the battling twins Donna and Donovan McBride; and brainy, bold Gwen—don’t hesitate to join Colin in an effort to smash reality and bring a creature of the impossible into our world.

Apology first – I’m sorry. That description? That’s what I saw, and it’s listed as ‘fantasy’. Old fashioned sword and sorcery (right, wrong or indifferent) has been lumped in with science fiction and is part of what we pick for our reading list. Goodreads presented this as dark fantasy. Let’s call them flexible about what categorization they use for where this book fits. It was presented as dark fantasy and the description didn’t contain anything about time frame or setting (or didn’t specifically state modern versus quasi-medieval). It could be implied modern by way of having college students, but I’ve read many portal fantasy stories involving college kids. This formed my expectation. I expected some kind of traditional portal fantasy where characters from the book end up going through a portal into some sort of fantasy world that contains the dragon touted in the description.

Nothing in the original description of the book puts it in a modern horror with fantasy elements category. It was pointed out to me it is a portal fantasy, just not in the direction I was expecting. The portal was just headed in the other direction. And the story was filled with horror.

The starting point then, is this book didn’t meet my expectations. Right out the gate, I’m not happy. That is not necessarily someone’s fault, or more accurately, that is a marketing thing. They made the sale. I definitely blame the book companies for that.

The other piece of the puzzle is… and this is my fault… I had no idea who the author was when I picked it. I didn’t understand who Joe Hill is, and definitely didn’t realize that Joe Hill is Stephen King’s son. If I had known that I would have expected something closer to what Stephen King writes. Modern horror. That would have affected my expectation. Because they didn’t present it that way, and I didn’t know, that’s how I get to the choice. That’s the book selection and the overall ‘how I got here’ portion of this (which I think is probably very rambly). As for the story itself there were a couple of pieces that I want to cover.

First, it’s unclear who the protagonist is. There’s one protagonist at the beginning, or maybe Arthur is our protagonist, except that he’s killed about two-thirds of the way through the book. In fact, almost the entire group of people you might consider protagonists die. This is a horror eliminator movie. That’s the best analogy I can come up with. The sort of horror film where you have a group of people the only question is how many die before the end of the book. Even the Alien series had Ripley. Strike one.

Second, in a piece where the protagonist is unclear, shouldn’t the antagonist stand out? Be particular or unique? Not here. The antagonist is unclear as well. The initial thought is the dragon. Turns out the dragon may or may not be real and is essentially just a weapon. The antagonist is actually one of the members of the college student group who are being eliminated. I say that that’s the case, that he’s the antagonist, but he dies before the end too. Hero or anti-hero does not apply to any of them. They are a whole stack of gray areas who mostly die. That could be okay, even though not my favorite, except it’s hard to find a particular person to identify with. The point of view character changes from book to book. This monster volume is made up of smaller books. The point of view changes depending on which part of the book you’re in. I struggle with that under some circumstances, but this is on top of already not meeting my expectations. Strike two.

While I thought fantasy (aka sword and sorcery), this was modern day America. The events mixed into the story included terrorist attacks and bombings and all of the sort of things that I don’t want when I’m going to read for entertainment. If I’m reading fantasy (or anything other than the news) I don’t want it to be filled with the news! Another piece that bothers me is that while the book is set over a number of decades, a lot of those news events were things from my lifetime, things that I was aware of as an adult. I remember the Oklahoma City bombing. I don’t find it fiction worthy. Not interested. Strike three.

Trying to balance out the negative a little, I think the characters were very real. They were believable. They weren’t as likable as I would hope, but they were real. The portion of the book where the twins taken by a vague but menacing government agency was quite real feeling. It should have been shorter, but it was real enough.

At well at over 800 pages this just took so much time. I couldn’t file it to DNF, it was *my* pick. I did want to know what happened. Wanting the outline or idea of what happens wasn’t enough and meant I was not enthusiastic about dragging myself through that many pages. IF you’re thinking of picking this one up, understand that it’s a modern horror doorstop (daunting at best). The characters are strong, but not likable. The vague but menacing government agency is just as scary as the monster. I should have done better doing my homework before I got to part where I picked this.

Lastly, I do think this could work if made into a movie or a limited series. I would be interested in seeing how they do this on film, who the actors would be that they pick and how they’d handle the dragon. There’s a lot of potential there. There are a number of very visual aspects of this that would play really well on screen. Maybe something will come of it ~ I know they have adopted other works from Joe Hill. Locke and Key and Black Phone come to mind. I suppose more positive reviews would help move something to the screen, but I’m sure the author will be just fine without me.

Tainted

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The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This is actually the third book series I’ve started from this author. I think that alone says something about the quality of his writing.

I might not have picked this one up, but it was a book club selection. I’m glad somebody picked it.

I don’t remember if there are spoilers in here – be warned! The characters were very believable. The world building was excellent (more on that in a minute). The ‘magic’ system was actually really interesting. Altering a person genetically via the blood of a dead kaiju is a super neat idea. There’s no real explanation of why the kaiju come or why they are battled, but it is part of the world, and accepted by the characters. Tying perfect recall memory to the sense of smell makes so much sense! I particularly enjoyed that it was something that got an explanation and then the continuation of noting it. Not a small detail to be lost as the story moves along!

