A lot of things happened in the eighties. Pac man was big, as was rubik’s cube. Walter Cronkite retired after nineteen years doing the news and Harrison Ford stared in Raiders. Meryl Streep took home…..well everything. My dad cast his first vote and Ronald Regan was president. (Please note, dad says he is not to be held responsible for that last one.)
And a young college student set out writing one really cool and funny comic strip, then went on to write screen plays, novels, ect. His characters have become American icons, say one of their names and people all over the world know who you are talking about.

This time around I thought I would review a book collection of one of dad and Jenny’s favorite strips.

Bloom County The complete collection volume one. By Berkeley Breathed.
Review by Darcy Low

The book has comic strips from Mr Breathed very first comics that he did in his college paper, up to 1982. His first drawings were funny, but doesn’t look at all like they do later on. But you can still see his humor and a few of his characters that he stuck with.
The book starts out with even more of a treat after, we get to see for the first time anywhere; six comic strips he did “For emergencies” ; which means these are one papers can use when they need one quick. I guess cartoonist have to do that, i mean think about it; they must have to do a lot and turn them in at once? Just to keep up.

Then we get into the beggingins of Bloom County itself and it characters. First we meet are two older folks. One is a old man at a Burger King.  Now back in the day, you could order a hambuger anyway you want and back then you got it. It was Burger King’s motto. So he goes in and ask for a burger with out a bun. (Which we can get now.) After arguing with the guy behind the counter he gets what he wants. Then the guys asks if there will be anything else? “Milkshake, no cup.” Hehehe

Turns out that is Milo Bloom’s Grandpa that everyone calls the general. The general is like a lot older people I know from here. Still living the war, not trusting people and looking for “Darn Ruskies” under every rock and behind every tree. He is a big supporter of any war types in office and congress and feels the best answer to any troubles is to nuke em!
Milo Bloom is a heavy set young boy, maybe my age or so. He has glasses and is not at all afraid to speak his mind. He has a lot of views and points out things that people miss.
Later on we see him take on a role at the local small town paper as a reporter. He has dreams of being the next Walter Kronkite, but really comes off as one of those writers for the tabloids. Oftend making up wild stories about a crocked senitor that lives in town. Half the stuff he prints is made up, but turns out some are pretty close to being true too. One Funny strip shows Milo sitting at the obituary desk of the newspaper looking bored. He reaches over to a large telephone book and dials a number. “Hello? Mrs Johnson? Okay just checking.” HEHEHE!
Yeah okay bad taste I know, still funny.
Milo lives in a old boarding house. Most of the tennats are older people, but the nerby meadow is full of talking animals. Bunnies, bears, beavers, ect. All of them act like humans. With issues and concerns the same as ours. They love going to movies, protesting anything that will treaten them, and aren’t afraid to bring tomatoes to the senitor’s speaches.

Other peolpe of note are Steve Dallas, the local lawyer. He feels he is quite the ladies man, always hitting on women and always single. Bobbi Harlow, Bloom County’s first women liber; she becomes the new school teacher, ready to enlighten the girls and teach the men in the town a thing or two. Cutter John, a geeky guy in a wheel chair; loves Star Trek and Bobbi, also talks to the animals but more on that in a bit.
Then there is Milo’s friend and classmate Blinkey. Blinkey is a very shy very skinny kid. He likes reading, hanging out with Milo, and waking up his father at 3am with shocking celebrity news updates. His father, who recently got laid off; is not amused and thinks Blinkey is a dork. He keeps trying to get he to be more “manly” by getting into football and stuff. But he is not cut out for that, and would rather parley than tackle. (or get tackled.)
Then there is Bill the cat. Bill is a stray that some one let into the boarding house. Has seen better days and spends most of his time eating, sleeping and coughing up fur balls. He somehow manages to get his own toy and tshirt line though.

Lastly there is Opus. EVERYONE knows him, so what can you say? He starts out life in Bloom County as a Blinkey’s pet. Still learning words with the help of Mr Rodgers and tv, he later becomes everything from a cow in the christmas school play, Meadow party vice president canidant, to Mr Spock.

The whole book is full of comics, each one as funny as the last. You get to see the character progress and react to what is really going on in the real world at the time. Also, along each comic is the story behind it, or something that was happening in history at the time.Which is really cool to me. A lot of the people in politics I had no idea who they were, those little notes helped me get the jokes. Also made me research as well.

History lessons from a comic strip, hehe; who would have thought huh?

The book is a hard bound, coffee table size book from the libray of American comics. and comes with it’s own ribbon book mark. Volume two has just come out as well so make sure to check out both. Oh and parents, younger kids may not get the jokes; but there is nothing offensive that i saw here. I might recommend it for like 12 and up. That way they understand a little more.

Mr Breathed has gone on to write novels, one of my farovite movie screen plays; “Second hand Lions” And is working on a new movie called, “Mars needs moms.” How can you pass that up??

You can find more over on his web site at:
http://www.berkeleybreathed.com/

Go check it out and enjoy the books, this one is a keeper and I look forward to reading volume two.

Darcy

The web of Titan – by Dom Testa
A book review by Darcy Low

“When the tail of the comet Bhaktul flicks though Earth’s atmosphere, deadly particles are left in it’s wake. Suddenly mankind is confronted with a virus that devastates the adult population. Only those under the age of eighteen seem to be immune. Desperate to save humanity, a renowned scientist proposes a bold plan: to create a ship that will carry a crew of 251 teenagers to a home in a distant solar system. Two years later, the Galahad and it’s crew, none of eighteen; is launched.”

Okay I have to be careful here because this is the second book to the series, and I don’t want to spoil the first in order to review the second. So bear with me, I’ll touch on parts of the first just a little. I have not read the first book myself, but that’s okay. The writer weaved the storyline tough out this one, so you learn what went on and how things went.

It is months, (I think) later from the events of the first book, the crew of the Galahad are well on their way to there new home, having just gotten to the rings of Saturn. The crew itself is broken up into teams, each one having been trained to perform certain tasks, farming, tech, nursing, ect. The ship itself has areas set up for everything you could ever want, a gym with a floating skateboard track, class rooms so they can still study for the skills they will need, a sickbay, and a lunch room to name a few.

