In his book, ‘Lord Skyler and the Earth Defense Force,’ author Matt T. Schott tells the story about an alien invasion on earth and a group of teenagers who fight to retake the planet from the aliens.

                                                                                     

Jacob Skyler is a typical teenager unsure of his future and feels the pressure of a father wanting him to make important life decisions. One night, Jacob and his friends Terry and Doug are driving to a movie when they are suddenly confronted with a series of lights and thunderous rumblings and then lose consciousness. When they wake up, they find that life as they knew it is gone forever. An alien force called the Titans has invaded earth and killed much of the human population and enslaved others to help take all of the earth’s natural resources. Jacob, his friends, and other teenagers are rescued by another alien race, the Flarconeans, who are “galaxy protectors of peaceful societies.” Jacob and the others are taken to the Flarconeans’ home planet where they train for a year to fight the Titans and retake the planet. When they return to earth, they embark on the fight of their lives.  

 

As science fiction, ‘Lord Skyler and the Earth Defense Force,’ is an exciting alien adventure with vividly described aliens, spaceships, and fierce battles. Readers will identify with Jacob Skyler, once an insecure teenager, who undergoes significant character growth as he transitions into manhood. The relationships of the young teens emphasizes a “band of brothers” united against a great evil.  A common theme throughout the book is the resilience of the human spirit. As well, the theme of revenge evolves to that of fighting to save humanity. Although Jacob did have a close relationship with one of the female characters, there was no real love plot to the story. A love story would have been an interesting plot as teenagers tend to have budding hormones.

 

The story reminded me of a blend of the movies’ ‘War of the Worlds,’ and ‘Wolverines.’ ‘Lord Skyler and the Earth Defense Force,’ is highly recommended to readers who enjoy fast-paced science fiction stories with non-stop action and adventure.

                                                  

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In his book, Banished to Eden, author U.S. Marine Sr. presents a science fiction story that takes readers to a futuristic world where society has become a government designed utopia. U.S. Marine tells a story of one woman’s struggle to find her humanity.

 

The world is the product of a tumultuous past between the United States of Americas and the Europa Union which caused people to move underground and live in sub cities. In the year 2245, the threat of nuclear war became realized and the result was overpopulation, disease, and famine that threatened to wipe out the entire human population. The Government took drastic action and put a chemical in the water that inhibited the human sex drive in order to stop reproduction. The Government then added another chemical in the water that reduced the biological differences between men and women. Laws were created where woman became the dominant gender and all references to sexuality, family, and relationships were outlawed. This included such luxuries as magazines, movies, music, and dancing. The Government becomes the all powerful entity controlling the future of its people.

 

Shannon is a chemist working in the water department. She is told by the Chief of the Water Department that she is being considered as her replacement. In order to replace the Chief, Shannon must volunteer to be a maternal candidate (become pregnant) in order to earn enough social credits to be considered for the position. Extra social credits allowed females to accumulate social points faster than males and this helped them obtain promotions over males. Shannon learns of humanity’s past and decides to stop drinking the water. As her physical features return, she becomes more in sync with her womanhood and her maternal side. An accidental miscarriage causes Shannon to take extreme and illegal measures to become pregnant again. Her plan involves the illegal seduction of the chosen father. When they are caught, they are put on trial for their crimes. The result is banishment to a new experimental world on the surface where they learn what it means to be human.

 

With its dystopian warning of the future, Banished to Eden is an intriguing and compelling novel that touches on many of the themes associated with Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World.  In Banished to Eden, humanity consists of dehumanized people dominated by a technological empowered government. It is a futuristic science fiction novel that delves into many philosophical and ethical issues regarding free will, the role of men and women and how they are defined by society, the social consequences of a government with absolute power and control, and the human condition as it applies to love, family, and maternal instincts. Readers will be drawn into the plot and empathize with Shannon’s struggle to find her true self.

 

In regards to the writing style, I did find some instances where there could have been a little more “show” and a little less “tell.” Although I understand that using names of real people, such as Neil Armstrong, for a few characters was a symbolic tool, it probably wasn’t necessary. Other than a few minor points, the author has successfully created a believable work of science fiction.

 

Banished to Eden is a novel that is worthy of much discussion. I could see this book being adapted as a movie script. It is highly recommended as an entertaining and compelling work of science fiction.

 

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In Warriors and Goddesses: Random Mode, author Jerome Byrd, picks up where his last book, Warriors and Goddesses: Full Moon, ended.  On the planet known as Androgynous Prime, the adventures of Darkasan, a human abducted from Earth and taken to this brutal and unforgiving world, and the various alien female and male tribes of Warriors and Goddesses continues.

 

In a world where primal instincts dictate actions, the plot of the story centers around the breakdown of tribal regions where all tribes struggle to survive and dominate a chaotic and violent society. As a continuation of the first book, violence, the use of sexuality and sensuality as powerful weapons, revenge, and primal lusts are predominant themes integrated within the struggle for power and control of a lawless society. New themes that are introduced in the storyline include the evolvement of such emotions as love, compassion, and the struggle to acknowledge and accept the need for cooperation among tribes in order to achieve some sort of primitive system of tolerance.

 

Jerome Byrd is very successful at maintaining the consistency of characters from one book to the next. As well, character development is well plotted with emerging qualities that include fear, hope, and love.

 

As with the first book, the violent and sexual imagery are better suited for adult readers. With the continuation of the series, I would like to see how the tribes evolve from primitive sexual violence as a way of obtaining power to more of an intellectual quest for a civil society. Because the story picks up where the last book ended, it may be helpful to read the first book, Warriors and Goddesses: Full Moon, to obtain a better understanding of Androgynous Prime and its alien inhabitants.

 

As a story that blends Dark Fantasy with Science Fiction, Warriors and Goddesses: Random Mode is a page-turning story that will be enjoyed by science fiction and fantasy readers.

 

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