tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12869978691816197922024-03-13T04:42:46.591-07:00Bookophile ReviewsReviewing Books and Movies Based on Books Since 2011Trevor Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12617108652444038571noreply@blogger.comBlogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1286997869181619792.post-78258993509055141322014-12-25T07:55:00.000-08:002014-12-25T07:55:03.245-08:00Christmas Promotion: 2 Free eBooks from Trevor Schmidt<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Symbiote-Trevor-Schmidt-ebook/dp/B00NDB1LTW/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=undefined&sr=1-1&keywords=symbiote+schmidt" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.amazon.com/Symbiote-Trevor-Schmidt-ebook/dp/B00NDB1LTW/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=undefined&sr=1-1&keywords=symbiote+schmidt" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TjIffYyQHUU/VJwwo88QRFI/AAAAAAAABKE/b3jTmFe59gc/s1600/Symbiotex150.jpg" height="320" width="207" /></a></div>
Merry Christmas everyone! On Christmas day I'm running a special on my short story <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Replica-Short-Story-Trevor-Schmidt-ebook/dp/B00EFYYYAE/ref=asap_B005B02R1O?ie=UTF8" target="_blank">Replica</a> as well as my science fiction novel <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Symbiote-Trevor-Schmidt-ebook/dp/B00NDB1LTW/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=undefined&sr=1-1&keywords=symbiote+schmidt" target="_blank">Symbiote</a>. The promotion on Replica ends at midnight and the Symbiote promotion will run through the 29th of December.<br />
<br />
<b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Symbiote-Trevor-Schmidt-ebook/dp/B00NDB1LTW/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=undefined&sr=1-1&keywords=symbiote+schmidt" target="_blank">Symbiote</a> Synopsis:</b> When a normally meek Bay Area insurance agent suddenly turns into a
voracious, homicidal maniac with an uncontrollable appetite, doctors
quickly determine that the cause must be a brain parasite that can only
be extra-terrestrial. Now, San Francisco Police Detectives Karen Hall
and Yuri Markov are on a mission to end this wave of violence before
more citizens become infected. But at every turn their investigation
seems to be hindered by shadowy federal agents with a hidden agenda.
Can they stop this reign of terror before one of them becomes the next
Symbiote?<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Replica-Short-Story-Trevor-Schmidt-ebook/dp/B00EFYYYAE/ref=asap_B005B02R1O?ie=UTF8" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.amazon.com/Replica-Short-Story-Trevor-Schmidt-ebook/dp/B00EFYYYAE/ref=asap_B005B02R1O?ie=UTF8" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nz30sEhndE0/VJwyfRAp-CI/AAAAAAAABKQ/ujEQB4MygQo/s1600/ReplicaCover2x100.jpg" height="320" width="207" /></a><b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Replica-Short-Story-Trevor-Schmidt-ebook/dp/B00EFYYYAE/ref=asap_B005B02R1O?ie=UTF8" target="_blank">Replica</a> Synopsis: </b>In the year 2054, Army Sergeant Logan Martel hunts for an insurgent
plotting a horrific attack on the West. It is in this world of high-tech
equipment and prolific robotics that Logan finds himself set adrift,
searching for what's left of his own humanity. Will he find what he's
looking for? Or will he become merely a replica of his former self?<br />
<br />
If you pick up a free copy of one of my eBooks, please leave an honest review or rating on Amazon or Goodreads! Additionally, my new book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Azure-Key-Corsair-Uprising-Book-ebook/dp/B00R0DPNMA/ref=asap_B005B02R1O?ie=UTF8" target="_blank">The Corsair Uprising #1: The Azure Key</a> came out on 12/14/14 and can be found <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Azure-Key-Corsair-Uprising-Book-ebook/dp/B00R0DPNMA/ref=asap_B005B02R1O?ie=UTF8" target="_blank">here</a>. Trevor Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12617108652444038571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1286997869181619792.post-23926013421706235422014-12-21T08:17:00.000-08:002014-12-21T08:17:31.159-08:00Replica Free Through Christmas!<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Replica-Short-Story-Trevor-Schmidt-ebook/dp/B00EFYYYAE/ref=asap_B005B02R1O?ie=UTF8" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.amazon.com/Replica-Short-Story-Trevor-Schmidt-ebook/dp/B00EFYYYAE/ref=asap_B005B02R1O?ie=UTF8" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3G2ClPv52ZY/VJbxOsIhcWI/AAAAAAAABJE/aXfxS53Hkjk/s1600/51Ugs0XRacL._BO2%2C204%2C203%2C200_PIsitb-sticker-v3-big%2CTopRight%2C0%2C-55_SX278_SY278_PIkin4%2CBottomRight%2C1%2C22_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg" /></a>Whether you're just looking for something to read or you're looking to try out that new e-reader you received for Christmas, I have a great <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Replica-Short-Story-Trevor-Schmidt-ebook/dp/B00EFYYYAE/ref=asap_B005B02R1O?ie=UTF8" target="_blank">story</a> for you to read. The best part, it's free in the kindle store through Dec 25th! Here's a synopsis of the ebook to whet your appetite:<br />
<br />
"In the year 2054, Army Sergeant Logan Martel hunts for an insurgent
plotting a horrific attack on the West. It is in this world of high-tech
equipment and prolific robotics that Logan finds himself set adrift,
searching for what's left of his own humanity. Will he find what he's
looking for? Or will he become merely a replica of his former self?"<br />
<br />
Here's what one blogger had to say about <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Replica-Short-Story-Trevor-Schmidt-ebook/dp/B00EFYYYAE/ref=asap_B005B02R1O?ie=UTF8" target="_blank">Replica</a>:<br />
<br />
<i>"Trevor Schmidt, author of the cool sci-fi thriller Memory
Leak, returns to the genre with this short story which follows a team of
futuristic soldiers in their pursuit of a notorious terrorist.<br /><br />This quick easy read is a cautionary tale regarding the
development of future technology and is ideal lunch-break or commute reading
that will appeal to fans of the Terminator movies."</i><br />
<b>-Ric's Reviews</b><br />
<br />
<b> </b>After you pick up your copy, it would be great if you left a simple review on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Trevor-Schmidt/e/B005B02R1O/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1" target="_blank">Amazon</a> or <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/462612.Trevor_Schmidt" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>! Trevor Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12617108652444038571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1286997869181619792.post-11875721060998546982014-12-18T20:13:00.002-08:002014-12-19T09:27:42.625-08:00The Corsair Uprising #1: The Azure Key is Out Now!<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Azure-Key-Corsair-Uprising-Book-ebook/dp/B00R0DPNMA/ref=asap_B005B02R1O?ie=UTF8" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.amazon.com/Azure-Key-Corsair-Uprising-Book-ebook/dp/B00R0DPNMA/ref=asap_B005B02R1O?ie=UTF8" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rOM0zLJM5qA/VJOkKrBCnSI/AAAAAAAABIk/KJZHvTrji5E/s1600/Corsairx150.jpg" height="320" width="207" /></a>I'm happy to announce that the first installment of my new science fiction series is out today! It is entitled <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Azure-Key-Corsair-Uprising-Book-ebook/dp/B00R0DPNMA/ref=asap_B005B02R1O?ie=UTF8" target="_blank">The Corsair Uprising: The Azure Key</a>. The Corsair Uprising series falls under the Space Opera heading but has a lot of Steampunk elements as well. Please check it out and if you pick it up, be sure to give an honest review on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Azure-Key-Corsair-Uprising-Book-ebook/dp/B00R0DPNMA/ref=asap_B005B02R1O?ie=UTF8" target="_blank">Amazon</a>.<br />