Our main characters make up the Council leaders of the ship. Triana is the leader of the council and she seems to be a natural born leader. She is always concerned about the others, and really keeps her head when things get crazy, thinking thing though and talking things out with other people on her team. She has feelings for two boys on the ship, and is dealing with that. Not certain about it all, being unsure of their feelings she is trying hard not to hurt either one. Add that to the thing that comes up and she has a lot to juggle. But she manages very well, and her actions and feelings make sense and (for once) are not stereo type teenage stuff like you find in most YA books.

Bon is one of the boys. He is a big, tall swede who is the head of the farming crew that feeds everyone. He is rather grumpy and even gruff at times, but he takes farming very seriously. He grew up on a farm and I think it helps him deal with what happened back on earth, the lost of his family. He too is dealing with his feelings, but he is like a lot of boys i know; he keeps his feelings bottled up. Which is part of his gruff and hard to get along with rep. He is a perfectionist when it comes to the farming, which is understandable, seeing how he and his crew are feeding everyone.

Roc is the ship’s computer and is the voice of the scientist who dreamed up the whole program. He was given no only the voice, but the man’s wisdom and insight as well. He was also given something of a personality, which is really funny at times. He runs the entire ship, but still manages to joke, tease the crew. He also acts a the story teller at the beginning of each chapter, sometimes filling you in on what happened in the first book and also letting you know how perfect he is. hehe.

Next up is Gap, one of my favorite characters. He is the crews chief tech guy, he is a computer wiz and is extremely smart. Even to the point of keeping up with Roc on a lot of things. He is also the ship’s best and fastest skateboarder, but a accident has now left him with a hurt collar bone and his arm in a sling. So he is dealing with the issue of being afraid of taking a chance again, with skating; and with his feelings towards Triana. I really liked how his character is written, you can see his fears and also can see how he grows as a person. He has a great sense of humor as well, but when the pressure is on; he really steps up to the plate.

The last main character I wanted to mention is Lita. She is in charge of the sick bay and is incredibly smart. She has this quirk about her too, she has to have everything organized just so. Like, when she is working at a desk; say writing in her journal. Her journal has to line up perfectly with the edge on the desk, and if she sets her pen down it lines up with the journal, etc. I am not sure what it’s called but I seen people do this. This just made her that more interesting to me.

The story picks up, as I said after the events of the first book. The crew, while still rattled; are still excited about coming so far in their journey. They are nearing Saturn, when they pick up a blip on the radar. The scanner identifies it as a life pod sent out into space from a base that was set up on the moon Titan. It held a group of scientists that no one had heard from in a long time. Thinking it my hold a clue, they swing by and pick it up, transferring it to one of the bays that hold their shuttle crafts. When they finally open it, all they find though is a empty container that would hold a person in animation for a trip into space, and a little kitten. (Pretty odd don’t ya think?)

Once the kitten gets checked out, they find food, cat toys, and stuff for the little kitten, and a note from a female doctor. The note itself makes little sense, along with one of the toys. It is a small silver ball with little bumps on it. When they roll it to the little kitten, she is not at all interested in it. (Stranger still.)

Meanwhile, there is a beam of some sort that is being aimed at the ship from Titan itself, and no matter how fast they go or the distance, it manages to hit the ship dead on. Then some of the crew members change, starting with Bon. People get sick with bad headaches that get worst over time, despite taking medicine. And Bon’s eyes turn a bright orange. When others come down with the same thing, they rush them all to sick bay. But the crew has no idea what it is or how to treat it.

The beam then starts to effect the ship it self, starting with random power outages, then taking over the ship all together, steadily increasing the speed and burning up the engines. As the ship reaches unheard of speeds and the engines near the melting point, Bon starts to talk, only he speaks in 12 languages, all at once and all on top of each other!

Can the crew come up with a way to shield the ship from the beam or somehow get away from it? Can they do it in time before the ship is torn apart? Will they find a cure for this sickness in the crew? And what is really causing it in the first place? And what is up with the strange metal ball?

This book took a little while to get going, but once it does you had better hang on tight! I mean to tell you I was really turning pages not able to wait to see what happens next. It’s that good! The suspense, the fact that you get involved with each character and their lives, their back grounds and how much they scarf iced just to get on board, you really want them to find the answers and fast.

Get this series guys! If you love sci fi, space, adventure; get this one. It really pulls you in and keeps you interested. The drama between the boys and the girls, who likes who, how do they feel for each other etc; is what we teen go though a lot. And when your on a spaceship for years or more, relationships are going to happen. Kind of have to happen really, I mean with so many adults passing away, they might have to populate this planet they are heading off too. I thought the writer did a real good job of making each character different and also I liked how the acted with each other. They were all interesting and I wouldn’t mind being friends with any of them.

I am looking forward to the next book, there is a short bit of it in the back of this book. I can’t say much about it because there is a spoiler in it. And i want you guys t read these.

Thanks to Aunt Lori and Uncle Mike, this was a really great birthday gift.

Darcy

Hey guys,
Well since Ashley and I are in a contest to see who can read the most books this summer, you get to see what I am reading in the order I read it. I am more than likely lose some greek creed on this one, seeing how I never read any of the books until now. But with this version of the first book; I think I might have found a gateway. A gateway into a really cool world full of dragons, lost gods, magic, adventure, and “Wizened thirteen year olds.” This time around, I am going to take you to Krynn. As we discover.

Dragonlance : Dragons of autumn twilight. (A graphic novel)
Reviewed by Darcy Low

” A dark and perilous time has dawned in a world beloved by fantasy readers the world over. Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman’s realm of Krynn has fallen under the shadow of war, as vile creatures threaten once peaceful citizens. Now, a unlikely band of companions must embark on a desperate quest. Or watch as all they hold dear is consumed in flame.” – From the back cover.

