For eleven years, the Earth has been recovering from the supernova flare, but in the heart of the Texas Hill Country, a new threat has arisen, a bandit horde brutal enough to send Helen Black, the independent minded horse doctor and rugged survivor of the Star Time to seek help from the Austin City Guards. Only James Fuller, son of the despotic Mayor, has his own priorities, with no time for the pretty, but rude and outspoken girl he'd met only once before, when they were children. The fate of the city and all its people depended on what he could do with a handful of troops, broken machinery with empty fuel tanks -- and the obscure and puzzling words of the city's infallible fortune teller. The Techno civilization was gone, but would everything descend into the horrors of the Hunters Cult, or would this be the start of a bright new future? Helen and James were the keys to it all.
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When I picked up this book, I had no idea what to expect. I'd recently finished Mr. Melton's "Follow That Mouse" and while I enjoyed it, this book didn't seem to be of the same type of book. Guess what! It wasn't!

I can't recall when or if I've ever read a book that was futuristic but at the same time wasn't filled with advanced technology. It was really interesting to see how people were living without the modern technology that we so often take for granted. It made me chuckle to think about how people get on me about how many cookbooks I have when everything is available online. In this book, there was no internet. I guess I'd be doing a bit better than some, huh?

If I have one complaint about this book, it's the ending. I don't want to give anything away so I'll just say that it felt a bit forced. Other than that, the character development felt honest and seeing some people turn to bad while others did what they could to help others felt real. It wasn't until I reached the end of the book that I discovered that this was actually book two in the series. I'm going to be looking for the other books in this series so I can let you guys know if you should pick up just this one or the whole set!

As for this book, I can say... Yes! If you come across this book, pick it up and check it out! I don't think you'll regret it.



I received a copy of this book for the purpose of this review. All thoughts, comments, and opinions are my own.
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Dot Comal loved her home town, although the Utah ranching community of Ranch Exit was too small to call a 'town'. She had her horse, Pokey, and her father to care for, and Ned from the next ranch over was comfortable to be around when he showed up on his motorcycle. But things were changing. The animals, and even her father, were showing signs of a growing irrational rage. Only Watson Winekia, the old Paiute shaman claimed any knowledge of what was happening, but he was too old and he expected Dot to heal the valley. She was at a loss, until a strange mouse led her to bigger secrets than she'd ever imagined, hidden below her feet. She had to wield mysteries hidden for decades quickly, before her home town and everything she loved was wiped off the map Hang on to your reality, because Henry Melton, award winning author of the YA adventures Emperor Dad and Lighter Than Air, takes us on an adventure just on the other side of the line into fantasy.

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If you recall, I've reviewed a couple of other books by Henry Melton and I pointed out that he was better suited writing full novels versus short stories. It turns out that I was right! In my first foray into his full length novels, I was pleased to discover that not only did this book hold my attention, it had me picking it up every time I tried to put it down.

This book is a great blend of small town, sci-fi, and fantasy. I loved the aspects of magic mixed with science. When I finished it, my first thought was to wonder whether or not there had been a sequel written to this book. Unfortunately, I didn't find anything that indicated that there was. So, I guess you'll just have to read this one and if you enjoy it, write the author some fan mail asking him to tell all of us what happens next!



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From the dusty tracks of the Moon to the volcanoes beneath the sea, with a few side trips to alien planets and alternate reality, these short fiction stories from Henry Melton’s collection will give your imagination a good stretch.

Here are a variety of tales, from whimsy to adventures to serious speculation. A few have seen print in the traditional science fiction magazines or in anthologies, but the majority are new, seeing print under an ISBN stamped cover for the first time.

The Attorney for Passenger Pigeons
Duck and Cover
Maggie’s Marbles
The Third Wish
Wildlife
Going Green
The Manta
Turkey Dinner
Milemarkers
It’s a Wonderful Morning
In a Black Mood
Partly Murphy
The Christmas Count

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As promised, I'm back with the review for Volume 2! I am thrilled to say that this one is far better than volume 1. Where volume 1 was filled with what felt like unfinished stories, volume 2 is filled with completed ones. In fact, of the thirteen or so stories, I think there was only one or two that didn't feel finished. I have to say that my favorite story in this volume was The Manta. It was quite a bit longer than the other stories, but it really felt fully fleshed out. This book is filled with stories of the bizarre, stories that you want to lose yourself in, and some that are just plain interesting.

While I'd suggest giving Volume 1 a pass, I can recommend that you pick up Volume 2.



I received a copy of this book for the purpose of this review. All thoughts, comments, and opinions are my own. 
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A girl plays a video game and gets more than she bargained for. A talking wristwatch leads a man on a search for forgetfulness.

Henry Melton’s short fiction has been gracing magazines and anthologies since the 70’s. Beginning in 2011, he has begun an on-line magazine to collect these old stories, and many new ones, into a place were new readers can discover them. This is the first volume of a series to collect some of these short tales and adventures into traditional anthologies.

Catacomb
Everybody Knows Bob
Litterbug
Patterns
The One
Bad Blood
Coldseeker
Forget It!
Far Exile
Making It Fit

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This is another book that I found stashed in my review pile that I'm working hard to get through. As a lover of a well written short story who is also on a busy schedule, I thought this one would be perfect. I could read a bit and stop when I needed to. I can be smart when I want to. ;)

As for this book in particular, honestly, I was left a bit disappointed. Of the 10 stories in the book, only 2 felt completed. The others felt far too open ended, as if the author had started something larger, got bored with it and just left it how it was. What's there is enjoyable, but from the first story in the book, I was left hanging and after a couple of these, it becomes a rather uncomfortable feeling. I'm hoping for better luck with volume 2 which is next up in the stack.




I received a copy of this book for the purpose of this review. All thoughts, comments, and opinions are my own.

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