“Best Stuff on the Internet this week? I don’t believe you, Andy.” So you say.
I can hardly wait to prove it to you. Let’s begin with this.
There are many famous doctors who aren’t on this chart: Doc EE Smith, of pulp science fiction fame, Dr. Crusher from Star Trek, and Dr. Smith from ‘Lost In Space’. Tell me more! Tell me where they should go on this chart. For each one you name, you get a free audiobook from me. My audiobooks are below:
Next, you have this amazing technological breakthrough:
For a little context, I’ve been reading about fusion technology since my teens in the 70s. It’s always been 20 years away–even today. But this technology involves fusing boron hydride using laser beams. Once fusion starts, it’ll keep going. Will it work or will it be another dead end? You tell me.
On the wacky side of life imitating art, we have rocket propulsion by explosion. Let me know if you’ve read Jerry Pournelle’s book Lucifer’s Hammer and I’ll send you an audiobook of your choice.
Now I have two videos for you, both astonishing. First, check out this one:
Did you ever think you’d live to see a rickshaw pulled by a robotic dog? That sounds like a steampunk premise to me.
Best Stuff (Free) That I’ve Found
Let me give you some free stuff before I go, the best I’ve found. The next item is a free short fiction by fellow author Jane Jago. If you like ghost stories mixed with Urban Fantasy, you’ll love this.
I met Jane Jago on the SciFi Roundtable. Here you can get a sampling of the writers from that group for free:
More Stuff for Free
I won’t make you click through for the review. Read it here:
What happens when differently-abled people become super-abled? Andy Zach tells that story in this short (100 page) novel.
From the back of the book:
“Jeremy Gentle fell flat on his face at therapy. That was normal since he had cerebral palsy. But his new superpower wasn’t normal. Then things got weirder when his best friend, Dan Elanga, got a different superpower. But Dan was still blind.
Kayla Verdera and Aubrey Wilcosky, two girls in their middle-school special ed class, discovered they too had new superpowers. Kayla was mute and needed a walker. Aubrey lost two legs and used crutches. But they were as powerful as the boys.
What should the four friends do? Jeremy knew if the word got out, it’d be a media circus. Then they started fighting crime, as the Secret Supers. Who knew a disability could be a perfect disguise? No one would ever think of disabled kids as superheroes. Then they ran into problems they never expected.”
Secret Supers is perfect for kids, ages 8-12 who have special needs, siblings with special needs, or just live on planet earth. Along with diversity in race, income, and culture, we also work to introduce our kids to people who are different than them. This book tells the story of four amazing kids who gain superpowers and how they learn about themselves.
5 Funny and Weird Things I Found while cruising on the internet. I scan through the internet every day. If something tickles my fancy, I post it. Let me know if this tickles YOUR fancy and I’ll give you an audiobook of your choice. Here they are:
Who wouldn’t like a bouquet of dragonettes? I’m sorry I can’t give each of you one. But how about this?
This is your chance to enter this contest
What contest? This one:
Fellow author C.L. Cannon’s giving away books. Find out how to win $200 worth. Click above.
I’m part of this contest, so you can win one of my books too!
Your Second Funny/Weird Thing
Now You’re in the Middle of 5 Funny and Weird Things
Man, there are so many angles to this story! I could write about the insurance claim on the damaged/dead robot. I could write about a robotic lawyer suing the car company, who is defended by another robotic lawyer. Or I could write about a robot mortuary. What would you like to read? Let me know.
Heading Around the Fourth Weird/Funny Bend . . .
There’s a story behind this one. I read Heinlein”s “Methusaleh’s Children” when I was 12. It begins with an exciting chase scene where the hero has a ‘tricar’–a car that can fly and is amphibious, even operating as a submarine. I loved that. I still love amphibious cars, airplane cars, and flying boats. Fifty-two years later.
Then, simply email me at [email protected] or via this website. Be sure to tell me which books you want: one, two, three, or four.
5 Funny Things My 4 free audiobooks
Now, I have one more book that becomes an audiobook this year: Oops! Tales From the Zombie Turkey Apocalypse. I just have a paperback or ebook for you. Signed, of course.
If you don’t like to click links, I’ve got my review here:
The most surprising thing about Uncompromising Honor (Honor Harrington, #14) by David Weber is that he finally closes the series after 14 novel. The book has its usual elements: great space battles, other military aspects and politics, plus continuing character development of Honor and her friends and enemies.
I felt well satisfied at the end of the novel. Perhaps the best aspect is that not every plot thread was tied up. I was surprised at one or two elements that were left hanging. Those who want more in the Honorverse have hope for other series after the events in the book.