Wow, just wow. How could have ever gone so long without picking this series up? That’s what I kept asking myself the whole time I was reading this. Dad has been telling me about it for years, and I heard so much about it. Yet something else would always catch my eye and I’s never take down the big volume of the first three books off dad’s shelf and dive in. Then one day while walking though my uncle’s hobby shop, I see this graphic novel sitting among others on a rack. Dragonlance. That word just brings up images doesn’t it? Dragons, knights in armor fight them, and magical weapons forged to take them down. Oh this book did have all of that, but there was so much more. Get comfy guys, I know a lot of you are already fans, but for some this will all be new like it was for me. I will do my best not to spoil anything, but there is a lot to talk about here, the story is very full in dept and while not complex, it still has a lot that has deeper meaning. After all this is the first book in a LONG series, so we had a few characters that we need to discuss.

As the story begins, A band of adventurers have been traveling all over the world of Krynn, trying to find proof that the gods people once worshiped had not completely left mankind, but are still around; helping people pick up from a shattered world. But proof is very hard to find. As I said the world has been shattered, in a great war. The powers of good and evil met  to do battle. Resulting in a great Cataclysm. Dragons were seen, both good and evil; and the gods fought along side their followers. Now the people find themselves a lone, trying to cope, and now very cruel creatures have shown up to enslave humanity under the rule of a evil god who decided not to leave.

The first person we meet is Tanis, he is a half elf ranger. He was raised by elves, but as a “half human” he has never been truly embraced by them. They never trusted humans and now with everything that has happened to the world, they blame them for what has happened. He left to seek not only adventure, but I think to find his place in the world.

Next is the dwarf, Flint. Flint was the first person Tanis met when he started into adventuring and learned from him. He acts all grumpy and everything, but is a person that has seen a lot and he too is at a lost of why the gods left the world of Krynn. He seems like a father figure to Tanis, and is more than happy to give his thoughts on their current situation. Although he seems gruff, you can tell he has a big heart and cares a lot.

Next we have the twins, Caramon and Raistlan. They may be twins, but they sure are nothing a like at all. Caramon is big warrior type, he thinks with his sword arm but he is far from the big dumb jock type. He loves his brother a great deal and is always protecting him. Even puts up with his ribbing and teasing. He is in love with a girl he left behind to go adventuring, she seems to know how he feels; even though he seems to shy to say. Raistlan is a very interesting character, Dad says I should watch him as I read the series, seems there is a lot to him. He is a young wizard, following the teaching of the red robed mages. They are neutral, and not afraid to dip into the dark arts in order to gain more insights. He is power hungry and sometimes risks his own life in order to learn more spells. He was the youngest to do the trail of the tower. A trail all mages go though to gain the robes of their order. He survived but just barely, and it really took a toll on his body. Leaving him sickly, with yellow tinted skin. But also his eyes has changed. Now the pupils are shaped like a hour glass, and his body has developed racking cough.

Next there is the Paladin, Strum Brightblade. Strum wear ancient armor from back in the days before the cataclysm, handed down to him from his father. He is very noble, always putting himself in harm’s way to save his fellow friends. He still believes in the old ways and the gods of the old world.

As they are heading home, Tanis and his friends meet a young couple, Goldmoon and Riverwind. Goldmoon is cleric, and her father was the chief of her tribe, she comes into procession of a long wooden staff with a blue crystal, which allows her to perform healing. Something that has not been done since the big war, something people thought would never be done again.

Tanis and his friends find there home now occupied by hundreds of lizard like creatures, calling themselves Draconians. They are very cruel and have taken many people as slaves. Evil dragons are also among them, giving orders and destroying buildings. Leaving only a handful that will be helpful for supplies and weapons for their army as it marches across the world of Krynn. They seek a young woman and man, the woman carries a long staff with a blue crystal…..

This was a great introduction story, the characters each has their own little story and reason for what they are doing. each one has he or her strengths and also flaws as well. When something that happens causing them all to flee, Goldmoon gains a quest which will help prove that the gods have not turned away from men, but it is men that have turned away from the gods. Finally what Tanis and his friends have been searching for, could be here in this woman of the plains. The action is intense, but there is humor here as well.

The humor can be found in a character called Tasslehoff. (I meant to mention him earlier.) Tasslehoff is the thief of the group,being great at locks and traps. Tasslehoff is a Kender. A race that is a smaller version of a elf. they look like…..well..a wizened thirteen year old. They are thin with a top knot hair. They also carry a staff with a sling at the top which they use as a weapon. Kenders are very curious and fearless. It’s not that they don’t know fear, they just let their curiosity take control. And often put themselves at risk. They are very innocent in the ways of the world around them, and always ask questions. Kender are also know for “borrowing” things, sometimes from fellow party members. It isn’t stealing, they just see something lying around and decide to pick it up for safe keeping. From what dad told me, they have no concept of ownership. This often gets them into a lot of trouble.

This book was really great. The artwork, while not like the other graphic novel Stardust that I reviewed earlier. nut it still brought the story to life. You really come to care a lot about the characters and their struggle to survive in this shattered world. Their quest to save their world and getting proof seems hopeless, being that they are so out numbered. But i think that adds to it, it makes you feel for the characters and you want them to win.

This is just a perfect book for people like me who have never read any of the books. It is a great introduction into the world of Kyrnn and a really good summer read. Make sure to look up this graphic novel.

Also, go up on I tunes and look for “The Dragonlance Canticle” and also “Dragonhearth”. Both are great podcasts dealing with the Dragonlance series, and Dragonhearth is hosted bu Tracy Hickman and his wife! How cool is that? So there you go guys, a great book to add to your bookshelf. Just make sure you leave enough room for the rest of em.

Darcy

Hi everyone! This time, I have a whole lot of great voicemails from Gary and Tim about a lot of recent topics. Gary tells us about his gardening experience with his kids, bemoans the popularity of SillyBands, and calls me out on using the kids as an excuse to collect American Girls stuff and Galactic Heroes figures.  Then I compliment Darcy on the great batch of stuff she sent the kids for Amanda’s birthday, and let her know I swiped the Girl Genius comic (It won a HUGO!).

After that, Tim discusses what kids are really good for, and thanks Darcy for reminding him of his and Jenny’s first wedding anniversary (Congrats to you!). After I wistfully discuss the oil drilling disaster in the gulf, Tim lets us know of a great opportunity to catch Jacques Cousteau’s great documentary on the oceans, “Under the Sea,” on June 11.