<br />
<b>Synopsis:</b><br />
"Liam Kidd was a freelancer for Vesta Corporation, Earth’s largest and
most corrupt asteroid mining company. Through a series of events he
finds himself working the mines, a fate worse than death. When an
opportunity presents itself, he and two other miners escape through a
nearby wormhole. They find themselves across the galaxy in the middle
of a conflict between three alien species. Liam’s only chance of
getting home lies in finding a device rumored to be capable of opening a
singularity. Now, he and his crew must face the horrors of war to
return to their own system, a challenge that might prove deadly."<br />
<br />Trevor Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12617108652444038571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1286997869181619792.post-10707314262662378992014-11-19T22:30:00.002-08:002014-11-19T22:30:55.070-08:00Symbiote Free on Amazon until the 23rd!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Symbiote-Trevor-Schmidt-ebook/dp/B00NDB1LTW/ref=la_B005B02R1O_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1413813925&sr=1-3" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.amazon.com/Symbiote-Trevor-Schmidt-ebook/dp/B00NDB1LTW/ref=la_B005B02R1O_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1413813925&sr=1-3" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KSRRGRwtDUM/VAzwRKKz4tI/AAAAAAAABDg/8vIUeQj4was/s1600/Symbiotex3.jpg" height="320" width="206" /></a></div>
Get your copy of my latest Science Fiction Novel "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Symbiote-Trevor-Schmidt-ebook/dp/B00NDB1LTW/ref=la_B005B02R1O_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1413813925&sr=1-3" target="_blank">Symbiote</a>" Free until November 23rd on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Symbiote-Trevor-Schmidt-ebook/dp/B00NDB1LTW/ref=la_B005B02R1O_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1413813925&sr=1-3" target="_blank">Amazon</a>. All I ask is that you leave an honest review! Here's a synopsis to whet your appetite:<br />
<br />
"When a normally meek Bay Area insurance agent suddenly turns into a
voracious, homicidal maniac with an uncontrollable appetite, doctors
quickly determine that the cause must be a brain parasite that can only
be extra-terrestrial. Now, San Francisco Police Detectives Karen Hall
and Yuri Markov are on a mission to end this wave of violence before
more citizens become infected. But at every turn their investigation
seems to be hindered by shadowy federal agents with a hidden agenda.
Can they stop this reign of terror before one of them becomes the next
Symbiote?"<br />
<br />
Remember, my next novel, the first in an all new Science Fiction Series debuts this December!Trevor Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12617108652444038571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1286997869181619792.post-65068947959991559312014-09-07T07:33:00.002-07:002014-09-07T07:33:41.034-07:00Replica: Free Short Story!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Replica-Short-Story-Trevor-Schmidt-ebook/dp/B00EFYYYAE/ref=la_B005B02R1O_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1410100247&sr=1-3" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.amazon.com/Replica-Short-Story-Trevor-Schmidt-ebook/dp/B00EFYYYAE/ref=la_B005B02R1O_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1410100247&sr=1-3" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OVjw_UF0IX4/VAxr-NpomrI/AAAAAAAABDM/NVhcJqV-KE4/s1600/Replicax3.jpg" height="320" width="207" /></a></div>
For a limited time, get Replica, a science fiction short story, for <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Replica-Short-Story-Trevor-Schmidt-ebook/dp/B00EFYYYAE/ref=la_B005B02R1O_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1410099232&sr=1-3" target="_blank">FREE</a> on Amazon! The promotion runs from 9/7/2014-9/11/2014, so pick up a copy, tell your friends, and if you enjoy my writing, please pick up a copy of my newest novel <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Symbiote-Trevor-Schmidt-ebook/dp/B00NDB1LTW/ref=la_B005B02R1O_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1410100186&sr=1-4" target="_blank">Symbiote</a>.<br />
<br />
Here's a blurb about Replica: A Short Story.<br />
<br />
"In the year 2054, Army Sergeant Logan Martel hunts for an insurgent
plotting a horrific attack on the West. It is in this world of high-tech
equipment and prolific robotics that Logan finds himself set adrift,
searching for what's left of his own humanity. Will he find what he's
looking for? Or will he become merely a replica of his former self?"<br />
<br />
Again, get this story for <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Replica-Short-Story-Trevor-Schmidt-ebook/dp/B00EFYYYAE/ref=la_B005B02R1O_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1410100247&sr=1-3" target="_blank">FREE</a>! Trevor Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12617108652444038571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1286997869181619792.post-68471267856705566422014-09-06T13:11:00.002-07:002014-12-17T09:45:31.512-08:00Symbiote Is Out Now!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Symbiote-Trevor-Schmidt-ebook/dp/B00NDB1LTW/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1410033654&sr=1-1&keywords=symbiote+schmidt" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.amazon.com/Symbiote-Trevor-Schmidt-ebook/dp/B00NDB1LTW/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1410033654&sr=1-1&keywords=symbiote+schmidt" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-m8mR51stRTE/VAtqDMyfwPI/AAAAAAAABC8/4gcfylZDrxQ/s1600/Symbiotex4.jpg" height="400" width="258" /></a></div>
I'm excited to announce that my newest Science Fiction Novel, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Symbiote-Trevor-Schmidt-ebook/dp/B00NDB1LTW/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1410033654&sr=1-1&keywords=symbiote+schmidt" target="_blank">Symbiote</a>, is out now on Kindle! Trade paper version is coming soon. Please check it out and give it an honest review!<br />
<br />
Here's a synopsis: "When a normally meek Bay Area insurance agent suddenly turns into a
voracious, homicidal maniac with an uncontrollable appetite, doctors
quickly determine that the cause must be a brain parasite that can only
be extra-terrestrial. Now, San Francisco Police Detectives Karen Hall
and Yuri Markov are on a mission to end this wave of violence before
more citizens become infected. But at every turn their investigation
seems to be hindered by shadowy federal agents with a hidden agenda.