“The Paper Magician” exposed me to Charlie Holmberg’s writing for the first time, and I’m enchanted. The magical system is unique: each magician must bond to one manmade material and forever afterward, use that material for their magic.
Paper magicians are looked down upon. Their magic is based upon the weakest and most common material, not iron or steel or bronze. Ceony, a bright, promising magical student is forced into paper magic because the country only has twelve of them. She agrees reluctantly because her non-magical prospects are bleak.
She begins her apprenticeship with the peculiar and unconventional Emery Thane and quickly learns techniques that show paper magic has far more than meets the eye.
Then disaster strikes and the last half of the book turns into a desparate race against time and battles against magicians dealing with forbidden magic: Excisors who work magic with human flesh.
Ms. Holmberg deftly weaves humor and horror into her plot, along with vivid characterizations of good and bad people.
Set in an alternate world of steampunk 1900 England, this fantasy has everything to recommend it
I re-read this book for the third time, the first time since I became an author, and I love it even more!
This is the first book in Terry Pratchett’s Disk World series, so he sets up his magical system (magic is a color of light), his fantasy world (a flat world on the back of four elephants, standing on the back of a space turtle) and his characters (Rincewind, a magician with only one spell he can’t use. Cowardly and good at running away) (Twoflower, a classic tourist, with limitless chest of gold, no fear, and endless curiosity), (The Luggage, a suitcase with legs, mage of sapient pearwood, invulnerable and clever). And those three are merely the protagonists.
I won’t spoil any of the insane plot, but suffice it to say, Pratchett satirizes nearly every fantasy trope and many conventions of our current culture.
As an author, I love getting reviews–except bad reviews. Enjoy my favorite reviews of 2019. If you want to review one of my books, just let me know and I’ll give you a free ebook or audiobook.
Reviewed in the United States on June 12, 2019 Format: Kindle Edition
Loved the title and the text lived above expectations. In-law problems usually plague couples but adjustment was easier than expected when they have red eyes and are zombies. Now mind you, that’s a big step but these are some interesting choices to be faced by a new zombie. Should I be treated and cured or accept the regenerative benefits and use the problem to solve world problems?
Well, we soon learn the results and they couldn’t be more humorous or worldly than problems we face in the world today. Loved the author’s twist of life askew and quirky “what if” theories. Great for a consuming nonstop read than can’t help but offer uplifted spirits in the reader themselves.
Andy Zach has out done himself. Paranormal Privateers has it all! Follow all your favorite Andy characters as they save the world. Full of action that just zings from one scene to the next, leaving you on the edge of your seat. Yet tender.
Andy incorporates romance in a way that makes you a believer. And of course the Queen of England is here in all her glory. Yet Andy’s writing is not all fun and games, he has a way with words that reach your heart. Follow him and the zombie bulls as they rip through Harrod’s china department and feel as though you have been there yourself.
I am certain you will love this book.
Who should read it: Anyone who has a sense of adventure, all zombie lovers, romance readers who want a new slant, and travel readers who want to take an armchair trip.
Would it make a good gift? Yes, the Life After Life Chronicles would all be great gifts! Something that will make the recipient laugh out loud while clinging to the edge of their seat!
Jacqueline Gillam Fairchild–owner, Her Majesty’s English Tea Room. Author: Greater Expectations.
Reviewed in the United States on January 21, 2020 Format: Kindle Edition
I loved this book, not only the storyline but the very special kids in it. It was wonderful to read how the kids worked together to support each other, but also solve social problems in the neighborhood. Their fundraising for the school district to keep the disabled kids in their own schools was a huge task, but important enough to try. It was wonderful to read about their successes!!
Reviewed in the United States on January 2, 2020Format: Kindle Edition
Oops! Tales of the Zombie Turkey Apocalypse by Andy Zach is a collection of short stories and as the clue is in the title, the theme is zombies. And boy do they come in a variety of different shapes and sizes.
The book starts with three stories that are a starter and not in the zombie genre. Firstly, you are introduced to a world where nothing is heard. Then we move on to finding an elusive phoenix and trying to use its DNA for breeding. Lastly, we have a story about a time-traveling wheelchair.
Then we jump straight into zombies. From zombie pickles to zombie service dog corgis, to zombie models and even zombies in a nursing home. There is a timeline thread running through the stories where characters that create something or meet someone bring them into a later story. And all of this in a world where becoming a zombie is as easy as ordering blood online!
After each story, the author explains where he got his ideas from, and since in his bio he claims both his parents were zombies, he must be an expert on all things undead. The author has a very quick mind and some of the quips and plays on words were very clever. In some of the stories, however, I would have preferred a definite ending—one where the story doesn’t just finish and you think there is more coming. It was almost as though they were ideas taken from diary extracts with sporadic glimpses into a world of zombies.