Call or email me if you have any opinion on which video game franchises you think need a break, or just need to die. Wyatt has a rant on this subject that I am going to do a special episode on soon, and we would love your opinions!

Don’t forget – you have until June 1 to nominate your favorite podcasts for a Parsec Award! I’m not eligible, so I’m not asking for me – I’m asking for all those other great shows that you listen to and love!

Please email me with your own comments at howtogrowyourgeek – at-gmail -dot-com, or call my voicemail number at 206-202-7309   and leave your thoughts. You can also visit our forum at the Farpoint Forums. And last but not least, you can follow me on Twitter at SusietheGeek or the show at HowToGrowGeek!

Theme music courtesy of Jonathan Coulton

Promos: MilkCartonTV and The Parsec Awards

Spoiler Alert!

This episode, we focus first on the movie of the first book in the Percy Jackson  series,Percy Jackson and the Olympians:  The Lightening Thief, by Rick Riordan. Amanda helps me review the  movie just released, and we go over the similarities and differences from the book version. Then Gary calls in with a great overall review of the movie’s watchability and general quality as a movie itself. Thanks Gary! We think that this movie is definitely watchable for kids, and the books are a must-get!

Don’t forget – Feb. 27 is The BOOM EFFECT Auction! For details visit the website here! Come with your heart and wallet open!

Please email me with your own comments at howtogrowyourgeek – at-gmail -dot-com, or call my voicemail number at 206-202-7309 and leave your thoughts. You can also visit our forum at the Farpoint Forums. And last but not least, you can follow me on Twitter at SusietheGeek or the show at HowToGrowGeek!

Theme music courtesy of Jonathan Coulton

Promos: The Boom Effect Auction and The Chronic Rift

Spoiler Alert!

This episode, we focus first on the first book in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, The Lightening Thief, by Rick Riordan. Amanda helps me review the book in preparation for us seeing the movie just released, and we even tackle the inevitable comparison to Harry Potter.

Then Wyatt calls in to tell us about the Alien vs. Predator demo, which is suitable for teens. And finally Kevin reviews the original Halo game, as he is now catching up with the series very slowly. I did edit this a little, and you can hear some of Kevin uncut in an upcoming new promo for HTGYG!

Please email me with your own comments at howtogrowyourgeek – at-gmail -dot-com, or call my voicemail number at 206-202-7309 and leave your thoughts. You can also visit our forum at the Farpoint Forums. And last but not least, you can follow me on Twitter at SusietheGeek or the show at HowToGrowGeek!

Theme music courtesy of Jonathan Coulton

Promos: The Boom Effect Auction

The Stowaway – A book review by Darcy Low

“Barely a teen and already guarding a secret that could jeopardize his young life, Maimun is marked for death. With the help of a mysterious stranger, the boy escapes his village and flees out to sea, stowing away on the pirate hunting ship, Sea Sprite, where he comes across a most unlikely ally: the dark elf Drizzt Do’Urden. With a half-demon determined to destroy him, and a crew of sailors resentful of the trouble he’s caused, Maimun must find the courage to prove his worth, both to his friends and to himself.”

The Stowaway is very different from any other book I have read before, it starts in the middle. Yep, you heard me right. When the story opens, our main character, Maimun; has been taken captive after a ship to ship battle out at sea. We find him chained aboard a pirate ship, and being questioned. The pirate not only wants to know his story, but how he came into procession of a very powerful magically stone. A stone that is sought after by two waring gods, and could destroy the entire world. Our story then becomes Maimun’s story, as he buys for time and tries to think of a way to escape.
This is one story I didn’t mind the back story so much, in fact the whole book is written in the first person. Which really helps. We learn that Maimun is just a normal boy growing up in a small village, all he knows of the world outside are stories he has heard from people traveling though. When his village is attacked and destroyed, he is entrusted with the safe keeping of a magical stone. One so powerful, gods both good and evil want it and will do anything to get it. His family killed in front of him, young Maimun is rescued by Perrault, a fighter/magic user himself. Together they run from a demon, Asbeel. Who wants the stone for his evil master.

When I first started this book, I almost stopped reading. Thinking I must be read the second or third book of a series. But after looking, i realized what the writer was doing. Different, but really cool! the whole book is action packed, with the characters being just one step a head of the demon. But it is the character of Maimun that makes you want to keep reading. You see everything though his eyes, seeing the world of Forgotten Realms that he only heard about in stories, seeing magic for the first time, learning how to defend himself and when to run. You get into his character and want to see what happens next to him.

I don’t want to tell how he winds up getting captured by pirates, that is what the whole story is about. The back story of how he got there. You will just have to read to find that out.

I waited until now to tell you who the writer was of the book, I am sure you caught the name Drizzt there. Well he is in the story, but only VERY briefly. This isn’t his story, in fact if you think this book was written by R A Salvatore; you are partly wrong there.

This is the first book of a series written by father and son, R A Salvatore and his son Geno. Pretty cool huh? Geno does a great job of bringing the Realms to life in his pages, as well as showing a lot of the fantasy world to readers and video gamers that have read books or played games set in those dangerous lands. I enjoyed Maimun’s character and am really pulling for him to get out of the trouble he’s in. In Geno’s hands, Maimun is both capable and inexperienced, a dangerous combination given what he has to do to deal with. He’s obviously powerful enough, for some reason unknown to us so far, that others fear him, but not skilled enough to take care of himself.

Seek this one out guys, you will really love it. I am looking forward to reading more, and seeing how things turn out. It leaves you wanting more.

Darcy

The Tales of the Rad Panda – The Crime Cabal.
A book review by Darcy Low.

From the back of the book: “Even the united remnants of Toronto’s defeated underworld couldn’t resist the city’s masked protectors. But when they join with the murderous might of some of the masked man’s deadliest foes, can even the Red Panda match the strength of the Crime Cabal?”

I love a good story, does not matter what it is, if it takes me into it, makes me a part of it and leaves me wanting still more; I will follow it forever. That is why I am so excited to share this with you guys, this time it is really something special. I listen to a lot of podcasts, sometimes alone and sometimes with Dad and Jenny,and sometimes I will share with my Grandpa. The Red Panda is one for everyone. So when I saw they were coming out with a book, I just had to get it.