Can they stop this reign of terror before one of them becomes the next
Symbiote?"<br />
<br />
If you have any questions about my newest novel, please leave a comment in the space below or tweet me @TrevorSSchmidt.Trevor Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12617108652444038571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1286997869181619792.post-18313503663548997322014-08-21T16:27:00.000-07:002014-08-21T16:47:24.085-07:00Book Review: The Evolution of Physics<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CTzg8AeKHMg/U_Z9oTTDkRI/AAAAAAAAA8U/wIYu_jgSFSY/s1600/41RARoprVQL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CTzg8AeKHMg/U_Z9oTTDkRI/AAAAAAAAA8U/wIYu_jgSFSY/s1600/41RARoprVQL.jpg" height="400" width="247" /></a></div>
The Evolution of Physics (Originally published 1938), by Albert Einstein and Leopold Infeld, is a great introduction to physics for those who are not as mathematically inclined, such as yours truly. I found this book in the bottom of a pile at a used book store, which made it that much more exciting when I began reading. Einstein was truly a genius in more ways than that which he is commonly known. He was one of the first to really give the masses a crash course in what physics is really about.<br />
<br />
After reading this book I feel I've grasped the basic concepts (Read: everything but the mathematics) of many principles of physics to include the theory of relativity. As a science fiction author, it gives me great pleasure to be able to talk more intelligently about the subject so I can be better prepared to write harder Sci Fi rather than the mostly soft Sci Fi I've been into thus far in my career.<br />
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The beginning of the novel starts with Newton and continues on from there. Einstein goes through each principle as though he was looking at it through the lens of the time, then continues to show how those theories were modified or disproved and how they were replaced. Ultimately, he ends with the best understanding of physics at the time, with the understanding that his work would be expanded upon and would grow with time. <br />
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I would recommend this novel not just for the layman, but also for any freshman going into a physics program at university to refresh their memory and gain a better understanding of how the master viewed these principles. It's fascinating to me to be given a window into his thought processes that I can actually understand (without delving into his dense papers on relativity, etc.)<br />
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<b>Bookophile Rating of The Evolution of Physics: Excellent </b>(For a novel that helps the lay reader gain a better understanding of physics. The only thing that put me off was the old spellings of words that were a distraction, such as the continued usage of 'clew.' I realize this is asinine of me. I accept that.)
<br />
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=thestearevi-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=0671201565&asins=0671201565&linkId=SO2K4LTYCE75JZ3O&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;">
</iframe>Trevor Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12617108652444038571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1286997869181619792.post-53095510536089964992014-08-19T15:43:00.001-07:002014-08-19T15:43:49.245-07:00Looking for Authors to Interview/Guest Bloggers!Hey everyone!
<b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>Authors:</b> I'm looking to add some new features to Bookophile Reviews. The first such feature is Author Interviews! I'm looking for up and coming or already established authors to do a feature on. If you'd like to be featured on Bookophile Reviews, leave a comment below before Friday, August 22nd for consideration.