Back to the world building. In the book club discussion somebody suggested that this world might be tied to the world of Foundryside. This is just later, when people have actually figured out the way to alter bodies and make it stick (and function). I have my doubts that this is the case, but I won’t rule it out.

I’ll be getting the second book to see what’s up next!



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Goliath

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Goliath by Tochi Onyebuchi

My rating: 1 of 5 stars


I don’t want people to be put off by a 1 star review here. There are times when something is simply ‘not for you’. There are a lot of people out there that can’t accept that, but it’s true. Some things don’t relate or aren’t a shared… anything. I felt (a little bit) the same way about Black Panther when that movie first came out. There are parts (maybe the whole thing) that simply aren’t for me. Never were.

I suspect this is part of the reason I couldn’t struggle through the book. It might be an important book. Some people might find it to be the most wonderful or influential or whatever thing… but I am not one of those people.

I could not muster any relation to, nor any positive feelings for these characters. The situation may have been ‘real’ but it didn’t feel right to me. I just stopped because it did nothing good for me. That does NOT mean it might not be for you. Maybe it would be? Dunno – but I have other books to get to.



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Not My Sci-Fi – Updated!

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This article was originally published in Watch The Skies, the April 2026 edition. This is actually the third time I’ve reviewed and rewritten this list. I suspect these will continue to change in the future.

One of the Watchers asked recently, “if you were going to recommend one book to start somebody off who wants to read science fiction, what would that book be?”

I had actually written a piece about this before but this is a topic that deserves an update. The sheer number of books published during any given month, let alone year, is impossible for an individual to keep up with. Having a solid recommendation from a friend goes a long way. I went hunting and found nothing in my own archive, but I did track down the original eventually.

NOT MY SCI FI – UPDATED

When my mother told me that her book of the month club steadfastly refused to read anything from science fiction, my immediate reaction was to become defensive of my favorite genre. How could any book club worthy of the name deny such a massive portion of today’s literature? Didn’t they realize that science fiction stories are the basis for 4 of the top 5 grossing movies of all time? How could anyone deny such a pervasive part of society, not just literature?

The more I pondered this, the clearer the answer became. Today’s society has attached a stigma to the terminology “science fiction”. Say those two words and the image conjured is that of an overweight middle aged man with an ill fitting 60’s style space uniform, and badly done prosthetic ears, quoting Gene Rodenberry.

“This is not my science fiction!” the voice inside me hollered.

Then it hit me. This is science fiction from my mother’s generation. If it’s what my mother identifies with, then it’s likely the same image is shared among her contemporaries.

Now is my big chance! After stating my personal disbelief, I have been granted an opportunity to defend the faith! I have been challenged to put forth a list of science fiction novels for the next selection of the book club.

I wrote that some years ago and published it in Watch The Skies. I have actually cut off the recommendations I gave them. In the time since then, my recommendations and my personal tastes have grown and changed. I also want to include works that can serve as an introduction for younger folks who are searching for something to read. Inclusion is an important aspect of many parts of genre fiction these days. This list will encompass fantasy and science fiction. The two parts have been paired for so long they have become inseparable.

I have read all of these books, many of them more than once. OK, most of them… fine. All of them, more than once. I’ve included a little of my thought process on each of them. These are all great books to get somebody started in science fiction or fantasy. I recommend all of these works – especially if you know somebody looking for an introduction.

The Hobbit – Tolkien, J.R.R.

This is the novel started it all for me. It is masterfully done. The key here is that it is meant to be read out loud to someone else. That method of delivery can make all the difference. Find an unabridged audio book – that IS reading it! This is a classic and deservedly so. I would also recommend staying as far away from the film adaptations as possible. Those simply failed after the first half hour of film.

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children – Riggs, Ransom

Digging up odd old photos and creating the stories behind them. This is a paranormal / portal fantasy type book with an easy to access story. Following the main character as he navigates the ins and outs of the abandoned orphanage and all the curious, odd and outright scary images that go along with his travels makes for a great story. There are also a series of wonderful illustrations to supply vivid imagery. This is another work adapted into a film. As with most films, I recommend reading the book first.

The Martian – Weir, Andy

This book is truly science fiction. Take away the science and the story collapses. The parts of this book that ring true are likely because the author studied how the space travel aspects and orbital mechanics of the planets work. Despite having a large amount of that kind of content, it’s a fast and engaging read. This is yet another selection that has had a film adaptation made. Definitely read the book before seeing the film.

Steelheart– Sanderson, Brandon

For the comic book fans and the folks that like all the Marvel Cinematic Universe this is a book you should read. What if normal people are given super powers? What if those people are jerks? How do you fight a super human? I love the way Mr. Sanderson’s work reads. This is an engaging and believable story all the way. Well worth digging into.

