Savant by Jim Alexander

Savant by Jim Alexander
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Great sci-fi graphic novel with excellent artwork...

In today's mass culture, comic books and even long-form graphic novels are as universal as any other "legitimate" type of writing. Maybe it's because, like historical myths, people are drawn to fantastical tales about alien entities who share the same human flaws as the rest of us. It's also possible that they provide an escape into realms and conditions that are far removed from our own. Perhaps, more accurately, visual storytelling just provides a form of entertainment unencumbered by long and drawn-out prose. Whatever the case may be, graphic novels appear to be here to stay. They're just as popular now as they were when I was a kid. However, much like everything, there are a few that are a lot more worthy of the time and effort than others.

One such graphic novel is Savant by Jim Alexander, in which he presents Lode from the planet Savant. There, she seeks out battle zones, preferring to document the lives of those who are dying. Her explorations lead her to Hubris, a world torn apart by conflict. She is enlisted by government authorities to assist in the hunt for a war criminal. It's a path ‘that will ultimately take her to the mouth of madness. The End of Days itself.’

If you are a fan of graphic sci-fi novels, you’ll love this one. Of course, special mention also to Will Pickering for the excellent artwork, Fin Cramb (Colorist), Philip R. Simon for Editing, and Jim Campbell for Production & Lettering. Highly recommended and a well-deserved five stars from me. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.


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Postcards From Beyond Reality: The Selected Poems of Michael Daniels

Postcards From Beyond Reality: The Selected Poems of Michael Daniels by Bernard Jan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

‘Cries of a heart longing to be understood’

Postcards From Beyond Reality: The Selected Poems of Michael Daniels by Bernard Jan is a collection of sixty poems written as an extension book to his YA cross-genre novel Cruel Summer, from the perspective of its main character, Michael Daniels.

The book description deepens the meaning of the poetry further: ‘His life has been a cocktail of melancholy, sorrow, and desire. When a skateboarder dips his pen into poetry, what will his passion create? After a lifetime of abuse and the tragic loss of his mother, NYC teen Michael Daniels needed an outlet. Despite his cheerful nature, his inner mind was teeming with the stark contrast of darkness and light. So, in this volume full of images and symbolism, his underground rhymes reflect days full of extreme sports, failed relationships, and nostalgic memories.’

If you are looking for the poet inside the poem, look for the undercurrent he has left, the continuous hint of feeling can be found everywhere throughout this work. It’s powerful and strong, yet delicate and descriptive His pictures of emotional moods are painted beautifully. He has essentially captured the essence of what a poet is.

Bernard Jan will make you fall in love with literature again. If you've never liked poetry, you'll love Postcards From Beyond Reality. If you haven't read much poetry, this is an excellent place to start. A highly recommended read and a well-deserved five stars.

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Consenting Adult by Peter Skeels

Consenting Adult by Peter Skeels
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Rewriting the Ten Commandments with a modern-day ‘Moses’...

Peter Skeels's novel CONSENTING ADULT is well-written and richly descriptive with brilliantly drawn characters and settings. The author weaves a well-crafted philosophical narrative that serves, perhaps, as an allegory for the pains of being. It’s a unique work that will captivate the reader from the opening chapter. Skillfully constructed, this well-written tale of morality and ethics will have you turning the pages from beginning to end. There’s plenty of imagery in the writing style that makes you feel you are right there in the story, and that’s something I look for in a good book.

To summarize the synopsis: Jonathan is hired as a creative writing instructor at the local community college. An idea occurs to him out of nowhere: what if there was a modern-day Moses who was told by God to rewrite the Ten Commandments, and what would they be like now if they were written? Jonathan is interested by the concept, but his students are not. If the Commandments get written, what would the present-day Commandments end up being?

This was a captivating read that had me immersed from the beginning. The story flowed from scene to scene with ease, and the author shows exceptional ability when it comes to storytelling. There are scenes of a graphic sexual nature. Nevertheless, the themes and outcome are just as affecting in the arresting contemporary landscape. Recommended.

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Customer Escalations Management: The Golden Recipe

Customer Escalations Management: The Golden Recipe by Nikolaos Zormpas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Helping to grow customer loyalty...

Escalation Management is a well-defined and documented process. It is even handled or managed by a separate dedicated team of people. This "escalation center" function works closely with the service desk function. It also supports the field or on-site support staff who take on maintenance and support roles.

Escalation Management is intended to bring order, structure, focused management attention and additional resources to those customer situations which could otherwise result in a high level of customer dissatisfaction and/or damage to the Service Provider's reputation. These are situations which could lead to significant loss of business or where significant costs may be incurred by the Service Provider to resolve the customer situation. The criteria to trigger an escalation depends on the organization or service provider. But it should be well defined.

Customer Escalations Management: The Golden Recipe by Nikolaos Zormpas shows that being easy to do business with causes positive word-of-mouth to occur naturally and in customer-initiated ways that your marketing department may not otherwise be able to imagine or influence, minimizing the necessary investment in enticements.