<b> </b><br />
<br />
<b>Bloggers:</b> If you'd like to post a guest review of a book, leave a comment or contact me by email (instructions on the contact tab at the top of the page). I'm not too worried about keeping genre-specific, I know I have eclectic tastes.<br />
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<b>Readers: </b>Let me know what books you want reviewed in the comments! Trevor Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12617108652444038571noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1286997869181619792.post-67024952948563782462014-08-15T17:50:00.000-07:002014-08-21T16:09:29.029-07:00Book Review: The Twenty Guiding Principles of KarateThis book, written by Gichin Funakoshi (1868-1957) and John Teramoto is not just a guide to the main principles of Shotokan Karate, but a guide to many aspects of life. Each of the twenty principles is made into a chapter, which begins with commentary by Gichin Funakoshi, the founder of Shotokan Karate. After that, John Teramoto gives a fresh perspective that relates the principle to the present, giving readers unfamiliar with karate a great reason to read this book. The twenty principles could easier be applied to business or other disciplines.<br />
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Throughout the novel there are anecdotes that explain why the specific principle is important from the perspective of karate and life. I would recommend this short book (128 pages) to anyone looking for a quick read that will make you think. Even a couple weeks after I read it I find myself thinking about a few of the principles that resonated particularly well with my life.<br />
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<b>Bookophile Rating: Good </b>(For a book you can read in an afternoon that will leave you taking a closer look at your own life).<br />
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</iframe>Trevor Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12617108652444038571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1286997869181619792.post-13006178021765715392013-08-09T20:41:00.000-07:002013-08-09T21:23:49.059-07:00Book Review: Fool Moon<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wUZSVkhCyUI/UgW2yJLJdrI/AAAAAAAAAww/n2ZX_UDS7nw/s1600/Fool+Moon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wUZSVkhCyUI/UgW2yJLJdrI/AAAAAAAAAww/n2ZX_UDS7nw/s320/Fool+Moon.jpg" width="194" /></a></div>
The second book in the Dresden Files series, Fool Moon brings back Harry Dresden as the only professional wizard in the telephone book who also happens to doubles as a consultant to the Chicago Police Department. The second installment in the series finds Harry Dresden lending a hand in solving a series of murders involving the full moon. One real interesting takeaway from this book is that Jim Butcher didn't just stick with plain old werewolves. No, he broke them down into multiple types and styles of wolves. This brings an added dimension as Harry has to find out who the murderer/s is/are and sort out who's good, who's bad, and who's neither.<br />
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Fool Moon also shows the reader more of Dresden's power than Storm Front. In the first novel, I kept waiting for Dresden to do something spectacular, and was often left wondering if he was really so great after all. Fool Moon definitely upped the ante in that respect, and I expect future installments will have Dresden growing even further in power and presence. As far as writing style, it is on par with the first novel.<br />
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I read elsewhere that Jim Butcher wrote the first three novels in the series back to back and then approached a publisher, who picked up all three. Friends have told me that in future installments Butcher's writing gets even better as he better learns his craft and really comes to know the characters. This is good news, because as it stands the first two novels, Storm Front and Fool Moon, are good novels in and of themselves.<br />
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However, besides Dresden's power growing and a new set of baddies, Fool Moon wasn't as intriguing as Storm Front simply because the first time I was introduced to Harry Dresden, I was really interested in the character, the world, and the relationships. In Fool Moon, I don't feel like a lot of new ground was broken with the relationships and Dresden's character from an interpersonal standpoint. Sure he is more powerful (or shows more of his power), but we don't learn too much more about the magical world than <br />
we learned from Storm Front. I would, however, still recommend this as a solid fantasy read that gives hope that future installments will be even better. If you liked Storm Front, you should read Fool Moon if nothing more than as a bridge to the supposed better installments to come.<br />
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<b>Bookophile Rating: Good </b>(For a solid read that shows promise for future installments)<br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?t=thestearevi-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B001BPYD2O&ref=tf_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe>Trevor Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12617108652444038571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1286997869181619792.post-45973264312020319452013-04-15T21:38:00.001-07:002013-08-11T18:10:42.440-07:00Film Review: The Bourne Identity<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_g7ucU0EoOY/UWzVMGF_HJI/AAAAAAAAAgE/a4qSKbPpkiI/s1600/BourneIdentityfilm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_g7ucU0EoOY/UWzVMGF_HJI/AAAAAAAAAgE/a4qSKbPpkiI/s320/BourneIdentityfilm.jpg" width="213" /></a>The Bourne Identity is a 2002 film based on the 1980 novel of the same name. It follows Jason Bourne, an amnesiac attempting to discover his true identity, while terrorist organizations, assassins, and the CIA want him dead (the latter due to a deep-rooted conspiracy). Bourne must use all of his considerable skill to discover the truth before it is too late. This is the first in a franchise that spans four films (so far) as well as three original books by Robert Ludlum and seven additional books by Eric Van Lustbader.<br />
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The film's opening scene was potent. Matt Damon is dragged out of the sea with bullet holes in his back. He is nursed back to health by the Captain of the fishing boat that saved him. He finds his memory is gone and all he has is a tiny metal chip that looks like a grain of rice which can flash a safety deposit box number. He is dropped off in Italy to track down clues to his past. Soon he finds himself on the radar of people intent on killing him.<br />
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Matt Damon gave a thrilling performance as Jason Bourne. It was a part he was meant to play. I personally enjoyed when he randomly broke into various languages without knowing he could speak them. Also, his trick with remembering license plates was humorous.<br />
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The part of Marie, played by Franka Potente, was adequate, though lacked real chemistry with Damon. Probably the thing I liked most about her was the kind of car she drove (an old Mini Cooper). For fans of car chases, you will find there are some great chase scenes in this movie.<br />
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<b>Bookophile Rating: Excellent</b> (For great acting by Damon, and a good plot that unravels splendidly).<br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=thestearevi-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B00023B1LC&ref=tf_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 250px; width: 130px;"></iframe>Trevor Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12617108652444038571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1286997869181619792.post-33743543230460724042013-04-08T21:56:00.002-07:002013-08-11T18:13:44.796-07:00Film Review: A Scanner Darkly<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>A Scanner Darkly</i> is a film based on the novel of the same name by psychedelic master Philip K. Dick. The movie was filmed digitally then filtered by a process called interpolated rotoscope, which gives the film a comic book sort of look that is pretty unique. The main premise of the story is that in the near future, there is a drug epidemic in which much of the population is addicted to a drug called Substance D. The government has created a sort of police-state to deal with the crisis, which results in countless police detectives and snitches around every corner.<br />