The Red Panda is a Canadian crime fighter from the thirties, during the time of mobsters, racketeers, etc. He is a crime fighter much like The Shadow or Batman, In that he is a multimillionaire, who uses the powers of his mind and gadgets he comes up with. But unlike both of those crime fighters, he has more of a heart I think. More personable maybe? He has gone beyond the law in many cases, doing what they could not do and this has made him more than a few enemies on both sides of the law. Some see him as a agent of good, others see him as a mobster trying to rub out competitors in order to set things up for himself. Of course we know the truth.
When his true identity is learned by his female chauffeur, he takes her in and trains her to fight by his side. Calling herself the Flying Squirrel, (because of her cool outfit and the ability to float with wings that are sewn into it, she learns martial arts and hides his identity from the public.

The Panda also has various people around the city that keeps him informed as to what is going on. A network of sorts, made up of citizens, reporters, cops, etc. I thought this was very well done myself. None knows his true identity and no one knows of anyone else in the network.

Now in the book, the Panda and Flying squirrel have been fighting crime for a while, and have just put away one of the last remaining big gangs. All that is left are various members that are in hiding and have gone underground. But old habits are hard to break I guess, because there are a few that see this as a great time to band together and form their own gang, to rub out the Panda once and for all and gain control of the city. One such gangster is Malcolm Reynolds, he was once the right hand man of one of the most powerful gangs in the city. Now in the ruins of a club, he has called together all the remaining mobs and asked them to join with him and take over the city in a wave of crime never seen before. There are more than a few people who do not like this idea at all of course, until he introduce two people. Kid Chaos and a Mysterious woman who calls herself Professor Zombie. Kid Chaos is a mad bomber who just loves to blow things up. And the Professor? Well she wants to build a army.

When things get out of Malcolm’s hands and he loses control of these two, things really heat up. Both the Panda and the Flying Squirrel are pushed to their limits as they have to fight a army of goons who will not stop no matter how many bullets you put into them, and what is the Panda to do when his mind tricks do not work? Zombies can’t be fooled my mind tricks you know.

The book is really, really good. It reads just like a pulp comic from way back when. Also just like the podcast radio show. (don’t worry I’ll get to that in a bit.)

The banter between The Panda and the Flying Squirrel is both funny and romantic, Although both have yet to tell each other how they feel. You as a reader can tell. What makes it so funny is, here you have a Batman type crime fighter who is tough as can be and who can karate chop his way out of trouble. But when a pretty girl flirts with him, he is a shy little schoolboy. Often all he can say is “Kit Baxter, behave yourself.” Kit is the Squirrel’s real name. The book gives them both more depth than what you get in the radio show, but it also gives us more insight into how they get around town so fast, introduces some of the minor characters of the Panda’s network, and also brings out the character of Chief O’Mally. O’Mally is a good cop, but he has a deep hate for the Red Panda and will stop at nothing at either bringing him in or unmasking who he really is.

The book is full of action and cliffhangers, and really makes you want to turn the page to see what happens next. It is something if you are an adult and like old radio shows, film noir, or stuff like would love. And this is okay for kids as well, I did not see anything that parents would object to here. (is a lot of shoot outs, but then again there are gangsters and bad guys, so it is to be expected.

Overall, this is a great first book by Mr. Gregg Taylor. Who is one of the main actors over on Decoder Ring Theater.

If you go there, you can order this book right from the web site, like we did.

But while you are there, I want you guys to check out the podcasts they have. They are all done like they did back in the old days. In fact my grandpa thinks this is some of the best ones he has heard. And they are all clean, each show ends, they don’t leave you hanging until the next chapter. Each is it’s own story. Make sure to check out Black Jack Justice. It is about a detective and he girl detective partner, it is also very good. Both the Red Panda and Black Jack feature strong female characters who not only fight along side of the men, but aren’t afraid to put them in their places if need be. I love that, something you don’t see too much of anywhere.

So there you go guys, one book review and two podcast reviews. All in one posting.

I do hope you guys check it all out. It is some really great stuff, and we should support new authors every chance we get. I am hoping they can get Mr Taylor on Dragon Page soon.

Take care guys, more stuff coming soon. I am on a roll.

Darcy

Worldweavers- Gift of the Unmage.

From the back of the book.
“As the seventh child of two powerful seventh children, Galathea Winthrop was expected to grow into magical abilities beyond anything previously imagined. Instead, she has spent the last 17 years trying desperately to achieve something, anything, in her Ars Magica class at school. Thea has learned to live with her older brothers’ jokes about her lack of abilities, but what she cannot face is the look in her father’s eyes each time she tries to do magic and fails.

After one last failed magical attempt, Thea overhears her parents talking about sending her to the Wandless Academy, the only school in the country for those who cannot perform magic (otherwise known as the Last Ditch school for the Incurably Incompetent at least to Thea). Thea’s final chance to awaken her dormant gift is a mysterious trip back in time to meet with an even more mysterious tutor a member of a now-extinct people known as the Anasazi. In the Anasazi’s ancient world, Thea learns that she is not incapable of performing magic, but rather that her spiritual self chose not to let her, at least in her world. Now, she must figure out why, before those from whom she was protecting herself discover that she has found her powers. ”

This is the first book of the series, and it will remind a lot of people of the Harry Potter series. Which I guess is bound to happen to a lot of teen books about magic. But here it is a bit unfair. Thea does have the talent for magic, incredible magic at that; but something is holding her back from preforming anything. And being born under such a lucky sign, and with her older brothers and family’s abilities; there is a lot expected of her. But try as she might she just continues to fail, and whine about it being so unfair. (She whines a lot.) After going to this “Last ditch school”, she is helped by Chevyo, who helps her to discover her hidden talent. This not only helps her to do her magic, but comes at just the right time. Because her and the other students at the school, who everyone had given up on, are called upon to save the world.

