by John Dixon The struggle of a young delinquent orphan, as he tries to survive a last chance boot camp island, that is not all that it is cracked up to be. Before long the stories central character Carl Freeman, a sixteen year old boxer, nicknamed Hollywood, is in trouble with the islands instructors and fighting for his life. Before long kids are running for survival! On an island where hunting people to death is a sport, and kids are feed to sharks, escape seems impossible. Carl while short tempered, and easily carried away by his emotions, is truly a good guy at heart. Early in the book, we get to know about his tragic past especially regarding his parents as well as his urges to help those who are weak - acts of justice which at the same time got him in trouble. Befriended by the old man, Carl is given a new chance, and with it a new body and brain. In the process he discovers that reality that he is being g trained as the new generation ultimate soldier. Dixon delivers a good blend of action and reflective nature, to make the book interesting on more than one level. At times the action was brutal, particularly as the mob descends into Lord of the Flies style action. Phoenix Island is an easy novel to read, that will leave the reader wanting more.
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Written by James S.A. Corey The book fills in gaps between the fourth and fifth movie of Star Wars. The empire is close to securing a new weapon that controls who can travel via Hyperspace speed. Leia and Han Solo with the aid of rebel super spy Scarlet Hark aid to treackl down the weapon and steal it to finally defeat the empire. Meanwhile Luke Skywalker is sent to investigate the strange disappearance of space craft in another part of the galaxy. As usual in the Star Wars adventures, the best laid plans soon fall to pieces and it is left to Han Solo to find ways out of the mess they are in, with not one, but two domineering women trying to direct him. Their adventures unite them with Luke, as they find themselves in a lethal jungle to a trap-filled alien temple, Han, Chewbacca, Leia, and their daring new comrade confront one ambush, double cross, and firestorm after another. But even with the crack support of Luke Skywalker’s X-Wing squadron, the Alliance heroes may be hopelessly outgunned in their final battle for the highest of stakes: the power to liberate the galaxy from tyranny or ensure the Empire’s reign of darkness forever. The book flows easily and smoothly from one event to the next, making it an easy Sunday afternoon read. One for the legion of Star Wars fans out there. Robert Harris returns to the thrilling historical fiction he has so brilliantly made his own. This is the story of the infamous Dreyfus affair told as a chillingly dark, hard-edged novel of conspiracy and espionage. Set in Paris in 1895. Alfred Dreyfus, a young Jewish officer, has just been convicted of treason, sentenced to life imprisonment at Devil’s Island. Among the witnesses to his humiliation is his former commanding officer, Georges Picquart, the ambitious, intellectual, recently promoted head of the counterespionage agency that provided the evidence of Dreyfus treason. However, Picquart in his new role stumbles on pieces of the puzzle that indicate that Dreyfus is not the spy, but another officer. This evidence has the potential to unravel the highest officers in the military, if not the government itself. Who will live, who dies! Who is set free and who is convicted of treason to the state? Harris brings to life the world of government backdoors, spying and a nation under threat, in this forever twisting tale. Full of rich drama, the book it hard to put down. |
AuthorHeath writes reviews regularly for newspapers and magazines. Archives
January 2020
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