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The acting was quite good by the main cast. Notably, Woody Harrelson's drug tripping performance was the most memorable of the bunch. The film deals with mind-bending realities that Philip K. Dick so enjoys exploring. For the most part, <i>A Scanner Darkly</i> is an interesting ride, although at times a terrifying one. Dick had firsthand experience with a multitude of drugs and so his dystopian vision is all the more vivid.<br />
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About the only downside of <i>A Scanner Darkly</i> is at times the pacing is slow and I found myself itching for something to happen. It's one of those films that is much better in retrospect when thinking about the concept, or the idea of the film itself, rather than the quality of the film itself. Although this film never found mainstream success, I believe it is one of the closer adaptations of Philip K. Dick's extensive works and has its place in the hearts of his fans.<br />
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I recommend this film and the source book for fans of Philip K. Dick, dystopian fiction, psychedelic drug trips, and a glimpse into a dark subculture that, though few talk about it, already exists in America today.<br />
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<b>Bookophile Rating: Good </b>(For a film that is enjoyable despite its flaws and offers a new way to show audiences the inner workings of a dark subculture).<br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=thestearevi-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=0547572174&ref=tf_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 250px; width: 130px;"></iframe>Trevor Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12617108652444038571noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1286997869181619792.post-29931168445547256142013-04-07T22:14:00.003-07:002013-04-12T17:44:39.983-07:00Book Review: Einstein's Dreams<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This fascinating work of fiction tells the story of Albert Einstein as a young scientist and the dreams he has while trying to posit the theory of relativity. Each chapter explores a dream, truly capturing the phantasmagoric nature of our dormant minds. During a few interlude sections, Einstein speaks with his friend Michele Besso about the troubling thoughts he's haunted by while sleeping. Alan Lightman does a wonderful job fictionalizing these events. As a reader, I felt it was entirely plausible that Einstein could dream the way described.<br />
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Each chapter's dream explores a different conception of time. While some dreams are entirely nonsense, as is the nature with many dreams, some were truly profound ways to look at the universe and time. Ultimately, it is the human perception of time that is the most elusive to describe. However, Alan Lightman has helped give an understanding of a man who so many idolize, but so few actually knew. I recommend this novel not only to fans of science and Albert Einstein, but also to people who want to discover a new way to look at the world around them.<br />
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<b>Bookophile Rating: Excellent</b> (For groundbreaking insight to the inner workings of one of history's most famous and revered minds).
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<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=thestearevi-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=140007780X&ref=tf_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 250px; width: 130px;"></iframe>Trevor Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12617108652444038571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1286997869181619792.post-5551192870643357542013-04-06T11:09:00.000-07:002013-04-06T11:11:24.293-07:00Book Review: City of Thieves<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kb90Rt42mDg/UWBlQb8p8gI/AAAAAAAAASk/O8tLxCO_e40/s1600/city.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kb90Rt42mDg/UWBlQb8p8gI/AAAAAAAAASk/O8tLxCO_e40/s320/city.jpg" width="240" /></a><i>City of Thieves</i> is a World War II historical fiction novel written in with a dark comedic style fitting for the timeframe. The story is set in Leningrad as two teenagers desperately search for a carton of eggs for soviet officers for a wedding cake. Meanwhile, the Germans are sieging the city and each day becomes more dangerous than the last. It is a coming-of-age story about love and friendship in the darkest of times.<br />
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The story is introduced as the author, David Benioff, speaking to his grandfather about his experiences growing up during World War II. Benioff appears to have taken minute amounts of truth from his grandfather and spun it into a story far grander than the original but no less moving.<br />
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After reading this novel I researched the author and discovered he is one of the co-creators of HBO's Game of Thrones (one of my favorite series'). He is an exceptional writer and is succinct enough to complete a story without bloviating for 500 pages, which I appreciate.<br />
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<b>Bookophile Rating: Excellent</b> (For a well-written piece that shows a unique perspective of one of history's darkest hours and the sliver of good that shines through).
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<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=thestearevi-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=0452295297&ref=tf_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 250px; width: 130px;"></iframe>Trevor Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12617108652444038571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1286997869181619792.post-86132007370990669762013-04-05T12:07:00.000-07:002013-08-11T18:17:04.521-07:00Film Review: Silver Linings Playbook<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The latest craze seems to be the film <i>Silver Linings Playbook,</i> which began as a small independent film with limited release, and grew to amass a box office return more than 10 times its budget (at the time of writing). I saw this movie in theater just after it made it to my town in January and was blown away by the acting by the always-complex Jennifer Lawrence and the usually-shallow Bradley Cooper. Perhaps as intriguing, the film is based on the 2008 debut-novel by Matthew Quick.<br />
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The biggest surprise had to be Bradley Cooper's performance. In my opinion, this is the first role he's played that truly had any amount of depth. His character had a number of mental illnesses that prohibited him (and his family) from leading a normal life. His goal is to get his act together and get his wife to take him back. He plans to do this by finding the "silver linings" in everything, essentially finding small positive ways to look at every situation. This isn't easy, as he has anger issues on top of his other disorders. Hope seems lost, until he meets Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence).<br />
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Tiffany is another example of the Manic Pixie Dream Girl (MPDG), which I've discussed in previous posts. The story is less about her personality and mental disorders, and more about how her presence helps Patrick (Bradley Cooper) get his life back. It's rare with the MPDG motif that the girl actually is manic from a mental illness. In this case, the motif just plain works. Tiffany and Patrick are right for each other on so many levels, the audience is rooting for them from the start.<br />
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<b>Bookophile Rating: Ludicrous! </b>(For probably the best movie of 2012 and some of Jennifer Lawrence's best acting - she won an Oscar for it).
