March 2017 - Gary David Gillen

Lock In by John Scalzi

Lock In by John Scalzi, Book #1 of the Lock In Series

Introduction

Twenty-five years after a global pandemic virus, Chris Shane’s second day on the job as an FBI agent includes a complicated murder as the first order of business. The thing is, Chris cannot physically examine the murder scene. Chris has Haden’s Syndrome. It is a disease that has a slim chance that the person affected cannot physically move their body anymore and become what is known as locked in. The person affected can, however, have their brain fitted with a neural net that lets them either manipulate a specially attuned person called an Integrator or an automaton called a threep. Chris uses a threep and the murder appears to be Haden related. Chris must discover the perpetrator or everyone that has Haden’s Syndrome will be in jeopardy.

Summary

The novel is an interesting mix of a sci-fi thriller and a police procedural. The best part is the world-building on the effect that Haden’s Syndrome could have on society. It felt like it could have been a multi-episode arc of NCIS. If that is the story that you like to read, then this novel hits that spot.

Recommendation

I think that Scalzi was trying to play with two things with this novel; developing the ramifications of Haden’s Syndrome and to play around with writing gender and race. The world-building worked for me. It is never specified whether Chris is a male or a female. I have my opinion, but nothing written has changed that opinion. Chris’s race is not specified until later in the novel, so thinking about that revelation is thought-provoking.

Chris’s FBI partner Leslie Vann appears to think like a man, but I took it as a woman surrounded by males in law enforcement and taking their phrases as her own. I appreciated that Scalzi chose to explore these subjects, even though it might not have been totally successful because at times the writing felt forced. I am glad that the novel promotes discussion about gender and race. That does mean something. I would recommend this book if only for that.

Links

This is the link to the Goodreads page of Lock In by John Scalzi.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21418013-lock-in

This is the link to my review of Red Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson. It is also a near-future science fiction novel.

Red Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson

The Kinshield Legacy by K. C. May

The Kinshield Legacy by KC May

The Kinshield Legacy by KC May, Book #1 of The Kinshield Saga

Introduction

The Kinshield Legacy by KC May begins the story of Gavin Kinshield. The fantasy kingdom of Thendylath has been without a king for many years. The previous king has decreed that whoever solves the runes of the five magical gemstones on a tablet in a cave will become the next rightful king. Kinshield is a descendant of the previous king’s second in command, who may or may not have caused the previous king’s downfall.

Kinshield has had visions of solving the runes and has obtained two of the five gems. He does this anonymously so that no one knows he is the riddle solver. The solver of the last rune will become king. The sorcerer Brodas Ravenkind wants to find out who has been solving the runes and wants to take over the kingdom. Only one man will become king. Kinshield does not want the responsibility and Ravenkind will do anything to become the next king including murder.

Summary

Gavin Kinshield is a warrant knight. Warrant knights are part sheriffs and part bounty hunters. He goes around the kingdom dispensing justice. Without a king, the petty lords need warrant knights to keep the peace. The blacksmith Risen Stronghammer is beholden to Kinshield because he had heroically saved his wife from drowning in the river. The Stonghammer’s are from a small of stature race from Farthan. Risen fashions a magical sword for Kinshield using the gems Kinshield had obtained and some magic from a Farthan enchantress. Kinshield encounters Daia Saberheart of the Viragon Sisterhood. The Sisterhood is a warrior and monk mercenary company. Kinshield charms her with his selfless personality despite his uncouth manners. Kinshield enlists her aid in his mission to find a man worthy to be king. Risen and Daia helps Gavin in his efforts to defeat Ravenkind and find a king for the kingdom.

Recommendation

Gavin Kinshield is a likable character. Maybe he is too much the charming rogue with the bulging biceps. The kingdom is a somewhat generic medieval fantasy world with a sort of dwarves in the Farthans. Risen is a fun character in short bursts. Daia and the Sisterhood were good for the story. I wanted Gavin and Daia to become more romantically involved, maybe in the sequel. Ravenkind should have been more than the mustache-twirling villain. Despite my reservations, I enjoyed this novel very much and would like to continue to read the rest of the saga.

Links

This is the link to the Goodreads page of The Kinshield Legacy by KC May.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8732732-the-kinshield-legacy

My review of Chronicles of the Black Company by Glen Cook. It is a novel like The Kinshield Legacy. The Black Company is a medieval fantasy mercenary group and Croaker tells their tales.

Chronicles of the Black Company by Glen Cook

Writing Progress Report March 2017

This is my Writing Progress Report March 2017.

The old stump in the snow.

Writing Progress from February 2017

I wrote three blog posts for garydavidgillen.com including my writing progress report for February 2017 linked below.

Writing Progress Report February 2017

I completed 9 of the 21 exercises from Sarah Domet’s book called 90 Days to Your Novel.

Submitted the story 4 Humours to a short fiction magazine.

The stories 4 Humours and Space Station Sunyata are still in review at other magazines.

The story Grognard was not accepted.

Events from February 2017

I attended the Winter Fiction Fest on February 18^th that was held at Loganberry Books at 13015 Larchmere Blvd. Shaker Heights, Ohio 44120 and was sponsored by Literary Cleveland. There were four panels presented which featured Mary Doria Russell, Casey Daniels and Shelly Costa, DM Pulley, Geoffrey Landis, and Mary Turzillo.

https://www.litcleveland.org/

Attended the volunteer meeting for Concoction on February 21, 2017, at Critical Hit Games 13433 Cedar Road Cleveland Heights, Ohio 44118. Learned about the convention and signed up to help.

Writing Goals for March 2017

A Gathering in New Marl (New name is An Assassin in New Marl City) is a 55000-word short novel I wrote many years ago. I want to expand the novel from 20 chapters to 36 chapters (100000 words total). I intend to follow the method described in Sarah Domet’s book called 90 Days to Your Novel.

This is a link to Goodreads page for the book.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11650970-the-90-day-novel

The book starts with 21 exercises that I plan to complete. After that I will write the 16 new chapters of the novel in an additional 20 weeks. My March plan is to finish the exercises and write three of the additional 16 chapters.

Polish and submit the stories White Bracer, Mage Squad, Time Traveller One, Prisoner of Tarnal, and Kay-Eye for submission to short fiction magazines.

Submit Grognard to another short fiction magazine.

Planned Events for March 2017

Planning on purchasing a map and an e-book cover for An Assassin in New Marl City from Fiveer.

Download the trial of the writing program Scrivener and use it on my novel to see if I like it.

Work on completing a Query letter to use to find an agent for An Assassin in New Marl.

Attend ConCoction from March 10 to March 12, 2017, at the Sheraton Cleveland Airport 5300 Riverside Drive, Cleveland, OH 44135. I will volunteer for 12 hours at the event. Role unknown at this time.

https://www.clevelandconcoction.org/