There is a bit of Hogwarts feel to the school, but there is also a bit of another book called “Wrinkle in Time” there as well. The writer really does a great job of making us feel for Thea, her story must be what it is like to have older brothers or sisters that did well at school. And then you come along and everyone judges you on what they did in the past. It is unfair. Although I am a only child I could still relate to Thea a bit. Starting a new school and all, but also finding that hidden talent that you thought you didn’t have. It made me think about a lot of things, and that is the mark of a good book.

Anyone that knows me for very long, knows I can’t stop asking questions. Why I love to do research on anything so much. Like Thea, I ask why a lot. Sometimes I find my answers, sometimes it is just the way things are. Thea is still learning that. While she is looking for answers on her own at the school, she stumbles upon a plot there to take over the world. So it is up to the kids that the society has more or less abandoned to come to the rescue.

Don’t get the idea that this is a simple teen book, it’s not. There is a lot of depth here. There is a lot of things going on, some of it is a bit weird, but that just adds to the story.

I only had a couple nit picks with the books, I just wanted to point out. Because I think it might hang some people up and make them put the book down and walk away. You shouldn’t, this is a great book and the writer is very good. But as it is the first book in the series, there is bound to be a few things.after all she is setting the stage for something more to come.

First off, the writer uses descriptions a great, great deal, in some cases that helps out a lot. And I thank her for it, but there were places that it could have been cut back a bit. You don’t have to tell us everything, let our imagination fill in the gaps if there are any. I love to do that myself, makes me feel more of a part of the story.

Second, there are characters and things we are told about for a few pages that the writer never gets back to. I am hoping she is setting us up for seeing them in later books. But that is a little disappointing, at least to me it was.

But only two sore spots, not at all bad for a first book in a series and something I was able to look past. I loved also how the writer brought a lot of things together, things you would not think of in a story about magic.

Thea’s roommate Magpie, has a fondness for hurt animals and is always hiding one and bringing it into the dorm room. Ben is a tall red haired boy who sneezes when he “Smells” magic, (reminds you of Ron from Harry Potter.) And lastly Terry, who is a computer genius who can’t speak a word that deals with magic because he has a allergic reaction to it and his sister Tess who can’t eat anything that has been prepared by magic for the same reason. There was not a lot more written about these characters, so I am hoping in the next book she will flesh them out more. I would love to learn more about them and why they are the way they are.

The boy who is a genius at computers was a bit different and I was not expecting him at all, seeing how this was dealing with magic and a fantasy type world, but the writer managed to pull it off well I think, and it did not pull me out of the story at all.

Overall, I thought this was a great first book in a series. There is three in all so far, not sure if it is just a trilogy or not, did not have time to check with the holiday and everything. But I really liked this book a lot, and can’t wait to dive into the others. I think it is going to be fun.

So there you go guys, if you are looking for something new to read over the holidays while you are snowed in, you might want to check this series out. I think it is a great one for kids and fans of Harry potter type books.

Take care, and have fun reading!

Darcy

It ate Billy on Christmas – A book review by Darcy Low

“It would have been a Christmas like any other for little Lumi and her horrible,terrible, obnoxious, awful bully of a brother Billy. But then a funny little monster appears and ate Billy right up! Lumi knows it’s not really a good thing to let a monster eat your brother, but she can’t help but notice that things are, in fact; much nice now that he is gone. Now that things are looking up a little in her world. Lumi has to decide what to do with her new little monster friend, and……most importantly; what’s she going to feed him? ”

Okay first let me state two things. First I don’t like horror stuff, I won’t watch scary movies, I won’t read vampire or werewolves teen books, and although I read Twilight; I found it boring and totally unbelievable. (Sparkly Vampires.) But I do like a good scary story, like a ghost story, or Edgar Allen Poe, stuff like that. I’ll even watch the old black and white Frankenstein and stuff. Just nothing newer.

Second, keep in mind; this is a children’s picture book.

Lumi is a very shy, very picked on young girl. Her older brother Billy takes great delight in causing her grief. Breaking what little toys she has, punching her, sending her pet gerbil into orbit using a home built rocket, etc. Her parents are clueless to what is going on, or to the world around them. They mostly work, come home, and read the paper. Ignoring the kids. Every year at Christmas time, Billy get everything he asks for, including a matching pair of dart guns that he quickly fixes with needles inside the darts in order to torment Lumi with. (despite Lumi begging and pleading with her parents NOT to buy them.)
All Lumi ever wanted and asked for was a puppy of her own, but with the whole gerbil thing; her mom and dad thought it was best not to give Billy anything else to shoot off into space. So she decides to ask for stuff animals instead. But in the end, her mom always winds up giving her ceramic monkeys holding turtles. (Yeah, I didn’t get that either.)

School isn’t much better. Because she is shy and different, the other kids tend to ignore her, and she struggles with all of her classes. (Boy, i can relate to that.) Here too she is bullied by the the kids on the football team who call her names and like to pick on all the smaller kids.She does not have a fun life at all.

The monster himself is hard to describe really, looks pretty scary. Kind of a cross between a rat and one of those little Mexican type dogs. (Which look like rats anyway.) When the book first starts out, he is described as a ancient being who lives in the bottom of a well. he used to feed on anyone or anything that was unlucky enough to have fallen in. But that was ages ago and now it is Christmas eve, and he smells all the food Lumi’s mom has prepared for the big day tomorrow. After breaking in Santa style and eating up all of the food, he decides to take a nap under the Christmas tree. Where the kids find him Christmas morning. And you know what happened next.

Now that the monster’s tummy is full, Lumi must hide him from everyone and make things look normal again. She comes up with a good idea that fools her parents. But she has other problems to deal with. Sooner or later the little monster is going to wake up, and he is sure to be hungry again.

Did I mention this was a kid’s book?

Don’t get me wrong, this wasn’t a bad little book. It was pretty good actually and very creepy. The end is a twist and something you are like to see on a old Twilight Zone. I sure didn’t see it coming, I can tell you. But a kid’s book? I am going to recommend this to kids ages 11 and up, I think anyone younger will be freaked out by this and maybe have nightmares. It was a good book if you lake a scary story with a twist ending. (might even call it twisted.) This is a children’s ghost story if told by Tim Burton, it has that Nightmare before Christmas feel to it.