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<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=thestearevi-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=0374533571&ref=tf_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 250px; width: 130px;"></iframe>Trevor Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12617108652444038571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1286997869181619792.post-71554893347834125062013-04-04T11:36:00.000-07:002013-08-11T18:20:08.368-07:00Film Review: The Perks of Being a Wallflower<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Perks-Being-Wallflower-Emma-Watson/dp/B00AFEY354/ref=atv_dvd_twister" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-86dZGia2f4k/UV3Dni4XQnI/AAAAAAAAAPI/X71C3UaDax4/s320/perks.jpg" width="216" /></a></div>
<i>The Perks of Being a Wallflower</i>, based on the bestselling novel by Stephen Chbosky, follows high school freshman "Charlie," the name being an alias to protect his identity. Charlie narrates the film, much like he did in the novel, as though he were writing to an anonymous "friend." Without having read the book, I can see that parts of the film would be difficult to decipher, since a lot of the messages and themes portrayed in the book are through subtext. In this way, if you watch the film once, then watch it again later, you start to pick up on elements you may be kicking yourself for not getting the first time.<br />
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The film is about a boy, Charlie, who is a wallflower (see: loner). Before the events of the film, he witnessed his best friend commit suicide. In addition to that scarring incident, there are elements of his past that are unexplained to the viewer that shape his personality. Before long, he meets Sam, Emma Watson's character. She is a classic example of the Manic Pixie Dream Girl motif. Essentially, she is a character that exists only to break the main character (generally a male) out of their shell by getting them to do things that are out of their comfort zone. It is an overused but nevertheless popular characterization that wasn't as common when the novel was written in 1999, but is all too common today. Regardless, Emma Watson played her part beautifully and the chemistry with Charlie (Logan Lerman) was palpable.<br />
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Besides facets of the story being fairly generic, there are parts that are underrepresented in mainstream film. Topics like homosexuality and abuse are explored in ways uncommon to films for the target age group. I recommend this film to teens and twenty-somethings struggling with their identity and place in the world (so pretty much anyone age 13-29).<br />
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<b>Bookophile Rating:</b> <b>Excellent</b> (For pushing the boundaries and dealing with tough issues in a well-acted, well-directed film)<br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=thestearevi-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B003TSEEDY&ref=tf_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 250px; width: 130px;"></iframe>Trevor Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12617108652444038571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1286997869181619792.post-33976095506285990602013-04-03T17:26:00.001-07:002013-04-04T18:28:25.407-07:00Book Review: The Shadow of the Wind<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/84/TheShadowOfTheWind.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/84/TheShadowOfTheWind.jpg" width="209" /></a>Once in a while, a book comes along that makes you believe
there are still great stories to be told and authors who can make that story
come to life before your eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Carlos
Ruiz Zafón’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Shadow of the Wind</i>
is a book that will change you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He made
me believe in books and the power of the written word in a time when every story
seemed to be about vampires or superficial teenage relationship woes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
Shadow of the Wind</i> is a novel for people who enjoy the act of reading with
every fiber of their being.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The story begins with young Daniel Sempere being led to the Cemetery
of Forgotten Books by his father.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There,
he picks out a book written by Julián Carax.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Soon, he discovers that someone is tracking down all of Carax’s books
and destroying them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Daniel becomes
obsessed with the elusive author of the novel he cherished, soon becoming
entwined in events he never imagined possible. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Shadow of the Wind</i>
is a story about love, finding oneself, and any number of cliché reasons to
write a book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, I have never read
a book that described so vividly the feelings boiling over in the hearts of the
characters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Daniel became real to me
within the first quarter of the novel, so that what he experienced, I felt I
too experienced.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While the themes in the
novel are nothing groundbreaking, the execution and story surrounding those
themes is so well done, I found myself caring more about the message than I
would have if I simply read a synopsis and analysis of the book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a book you have to experience for
yourself to understand what I mean.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Bookophile Rating:</b> <b>Ludicrous!</b> (For some of the best characters and certainly one of the best books I’ve
ever read).</div>
<br />
<br />
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=thestearevi-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=0143034901&ref=tf_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 250px; width: 130px;"></iframe>
Trevor Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12617108652444038571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1286997869181619792.post-40825683548051376132013-04-02T18:00:00.001-07:002013-04-04T18:29:29.350-07:00Book Review: City of Bones<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/0f/City_of_Bones.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/0f/City_of_Bones.jpg" width="212" /></a>After seeing the preview for the film "City of Bones," coming out this August, I decided to read the book and start myself on a new series. I should have read the endorsement from Stephanie Meyer on the front of the book before reading so I knew what I was in for.<br />
<br />
The story revolves around a teenage girl, Clary, who witnesses a supernatural murder. After a series of events, she finds herself thrust into a world of angels and demons in which her role is far more important than everyone (except the reader) foresees. Clary discovers she is a Shadowhunter, or, a half-human, half-angel demon-killing machine. Being the first book in a trilogy, City of Bones sets itself up for its sequels nicely, but ends in an anticlimactic and abrupt fashion. <br />
<br />
The first couple chapters sparked my interest, but it was mostly downhill from there. The sentence structure was juvenile, which makes sense based on the target audience (teen girls who are normally not voracious readers). The characters were thinly portrayed and leave a lot open to reader
interpretation. This quality might actually help the film version, as
the director and actors can use creative license to really mold their own characters to whatever they wish. About the only thing Cassandra Clare does well is end each chapter with a cliffhanger, enticing the reader to continue on their path to mindless entertainment.<br />
<br />
<b>Bookophile Rating</b>: <b>Poor</b> (For a predictable story that is poorly executed, yet somehow addicting). <br />
<br />
<br />
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=thestearevi-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=1416955070&ref=tf_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 250px; width: 130px;"></iframe>
Trevor Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12617108652444038571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1286997869181619792.post-37864613911347236202012-11-13T19:05:00.000-08:002013-04-03T21:17:25.869-07:00Replica: A Short Story<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Replica-A-Short-Story-ebook/dp/B00A6XOAJI/ref=la_B005B02R1O_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1352861718&sr=1-5" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mDvPqIoHBPE/UKMIghzH3MI/AAAAAAAAAKE/W9-p3xqHUK0/s320/Replica+-+Short+Story.jpg" title="" width="207" /></a>Please check out my newest short story, entitled <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Replica-A-Short-Story-ebook/dp/B00A6XOAJI/ref=la_B005B02R1O_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1352861718&sr=1-5"><b>Replica</b></a>.<br />
<br />
In the year 2054, Army Sergeant Logan Martel hunts for an insurgent
plotting a horrific attack on the west. It is in this world of
high-tech equipment and prolific robotics that Logan finds himself set
adrift, searching for what's left of his own humanity. Will he find
what he's looking for? Or will he become merely a replica of his former
self?<br />
<br />
This 4,464 word Short Story will make you question the future of robotics and humanity. Available on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Replica-A-Short-Story-ebook/dp/B00A6XOAJI/ref=la_B005B02R1O_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1352861718&sr=1-5">Amazon</a> for .99 cents. Nook version coming soon.
