8 Awesome Gifts for August – Rather than the end of summer, think of this as the beginning of Christmas. I’ve got 52 free SciFi and Fantasy books for you immediately below.
. I’m sharing the best selections from two dozen authors I’ve met on Facebook. The topic: ‘Fight Scene’. Enjoy!
Countdown: Now You Get Gift 7
Relive the drama of the landing of Mars Curiosity six years ago.
Your Last Bit of Awesomeness
Woohoo! One of my favorite reviewers, Rebecca McNutt, has reviewed ‘Zombie Turkeys’. And she likes it!
This book is quite an eclectic mix of themes and genres. It’s not quite horror and not quite comedy, but rather a variety of both, including some sci-fi and adventure elements, a clever and witty social commentary on modern American digital culture, and a more original story to rise from the over-saturated zombie horror genre as something that carves out its own path in the fiction world. In some ways, it reminded me of those 1980’s horror films I used to watch back in high school, and in other ways, with its themes of a modernizing, changing America, it reminded me of films like Steven Spielberg’s Gremlins.
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.
You can always click and go to Amazon and get your chance to read free online. You can read into chapter 2 at Amazon. If you have Kindle, you can read the whole book for free. Or you can buy the ebook for .99. You can get the paperback here on Amazon, or on this very website. I’ll give you free shipping too!
You can also listen to the audio sample at Amazon or Audible .
I received a free copy of this book in return for an honest review.
Apart from being called a zombie in the office, because I used to work too long till my eyes turned red and legs felt so tired they often moved like a dead-man-walking, I have never had much proximity to zombies or zombie-hero-stories. I have watched a few movies where zombies were always portrayed as creepy and villainous. So I always associated them with the gory horror films or novels. Having always read only the stereotyped versions of a zombie, Andy Zach’s fun and humorous take on zombies came as a laughter riot to me.
Diane Newby, ‘the undead mother-in-law’ reminded me of many minority rights activists in my country, but unlike them, she is strong- physically and mentally, doesn’t victimize herself but is a true, witty heroine. She became a zombie by accident but instead of looking at it with terror or grief; she learns to enjoy the fun and positive aspects of it: being dead-proof, aging-proof, and disease-proof! She fights against the stigma associated with ‘zombification’ and advocates the use of zombie blood to cure elderly and disabled people. She is not alone in her pursuits but is helped by her husband George, son Don and his wife Maggie (also zombies). Through her son-in-law Ron Yardley’s blog she is introduced to Sam and Lisa Melvin, editors of Midley Beacon, a one-stop online newspaper for zombie news. Through them, she is taken to the battle fronts to fight national catastrophes like zombie turkeys, corgis etc.
First Review Second Part
Apart from the fun narration of an unlikely-to-ever-happen-story, I also enjoyed some other aspects of this book. One was the clever use of excerpts from Ron Yardley’s blog in the narration. It worked really well for striking home a point or an emotion. I also enjoyed the antagonist and his versatile use of latest technology weapons, whether it is cyborgs, controlling chips or hyperloops. I also loved the references to real life people like Elon Musk, Obamas or Trumps. As a point to improve, I would suggest one more round of editing for this book. Errors are not serious, but in many places I could see spaces missing or unwanted words popping up in otherwise perfect sentences. Also, I would have preferred reading time in the format Hour: Minutes (19:00) instead of say 1900. (I am not sure if this format was used purposefully.)
Overall, this is a fun book to read. I would recommend it to everybody who loves Zombie stories or the genre humour. My rating for the book is 3 out of 5 stars – I liked it 🙂 . Even though it is the second book in the series ‘Life After Life Chronicles’, it is not necessary to read the first book ‘Zombie Turkeys’ to understand the second.
I wish the author good luck with all his works. 🙂 Interested readers can find out more about the author and his books at andyzach.net Happy reading 😉
New Reviews Third Part
And here’s the next:
“The book cover is perfect! The story is a creative, funny & unique parody of the “zombie” genre. Don’t read it if you have no sense of humor or hate zombie books. I wasn’t rolling on the floor laughing, but definitely giggling in places in between some good action scenes. If you like Mel Brooks or Monty Python movies, you probably have the right sense of humor for this book.”
Next, for a chuckle, try this cartoon.
One of the great things about becoming an author is that can plug into an existing community of authors. I’ve had a lot of fun getting to know them. Here are some of them:
One More Thing . . .
It’s not a Free Zombie Turkeys Excerpt, but it’s free! Get some free science fiction from one of my author friends.