The Red : First Light – Nagata, Linda

I will not lie, I envy the way Ms. Nagata writes. This is not the only work of hers I have read. She is an excellent author and this is a thought-provoking book. The story is set in the future where for profit wars and defense industry causes are what soldiers are involved in. This contains a lot of military elements along with the future tech for readers out there looking for some action and some excitement. When you read this, be prepared to finish out the series.

Fart Quest – Reynolds, Aaron

This last work is actually a children’s book. I felt it was important to have something that could fill that need and this book is both fun and a gateway into role playing games. Is the title childish? Of course it is. Meet them where they are, but allow them to want more. The cover illustration is great and so is all the interior artwork. It’s quick, it’s easy and is a great way to get a disinterested kid into reading.

Hopefully you’ll find something worthy on the list that will allow you to connect with somebody over a good book. Happy reading!

Time Shifting

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This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I suspect it will shock some people who know and repeatedly hear about my penchant for simpler hero stories and books that go boom, I very much enjoyed this book.

Is it flowery, poetic and romantic? Yes. It is all those things and more. It has a longing in it that the author brings out in each of the characters. So different, yet not really that different at all. When one is deeply involved in a thing, sometimes the only other who can truly understand is also deeply involved in the same thing. Being on opposite sides becomes academic when there aren’t any others who share the profound depth of knowledge and experience.

I can’t match the language skills of the authors, but I will say I enjoyed this elevated text. Love is not easy, and neither is the relationship in this story. The delivery methods for messages were fascinating. One that still stands out is, “…burn before reading…”. Time shifting stories often get trapped in a cycle of what if scenarios and technicalities, but this story only hints at the full background and gives just enough to make it believable. In the end, the simplest clues and the smallest actions give pause to the reader and concern for the relationship, while showing hints of a deepening love.

An excellent book. Absolutely recommend to the romantics out there.



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Black Leopard, not read wolf~

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Black Leopard, Red Wolf by Marlon James

My rating: 1 of 5 stars


I put this work into the same category as I do many other works that win awards for reasons beyond my understanding. I don’t get it. I am clearly not the right audience for this work. Part of my dislike is the writer’s style. Part of my dislike is the sexual violence. Part of my dislike is the main character… I just don’t connect. I gave this more than one shot, but just never got past about chapter 4 or 5.

I will say this title did provide for interesting discussion among the members of our club. Interesting discussion is about as far as I can recommend it.



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Something I did not add to my Goodreads review is the artwork I created based on whatever inspiration I could find in the portion of the book I did read. The visuals of this mystic tree and following various forms of a being through the mist did help me create this work. It was also nice that I got some small amount of feedback on the art. IF I can create something and it provides enough of a mood or a feeling that you are compelled to comment that’s a good sign.

Small and Angry

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The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I don’t know if 3 stars is enough ~ I think 3.5 is closer to where I am. This was a smoothly written book with very believable characters. I did enjoy it.

I wonder if it is more of a character study than an adventure story? This is part of my hesitancy with the full on liking. The characters are great but this feels like a small piece of something much bigger and it doesn’t seem like we’re getting more than “hey, this was our adventure”. Even when I read the teaser for the next book, it seemed like this one was just done. The next book doesn’t seem to have any of the same people.

To be entirely fair, I do like stand alone books. This is fantastic for that, but there are a number of things that I wanted more of and questions that I didn’t think were answered. Still good.



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Founding Member – Dear Crabby

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This was originally written for and published in the Watch The Skies Fanzine, the August 2025 edition.

In the time since our last issue, one of our longest standing members passed away. Rebecca Hardenbrook was with the group since the beginning, though her attendance at the physical meetings had been less in recent months. She read, debated and laughed her way through many of the groups reading choices. She attended the extra events like movies or watch parties and was a long standing convention attendee as well. She latched onto fandom and wouldn’t let go, even going as far to publish some fan fiction on Archive of Our Own.

It came as a surprise to some that she was the voice behind a long running piece in Watch The Skies titled “Dear Crabby”. The concept being that of an advice column, similar to Dear Abbey, but with science fiction related themes and… less than political responses. The questions and responses ran from 2014 all the way into 2022.

To quote another member of the group, “I remember how fearless Beck was and how that one particular smile would begin to grow as she listened to someone full of themselves or just didn’t have a solid sense of reality. It would form on her face like an archer pulling back on their bow, and I knew whatever she launched at the person would be DEVASTATING, but in the most loving way imaginable. She did not suffer bullies or fools.”

Crabby’s identity was a loosely guarded secret so that nobody would feel unjustly targeted or as if the response to their question was a personal attack… well, no more than would be expected from an advisor whose monicker literally meant irritable.

From “I hate to make light of the situation but, does it matter?” in response to a question about smashing photons in an experiment to “you do realize that life on other planets could conceivably consist of what amounts to a sentient mold, right?” when responding to a question about UFOs and visitors from other planets, Crabby’s responses had something for everyone along the way. That something might have been thoughtful, or it might have been thoughtful combined with acidic, but the responses were genuinely her own. The archive of her work is still on the Watch The Skies page dedicated to her HERE.

Rebecca will be missed. This world, and those others populated by fandom are less without her.