Wisely aligning your company with what customers care about causes customers to fall in love with doing business with you, whereby re-purchases and customer loyalty, thereafter, occurs naturally and sustainably. Having a customer escalation management system in place is crucial in any business, regardless of how big or small it is. A very highly recommended book, and a well-deserved five stars from me.

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Blast from the Past

Blast from the Past by S.M. Rush
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A very impressive debut novel...

S M Rush was born and raised in Lincolnshire, England. She began her career as a journalist in 1997, and she is most known for her witty pieces for women's magazines, as well as her profiles on athletes and celebrities from the stage, screen, and television. Her first action-packed military fiction novel, Blast from the Past, is her debut.

To summarize the synopsis: In the cold wastelands of Afghanistan, Kieran O'Neill, a young British soldier, faces the terror of blood and guts, where killing is a way of life. The men were frequently outmanned and outgunned, and they were subjected to incessant attacks and scorching temperatures. Surviving became the most difficult task of all and that was only the beginning. Meanwhile, Sophie had worked hard to leave her tumultuous past behind her, but fleeing her old life meant leaving everything and everyone she cared about behind. Despite everything, she is living the life she had fought so hard for. She's terrified that her past will be revealed when the military locates her with a life-threatening request. Kieran had spent ten years trying to find her, and he'd tried everything he could to put the past behind him, but she was impossible to forget. Can two people with a history save each other?

Based on true events as recounted by several of those who served in Afghanistan, Blast from the Past by S M Rush is a superbly written and richly descriptive novel. The author paints for the reader a dramatic and captivating tale about ‘obsession, loss, survival and self-preservation’ in a very vivid and convincing way. In addition, the characters are drawn with great credibility and conviction.

Blast from the Past had every element a good story should have. A solid plot, attention to detail, but best of all fleshed out, well-written and well-rounded character development. There’s an abundance of well-illustrated scenes that make you feel like you are right there in the story, and that’s something I look for in a good book.

Captivating and commendable this work had me immersed from the beginning. Inspired by real events, it’s a well-crafted fiction interwoven with true-life drama. The story flowed from scene to scene with ease, and the author shows exceptional ability when it comes to storytelling. There are plenty of attention-grabbing moments in this page turner that will take the reader on a truly compelling and mesmerizing journey. With scenes of violence, and language that may not be suitable for the linguistically sensitive, nonetheless, the themes and outcome are just as affecting in the arresting contemporary landscape. Very highly recommended and a well-deserved five stars from me.

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The Broken Promise of a Promised Land

The Broken Promise of a Promised Land by William Hanna
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

An uncompromising read, that for some, will be a bitter pill to swallow...

It was William Cowper, the English poet, who wrote that those most eager to find ´truth’ are often those most likely to deny it, when confronted by its obvious presence.

Both truth-seekers and historians alike will enjoy this book. The Broken Promise of a Promised Land by William Hanna takes the reader on a journey through history, society, politics, and religion. It covers everything from the origins of the Cosmos and man to how Zionism hijacked Judaism, among other topics.

Award-winning London-based freelance writer on democracy and human rights, William Hanna, does not waste his time by glazing over his opinions. This book was written to raise awareness in the hopes of a progressive future free of primordial racism and religious domination.

The author skillfully recounts history using scientific and archaeological data, and mercilessly exposes many faiths' ever-evolving myths and propaganda. A book that will generate both contempt and respect in equal measure, it is my hope that the latter will prevail in the end. Very highly recommended and a well-deserved five star from me.


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ARCADIA'S CHILDREN 5: SAMANTHA'S WAR

Arcadia's Children 5: Samantha's War by Andrew R Williams
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A creative and imaginative continuing saga...

Forty-some years ago my uncle gave me a science fiction anthology. It was a thick red hardback that I read from cover to cover. It inspired a lifelong love of the genre. The stories in that book made me think outside the box. They filled me with awe for the imagination it took to write them. That book still remains in my collection today. The title is OMNIBUS OF SCIENCE FICTION, edited by Groff Conklin, a well-known and prolific editor of the genre. It was published in 1952, the Golden Age of Science Fiction. It’s a substantial volume, 562 pages, with 43 stories divided into sections relating to a common theme. Some stories are fun, some are thought-provoking, and some are adventurous. I love them all.

ARCADIA'S CHILDREN 5: SAMANTHA'S WAR by Andrew Williams is an excellent sci-fi that had me engaged from the opening chapter. The threads of storytelling are so expertly woven it guarantees the attention of the reader. Skillfully constructed, this creative and imaginative continuing saga had me turning the pages from beginning to end. There’s also plenty of imagery in the writing style that makes you feel like you are right there in the story and that’s something I look for in a good book.

If you are a sci-fi fan looking for a well-written Y/A sci-fi fantasy with amazing characters and a solid plot then ARCADIA'S CHILDREN 5 will not leave you disappointed. Thoroughly enjoyed it and highly recommend it. A well-deserved five stars from me.

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