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May Science Fiction Reviews for You

May Science Fiction Reviews for You that may please you. Where do I start? I’ve been so busy reading books I barely have had time to read my own reviews. But here they are, somewhat in time order.

May Science Fiction Reviews
Book cover

The Science Officer (The Science Officer #1)
Rating 4 of 5 stars
Shelvesread edit
FormatKindle Edition edit
StatusMay 9, 2022 – Finished Reading2 Show more
ReviewDelightful little novella. He introduces a vivid character, former Space Academy graduate and space scout, Javier Aritza, who raises chickens, fruits and vegetables while exploring the universe.

Too bad he runs into pirates. But with some aggressive negotiation skills, he agrees to join them as their science officer. Their air is barely breathable and their water barely drinkable but he fixes that.

For such a short read, Blaze Ward packed in a lot of character development and adventure.

Recommended!
Andy Zach’s review

May Science Fiction Reviews – Your Next Review

Get Your Zombie Turkeys Laughter
Zombie Turkeys front cover. Click to get a copy!


May 19, 2022

it was amazing

OK this was funny, I actually started with volume 2 in this series (My undead mother in law) and all the things that I was missing in the story in the one I started are explained here, its brilliant and very funny XD, one thing that I love about this series, the people reading the book (there’s more than one ^__^) they actually sound like they’re having fun, and that’s twice the fun for us that are listening to the audiobook.

If you want a series that makes you laugh, with lots of gore and at the same time, even normal life, yeah people get to know each other and they even marry, yeah I guess you could say this is for all ages hahah

I got a free ARC from StoryOrigin and this is my honest opinion

Sofia rated it 

Click here to get Zombie Turkeys for free.

May Science Fiction Reviews – Your Third Follows

May Science Fiction Reviews
Book cover
Review ofThe Mind Field (The Science Officer #2)
Rating4 of 5 stars
Shelvesaction-adventurehumormilitary-scifireadscience-fiction edit
FormatKindle Edition edit
StatusMay 18, 2022 – Shelved as: science-fictionShow more
ReviewOkay, Blaze Ward’s first book was good and his second was better.

The story begins with the pirate crew going to a haunted system. Ships that go there, never come back. And that almost happens to them, but thanks to the quick thinking of Javier, their Science Officer, they escape.

Does the stalwart, former military pirate captain use the opportunity to escape? Nope. They get into problems they never expected.

I won’t give away any spoilers.

Read and enjoy. (less)
by Andy Zach

May the Fourth Review Be With You – May Science Fiction Reviews

Sofia

May 03, 2022

SciFi Story Fuel My Undead Mother-in-law
May Science Fiction Reviews
My Undead Mother-in-law cover. Click to get yours.

it was amazing

One of the most funny books about zombies, where the zombies are not the monster or the bad guy, actually being zombified, cures all sorts of health problems, from being overweight to the death doors, and you feel much more energetic and strong.

What can I say that wont give spoilers, but it will explain in details what I did enjoy about this audiobook, both voice actors, you had a male and a female, they seemed to enjoy themselves while they were reading it, so it was so much more fun, it was also very nice the way they interact with the other, great fun, the story was also fun, and with lots of action and violence, but in a way that you will find yourself laughing out loud while listening to the violence, yeah the first dinner in the parents-in-law in the first few minutes of the book set what I was sure I would find during the book and it didn’t disappoint.

Just try it out, keep in mind that this it’s not your usual zombie story 😉 it was really a good fun, and I highly recommend, I started by this volume, I understand this is the second in the series, but unlike many other stories I didn’t find myself lost or in need to go back and read or listen the first book in the series, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to go back (sure I want) but if like me you start by this one, I don’t think you’ll find yourself lost in anyway.

Thank you StoryOrigin by the free Audible and I am leaving this review voluntarily. (less)

Sofia rated it 

Your Fifth May Science Fiction Review

May Science Fiction Reveiws
Review ofThe Gilded Cage (The Science Officer #3)
Rating4 of 5 stars
Shelvesaction-adventuremilitary-scifireadscience-fiction edit
FormatKindle Edition edit
StatusMay 19, 2022 – Shelved as: science-fictionShow more
ReviewMuch to my delight, Blaze Ward continues his high-quality writing in the third installment of his military scifi series, The Science officer.

Javier Aritza was captured by space pirates, who destroyed his scout ship and upset his life. He negotiates his way out of slavery and into a valuable officer on their ship, where he can pay off his slave debt.

But things change. The imperturbable captain Zolokov keeps generating new challenges for Javier. Once again, Javier must risk his life to save a crew member or three. One of them hate his guts. They’re in a den of pirates. Oh my.

Oddly, Javier had been there before.

Read and find out what happens. 
Do you want to review one of my books? Click here and tell me and I’ll send you one.
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Writer’s Block My Experience – This is why I don’t write more

What Do Readers Think

Writer’s Block My Experience: I’ve written eight books in seven years. It doesn’t sound like I have writer’s block–but I do.

I’ve been struggling to finish Secret Supers in Space for seven months. That’s the first draft—just 50,000 to 60,000 words. Usually, I get that much done in two to four months.

What’s my big problem?

Writer’s Block My Experience – What Is Writer’s Block?

It means you can’t or have difficulty writing. Duh!

A more official definition is:

Writer’s block—wanting to write and not writing—is a persistent problem that every writer (yes, every writer, even Stephen King) deals with, and one that has ended far too many writing careers.

The first thing I saw in my search

The last book I wrote in this series was Villain’s Vacation:

Writer's Block My Experience
Chapter icon from Villain’s Vacation

I got off to a flying start in November, writing for NaNoWriMo, the official National Novel Writing Month organization.