<br />
<br />
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=thestearevi-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B00A6XOAJI&ref=tf_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 250px; width: 130px;"></iframe>Trevor Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12617108652444038571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1286997869181619792.post-3549322556962815622012-11-11T20:50:00.000-08:002013-04-04T18:29:22.260-07:00Book Review: The Natanz Directive<a href="http://waynesimmons.us/s/cc_images/cache_2603012204.jpg?t=1331590582" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://waynesimmons.us/s/cc_images/cache_2603012204.jpg?t=1331590582" width="213" /></a>The Natanz Directive is an international espionage thriller written by Wayne Simmons and Mark Graham. It follows Jake Conlan around the world in his attempt to confirm reports of Iran's nuclear program and, if possible, disrupt those programs before it's too late. It's been a while since I've read a thriller as timely as this one. While reading it I turned on the news and found the stories on TV eerily similar to what was happening in the novel. I found Wayne Simmons' experience in the intelligence community helped make the novel believable down to the smallest details.<br />
<br />
The writing style was really the only downside of this novel. The main character was likeable enough, but the sentences were written awkwardly and there were many out-of-place references to songs that disrupted the flow of the story. Ultimately I was glad I slogged through the first two thirds of the novel so I could reach the climax, which was exciting, though I feel it wrapped things up too quickly and too nicely. This was perhaps the only deviation from the realm of possibility in the novel. Real covert missions seldom wrap up that nicely with a little bow on top. I would expect there to be political consequences, inquiries, a change in international ties, or something as a result of this mission. None of those consequences were mentioned and it felt as though the author said, "And they lived happily ever after. The end." Give me a break.<br />
<br />
<b>Bookophile Rating</b>: <b>Average</b> (For a decent story that failed mostly in the subtle underpinnings and performed about average in everything else).<br />
<br />
<br />
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=thestearevi-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B00842HD1K&ref=tf_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 250px; width: 130px;"></iframe>Trevor Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12617108652444038571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1286997869181619792.post-44561310613667338512012-11-10T21:03:00.000-08:002013-04-04T18:29:42.184-07:00Book Review: The Hunters<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ntxv7mgHwsU/UJ8xO-uz6-I/AAAAAAAAAJs/LHVPbP9OsNQ/s1600/TheHunters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ntxv7mgHwsU/UJ8xO-uz6-I/AAAAAAAAAJs/LHVPbP9OsNQ/s320/TheHunters.jpg" title="" width="212" /></a></div>
The Hunters, written by James Salter, is a gritty tale of Korean War pilots attempting to become "aces" by felling five enemy MiGs. The story is centered around Captain Cleve Connell and his fighter wing. Within the ranks there are bitter rivalries and the best of friends, but one prevailing theme is wingmanship. <br />
<br />
The writing itself was juvenile at times and powerful yet simple in others. Every once in a while, Salter came through with a real gem of a thought, though the rest of the novel seemed to drag its feet from plot point to plot point. Thinking of the novel in retrospect, however, those key moments that were done well are the ones best remembered. Luckily, the novel is short enough that it didn't feel as though I was wasting my time because the overarching plot was actually interesting.<br />
<br />
The book is very loosely based on Salter's time in the Korean War which shows through with his thorough insight into what it was like to be a fighter pilot in the fifties. Despite parts that dragged and sporadic infantile sentence structure, I would recommend this book to those that are interested in Air Force history or aviation. I would not recommend this book to those who cherish good storytelling in addition to a good story. Sometimes, it's all in how it's said.<br />
<br />
<b>Bookophile Rating: Average</b> (For poor sentence structure and story flow, but redeeming qualities in overall plot and quaint fifties nuances).<br />
<br />
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=thestearevi-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B008PSP2AW&ref=tf_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 250px; width: 130px;"></iframe>Trevor Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12617108652444038571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1286997869181619792.post-89843644925447117092012-11-09T22:02:00.002-08:002013-04-04T18:29:52.466-07:00Book Review: Physics of the Future<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-67vYEAoAy6k/UJ8yR4tGD7I/AAAAAAAAAJ0/9tLi3LvtQ6k/s1600/science-book-physics-of-the-future-michio-kaku.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-67vYEAoAy6k/UJ8yR4tGD7I/AAAAAAAAAJ0/9tLi3LvtQ6k/s320/science-book-physics-of-the-future-michio-kaku.jpg" title="" width="211" /></a>For several years I've turned on the TV and watched the silver-haired physicist Michio Kaku equate complex theoretical physics to something the lay-person can relate to. This book is no different. Physics of the Future takes the form several futurists have used in the past, but one that is relevant today. Like Jules Verne, Kaku makes bold predictions of how the next century will pan out. In retrospect, Verne's predictions were mostly conservative, regardless of how outlandish they must have seemed at the time. However, Kaku consulted with over 300 scientists at the top of their respective fields to weave a tapestry of what future advancements could look like. It was with that mindset that I began reading Physics of the Future.<br />
<br />
Michio Kaku splits up his volume into several chapters, each dealing with a different type of technological advancement. I found the chapters on Biotechnology and Medicine the most interesting, though they dealt little with physics. It seems only a matter of time, by Kaku's calculations, that humans will be able to live forever, or near enough to make no matter. Growing new organs, robotic limbs, soon the stuff of science fiction will not only be possible, it will be commonplace.