The book is put out by Dark Horse books and is written by Roman Dirge, who has won four Eisner awards and is illustrated by Steven Daily.

So there you are, a scary little book just in time for Halloween.

You know what? This review just reminded me, I never did show you my new teddy bear have i? Just a sec, it’s right here in my backpack. Yep…..here we are. What’s that? Well, I know he’s not much to look at, and kinda odd looking…..that noise? oh just his stomach growling, sounds like he is hungry……. Hey! Where are you going???

Hehehe,

Darcy

Sorry almost for got this:

http://www.amazon.com/Ate-Billy-Christmas-Roman-Dirge/dp/1593078536

I have been hearing a lot about these little books, and with all the homework and math drama I have been going though; I have been looking for smaller books to read. So when I saw this on the shelf at my local bookstore and read the back of the cover, I was like this might be pretty good. And I was right……..for the most part.

Gregg is your typical teen boy, struggling with day to day life in middle school. He is skinny, a geek, and doesn’t have a lot of friends. But he is trying very hard to become popular at school, and wants very much to be remembered in the yearbook as someone cool He is also the middle child at home and is trying to fit in there as well. with a father that wants him to get into sports, a mother who is more worried with his education, (even to the point of showing up at his school as a sub one day.), a older brother who is into heavy metal music, and who loves to get anything embrassing on Gregg so he can tease him about it later on; and a younger brother named Manny who is just sooo cute.
Though out the book, we glimpse Gregg’s plans for stardom and his views of middle school and the other kids around him. I thought this was the best part of the book, and it reminds me of my own life and school; I too struggle still with trying to fit in. I loved the talk about school plays, dealing with school bullies, gym classes, and “The gross mystery cheese, that has been out on the school playground for ages.” That no one wants to touch or go near. (can find so pretty gross stuff on playgrounds, let me tell ya.) The ideas that Gregg comes up with, and his views of other people are pretty funny, and even though you know they will never work; in some cases you find yourself going yeah I would have or have tried that as well. (the part about building the world’s biggest snowman, Ashley and I myself have tried. With much the same results. hehe. So there is a lot about Gregg I could relate too.

But Gregg was very hard to like for the most part, and a lot of times he came off as a jerk. He lies, cheats, he is greedy, and very self centered. He also treats his best friend like dirt and totally uses him. At one point in the book, he and his best friend Rowley are made school crossing guards. Their job is to help kindergarten school kids get home at the end of there day. At one point, Rowley has to miss a day of helping out, but he loans Gregg his jacket. Gregg finds a worm on the side walk and terrorizes the little kids with it. A grown-up sees this and thinks it Rowley, he gets in trouble and loses his badge and job as a school crossing guard. All the time Gregg keeps quite about it, and never comes forward in his friend’s defense. Not wanting to get into trouble himself. That is no way to keep friends, or treat anyone for that mater.

But I don’t want to turn this into a bad review, because the book is pretty good. And the idea of a middle schooler writing in a diary is pretty funny and a good idea for a teen book. But I want to be very careful about my recommending this to other kids.
So let me do this, I been thinking hard about this and I think this will work.

Parents, get this book for your kids and read it with them, and talk about it as you do. Point out all the things that Gregg did wrong, his wrong-headed attitude of others, etc. Show your kids how this is not the way to go, and how it is not a good way to treat people. I worry that younger kids will read these books and make Gregg into the hero the back cover would suggest. Trust me, he is no hero. So use this book to help guide you kids into being better friends, and show them how being so focused on yourself and what’s good for you; is not the way to become the most popular kid in your class.

I am in no way saying this is a bad book, it is actually really good. Some of the stories are very funny, and the line drawings help move the story along. I just wish the author had made Gregg someone you could get behind and root for. He could have been a lot nicer as a person. That was my main issue with the book. He was just so hard to like.

If I was to grade the book from 1 to 10, I would have to give it a five. But if I was to grade it on what I have suggested, using it as a guide for you kids on what NOT to do, I would give it a solid 10.

So there you go, hopefully this came off as a good review. I worked very hard at being fair and not going the negative route. Please let me know how I did. And as always, thanks for reading these.

Darcy

Have I got a book review for you. ))) I have found my Harry Potter replacement, and I think after this you might as well. This series is just that good.

Alex Rider “Stormbreaker” – by Anthony Horowitz
Reviewed by Darcy Low

After J K Rowlings wrote the last Harry Potter, I was like a lot of others thing what will I ever find that is as good as this series? I have been looking and now i think I might have found it. I am excited to share this one guys. )

From the back of the book: “Recruited! They told him his uncle Ian died in a car accident. But fourteen year old Alex Rider knows that’s a lie, and the bullet holes in his uncle’s windshield confirm his suspicions. But nothing prepares him for the news that the uncle he always thought he knew was really a spy for MI6. (Britain’s top secret intelligence agency.) Recruited to find his uncle’s killer’s and complete Ian’s final mission, Alex suddenly finds himself caught in a deadly game of cat and mouse, with no way out.”

I swear this book needs to have the James Bond theme behind it. hehe.

I can’t tell you guys how much I loved this book and this series. It is by far one of the best I have ever picked up as a summer read. The character’s are all believable, the plot is well written, and the actions of the main character Alex, is the way any fourteen year old would act in real life. But I am getting a head of my self here. Sorry just excited to share this.

Alex is a young orphan teen who is being raised by his uncle Ian, (who is a banker.) They both live alone in the English country side with a housekeeper named Jack. (Jack is a she btw, a young woman from America.) Uncle Ian raises Alex the best he can, and takes him hiking, white water rafting, and anything physical. He also teaching him sports, how to play cards and shoot pool. But because of his work, Uncle Ian travels a lot and isn’t always home. A few times that he comes back he has mysterious injuries. Like bruises and a broken arm, (hmmmm.) The last trip Ian took, he was gone for a long time, and when two men in dark suits show up one morning to tell Alex that his uncle was killed in a car crash, Alex isn’t buying it at all. Uncle Ian was always extremely careful driving. So the story of him driving at high speeds and crash, just doesn’t fit. And as you can tell by the back cover, there is a lot more going on.