Here’s a chart of my monthly writing, so you can see what my writer’s block looks like:

MonthWords Written
November3,973
December0
January423
February0
March1517
April211
May (so far)0
Chart of my writing ‘progress’

Total? 6129 words in 42 hours of writing for 142 words per hour.

Pretty pathetic for a professional author, but I have an excuse: I was finishing two other books: 1) Zombie Detective audiobook (now published)

Andy Zach Newsletter Zombie Detective Audiobook
Writer's Block My Experience
Audiobook cover – click to listen.

and 2) my first non-fiction book, The Gospel Medley. Believe it or not, this is at least the 20th round of edits for this book, over the 35 years I’ve worked on it.

The Gospel Medley
Writer's Block My Experience
The Gospel Medley cover. Click to get

So that takes care of December through March. I can’t multi-task. What’s my problem in April and May?

Writer’s Block – the problem of self-publishing

I get easily distracted while writing. First of all, there is research. I’ll write and then need some fact, like “Where are there underground nuclear silos in Kansas?” This question arose for My Undead Mother-in-law.

The same thing happens for Secret Supers in Space. What does the ISS look like? What is the capacity of the Dragon capsule for SpaceX? Where does SpaceX launch from? What is the curriculum for Space Camp? What is the daily agenda?

But that’s not all.

More Distractions

Every publisher and author needs to market your book. That doesn’t mean selling, although that’s what you want to happen. Rather it means telling people who might like your book that your book exists and is worth reading and WHY it’s worth reading.

This is a very important thing to do. You, as an author or publisher should do it every week, if not every day. If people don’t know about your book, they can’t buy it. If people don’t know how much they will enjoy and laugh at my books, why should they buy them?

So I joined Story Origin this year to market my books. That’s absorbed my time, every week, as I promoted my newsletter, books, and other newsletters and books.

I also have maintained Amazon ads, although I’ve cut my expense from $300/month to $50. I found a better way to advertise: through Free Kindle and Discount Books.

The Bottom Line – What Should I Do?

Give me your best and worst suggestions. Everyone who does so will get a free ebook of mine to read and review. Reach out to me any time at my email: [email protected] Or subscribe to my newsletter for all my blog posts and news, as well as free books.

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The Best April Book Reviews for You

Best January 2022

The Best April Book Reviews for You, curated by me, Andy Zach. I’ve written eight books (one’s being published) and I’m writing another one. I know something about books, having read maybe 4-5,000 over my life. Let’s start with the latest one I’ve read:

Cloud-Castles
by Dave Freer (Goodreads Author)

Best April Book Reviews
Cloud Castles
Cloud Castles

Andy Zach‘s review

Apr 21, 2022 

really liked it

bookshelves: humorscience-fiction

The first thing you notice about Dave Freer’s novel Cloud-Castles is the setting: a gas giant with a habitable zone in the atmosphere. Alien technology genetically engineering plant life that floats in the atmosphere and a whole ecosystem of flying creatures. There is an anti-gravity city, which has degenerated into a slum, and floating castles, owned by two warring alien species who use humans as slaves.

That setting is enough to make me read the book. But I also love the premise: a rich, but innocent scion, Augustus Thistlewood III, of humanity’s wealthiest family, is there to practice philanthropy toward the poor, downtrodden masses, using his recently acquired sociology degree.

Needless to say, his suitcase is quickly stolen by a ‘helpful’ street urchin Briz. Looking through his stuff, she realizes he has nothing to pawn and is a complete innocent, but very wealthy. Briz returns the suitcase and offers to escort him around the dangerous port town.

Then, adventures happen.

Highly recommended.

Andy Zach

Your Second Best April Book Review

Ace zombie reporter Sam Melvin has been fired – by his wife, Lisa. Their paper, The Midley Beacon, is barely surviving. How will they make ends meet?

Sam decides to give being a detective a try. He advertises his business – but his zombie experience comes with it. All across the country, people bring their zombie problems to Sam. Squirrels? Bulls? Sam’s on the case. But can his experience with zombie turkeys transfer?

Sam finds out in a series of deadly adventures – and so will you when you listen to this audiobook. See if you can keep from dying from laughter.

Brandi McGraw

5.0 out of 5 stars 

Fun Zombie Times!

Get your free audiobook here!

This was so much fun to listen to!!

Brandi McGraw

Keep Reading for Another Best April Book Review

Pilgrim 2 (Pilgrim, #2)
by 

Harmon Cooper (Goodreads Author)

Best April Book Reviews
Pilgrim 2 cover

Book 2 amps up the action, the risks, and the rewards

really liked it

bookshelves: fantasyaction-adventure

Author Harmon Cooper continues his fantasy series about Pilgrim, the retired assassin turned rural good guy and advocate for magical creatures.

Too bad his former life keeps intruding as assassins seek to kill him and complete the contract on him. He decides to rid himself of the problem once and for all by killing his former teacher, who took out the contract on him. And other assassin teachers who are trying to complete the contract.

It turns out assassins are the least of his worries. He’s got a half-brother who is a full-blooded demon and out to kill him.

Good luck, Pilgrim.

Andy Zach‘s review

Now, for something completely different.

Best April Book Reviews
Cover of The Stray

The Stray
by Dick King-Smith

Apr 02, 2022 

it was amazing

bookshelves: children-sfamilyfiction

Once more, author Dick King-Smith has an unlikely protagonist: a 75-year-old woman named Henny who has run away from a nursing home. She uses her last 50 pounds to take a train to the beach, in first-class luxury.

She writes about her loneliness in the sand. Since her boyfriend died in World War II she never married,

Then she runs into some cute, red-haired, children. That’s when the adventure begins.

Andy Zach‘s review

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