Kaku's vision of the future is more optimistic than others I've read in the past. It seems his work is focused on what can be accomplished without any setbacks or global catastrophes. I, for one, believe the next hundred years could look a lot different if things keep going the way they are. However, people in the late 19th and early 20th century probably thought the same in their time, only to be proven wrong in the end. Most of Kaku's predictions are probable, which makes you think about how little our world has advanced in previous centuries as compared with the previous hundred years and certainly the coming hundred years.
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<b>Bookophile Rating: Good</b> (For optimism and insight into the possibilities that only a few years ago would have been laughed at as impossible)<br />
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=thestearevi-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B004FGLX2Y&ref=tf_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 250px; width: 130px;"></iframe>Trevor Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12617108652444038571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1286997869181619792.post-80001934465494095002011-12-09T11:03:00.000-08:002013-04-03T21:20:45.774-07:00Memory Leak Free on Kindle 12/9 to 12/14!Get my Sci/fi Thriller Memory Leak for <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Memory-Leak-ebook/dp/B004I6EM60/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1323287479&sr=1-1">free</a> on kindle from 12/9 to 12/14! <br />
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Please 'buy' a copy for free on the kindle and review it! This goes for you bloggers too! Get it <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Memory-Leak-ebook/dp/B004I6EM60/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1323287479&sr=1-1">HERE</a>!<br />
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Synopsis:<br />
Every night, Jonathan Hart dreams of a cracked wasteland in the setting sun. By morning the image retreats to his subconscious mind. Again, he finds himself in a city of symmetrical people, where he is anonymous in his perfection. A voice in his head tells him there is more to life than following the will of his supreme leader, Liam Mail, and that there is more to his own life than he can remember. That there are things he can’t remember about the city of symmetricals that could tear down the fabric of his world. Now, Jonathan must fight against the forces that suppress his memories before his mind is damaged beyond repair. Can Jonathan expose the twisted truth about the symmetrical elite, and in doing so restore society to its flawed asymmetrical origins? Or will his efforts explode and create a MEMORY LEAK?<br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=thestearevi-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B004I6EM60&ref=tf_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 250px; width: 130px;"></iframe>Trevor Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12617108652444038571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1286997869181619792.post-12451336234905676762011-11-25T18:02:00.000-08:002013-04-03T21:21:31.617-07:00Memory Leak on sale for .99 CentsIt's Black Friday and that means it's time for some shameless self-promotion! My sci/fi thriller novel, Memory Leak, is on sale for .99 cents on Kindle. Here's a link to the Kindle store:<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Memory-Leak-ebook/dp/B004I6EM60/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f2Y06SqAFww/TtBHjHKGNdI/AAAAAAAAAI0/211ovC5F0bw/s200/MemoryLeak.jpg" width="130" /></a></div>
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Also, here's a couple links to some fellow bloggers who have reviewed my book. If you're a blogger who would like to review my book, message me and I'll get you a review .pdf.<br />
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<a href="http://ricsreviews.blogspot.com/2011/01/book-memory-leak-by-trevor-schmidt.html"><b>Ric's Reviews</b></a><br />
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<a href="http://freebookreviews.blogspot.com/2011/11/book-review-memory-leak-by-trevor.html?m=0"><b>Free Book reviews</b></a><br />
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Have a synopsis:<br />
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Every night, Jonathan Hart dreams of a cracked wasteland in the setting sun. By morning the image retreats to his subconscious mind. Again, he finds himself in a city of symmetrical people, where he is anonymous in his perfection. A voice in his head tells him there is more to life than following the will of his supreme leader, Liam Mail, and that there is more to his own life than he can remember. That there are things he can't remember about the city of symmetricals that could tear down the fabric of his world. Now, Jonathan must fight against the forces that suppress his memories before his mind is damaged beyond repair. Can Jonathan expose the twisted truth about the symmetrical elite, and in doing so restore society to its flawed asymmetrical origins? Or will his efforts explode and create a MEMORY LEAK?<br />
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If you take a shot at my book, please review it on Amazon or Bn.com!
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<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=thestearevi-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B004I6EM60&ref=tf_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 250px; width: 130px;"></iframe>Trevor Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12617108652444038571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1286997869181619792.post-33248720851218141642011-11-04T12:00:00.000-07:002013-04-04T18:30:08.769-07:00Book Review: The Anubis Gates<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51BLang-rCL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_xMVLS5Z3C3I/TAaBhi9CvLI/AAAAAAAAAU8/1fr9DieIfZ4/s1600/anubis_cover.jpg" width="215" /></a></div>
My cousin sent me this book a while back and I was lucky enough to heed her advice and read the damn thing. The Anubis Gates follows the exploits of a historian named Brendan Doyle who travels back in time to the 19th century and is kidnapped by a group of gypsies. He misses his window to get back to his own time and must deal with life in the 19th century. Doyle is thrust into a world of magic, murder, and intrigue as he tries to stop a plot to unleash the wrath of ancient Egyptian Gods on London, all the while trying to find a way back home. <br />
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Tim Powers writes with a voice similar to the works of Jules Verne and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, completely appropriate for a work mostly set in the 19th century. He weaves a complex plot that twists and turns creating a tapestry through time. Unlike many other works, the complexities of the plot aren't due to an overabundance of characters, rather, they are due to intricacies and subtleties in dialogue and a history that is similar to our own but riddled with minute tweaks that make this work of fiction feel plausible.<br />
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After I finished The Anubis Gates I researched Tim Powers a bit and found that he does a lot of Alternate Histories. He's got a good niche and he's better at the Alternate History game than some of the other authors I've read in the genre. <br />
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I'd recommend this book to fans of Alternate Histories, 19th Century literature (including Conan Doyle, H.G. Wells, and Jules Verne), and fans of Steampunk. While the Steampunk elements are subtle at times, they are woven in throughout in a way that made me smile to myself while I read. <br />
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<b>Bookophile Rating: Ludicrous!</b><br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=thestearevi-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=0441004016&ref=tf_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 250px; width: 130px;"></iframe>Trevor Schmidthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12617108652444038571noreply@blogger.com0