Alex is then taken to a office and meet the people his uncle really worked for and is told what is really going on. (done very well I thought and believable as well.) Alex is then given a choice, he can live out hos life as a typical teenager, or he can join the spy team, find his uncle’s killer and find out what is behind operation Stormbreaker. Which was his uncle’s last assignment.

Stormbreaker itself are new, highly advanced personal computer system designed by one man, Herod Sayle. A dwarf of a man but a real genius as well, He is building these computers with educational software built in, then he well be giving them away yo the schools. (Think of Bill Gates and what they are doing for third world countries. Same thing here.) Which seems all well and good. But why is there such secrets about the project, why is the compound surrounded vy arm guards and why was Alex’s uncle assassinated in broad day light, Just what are they hiding anyway??

What I loved about this book, and why I am getting everyone of them. (five so far.) Is who it is written and how Alex could be a real teenager. He is bright and intelligent, he is physically fit and enjoys sports. He questions things, and does always believe what he is told. Plus, unlike Harry Potter, he gets himself out of tight spots using what he knows and his own life experiences. Oh don’t get me wrong, he is given gadgets like James Bond. (A yo yo that acts as a grappling hook. A gameboy that with the change of cartridges, allows him to detect bugs in a room, see though things….more or less, scan and send things back to head quarters, and surf the net.) But he only uses these things once or twice. The rest of the time he is using his street smarts. And the villains, although very creepy, isn’t over the top so. In fact, dad read this first book along with me, and even he said that if you didn’t know Alex was a teen, this could be any adult spy novel. it’s just that good.

Anthony Horowitz has been writing books for a while, and is a new york times best sellers, and I can see why. This really well written and you can tell that he wanted something that treats teen with respect. No where in here did I even feel I was talked down too, or that my hero wasn’t believable. He must have tapped into his past as a boy, maybe pretending to be a spy when he was younger.

This is the first book of a series, and you really should start with it. It’s is Alex’s origins after all. The action will keep you flipping pages to see where Alex will be next and what will happen. I still have not finished the book, hehe. When last I left him, Alex was in the back of a military truck with a canvas top, the second to the last truck in a convoy. Traveling in the dead of night They had just pulled onto a deserted beach, where a submarine just surfaced, the top had just opened up and out has stepped who Alex was told is the man they believe killed his uncle. Alex is just raising up out of the back of the truck, when the headlights of the last truck comes on……..

Stormbreaker, and the other books can be found at any bookstore, They are from Penguin Teens.

www.penguinteens.com

But the series and the writer have their own web site:

http://www.anthonyhorowitz.com/alexrider/books/

Trust me guys, you will want to pick these up, even if you are not a teen but like spy novels. you will love these! So move over Harry, there’s a new boy in town.

Darcy

Valentine Princess – A book review by Darcy Low

It’s close to Valentine’s day in Mia’s world. You would think a princess with everything would have that day all figured out, and a lot of boyfriends. But even Mia goes though what we girls all do. Let’s take a look.

From the inside cover: ” Valentine’s Day means flowers, chocolates, and all out romance. That is it usually means those things. But When you’re Princess Mia, nothing happens the way it’s supposed too. For one thing,, Grandmere seems determined to prove “that boy”, (or Micheal as he is most commonly known) isn’t teh right one for the crown princess of Genovia. And Mia isn’t having much luck proving otherwise, since Micheal has a history of being decidedly against any kind of exploitative commercialization. (Valentine’s day, as it is commonly known.)
Borris can declare his love openly to Tina, and even Kenny comes though with a paltry Whitman Sampler. So why can’t Michael give into Cupid and tell Mia he loves her? Preferably with something wrapped in red or pink and Accompanied by roses, in time to prove he is Mia’s true prince.”

Gleeee!

I have to tell you guys, next to the Harry Potter books, these are my favorites. Meg Cabot is one of the best teen writers out there, she just totally gets it. I don’t know if she goes into her past as a teen, but she brings to Mia and all the rest of the gang what we teens are really like. All our hang ups, the way we talk to each other, or hopes and our fears. She makes it so real, without making teens in her books out as same o same o. I love that!!! And for those that know me, I talk just like Mia. hehe.

This time around it is a few days before Valentines day and Mia is thinking about the fact for the first time she has a steady date for the day. She wants it to be special and hopes Micheal gives her something to help celebrate it, But Micheal’s sister Lilly is against any type of gift giving, thinking it just helps out Hallmark and flower companies. And Michael seems to be leaning that way. Her other friends all seem to have plans and are exchanging gifts to one another, Even Mia’s mom, who is now married to her math teacher and expecting. Has romantic plans for that day. Mia’s Grandmother has met someone new, a Doctor Steve. He is one of those guys that make predictions in those papers you see in the checkout lanes, Only trouble there is, most of the stuff he predicts come true, And he predicts that Mia’s, “Longest lasting relationship will be with a generous and caring Leo, ” Micheal isn’t a Leo. So that can’t be right. Right??? He also says Grandma will suffer a injury. But Mia only hears the first part. And Grandma thinks this is the greatest man that ever lived. What’s Mia to do? What if Dr. Steve is right? What if Mia’s true love isn’t Micheal at all?? And hey, there is a Leo boy in Mia’s life, Nerdy Kenny Snowalter!!! uggh. hehe

This is the fifth book in the series, there are thirteen books in all. Plus the two movies, Some are even illustrated. But can i give some advice? Maybe start with the two movies like i did, for me that worked good. And I know people always say, “you can’t expect a movie to be just like the books.” Well, this series proves that wrong, The books and the movies go along great together. Oh but this isn’t Ms. Cabot’s only series. She has a total of NINE other teen series, Plus she also does adult books as well.

You can find out all about her at her web site:
www.megcabot.com

I would recommend this series to any young girl growing up, They will totally relate to all the characters like I do. And its fun to see a character grow from book to book. I really think you guys will love these. They are small, some less than a hundred pages. And this book only cost eight dollars for a hard bound! So even i can buy with my allowance.

Get the books and watch the movies, Mia’s life is a lot like a normal teen girls, except she wears a crown. hehe

Darcy