TIMESCAPE By Gregory Benford

Published : 1980
Pages : 412
Overall Mark : 7/10

When a young scientist in 1962 starts to receive interference in one of his experiments, he discovers that the interference actually contains messages from someone and someplace unknown to him. The truth that the messages are a warning from the future soon comes to light, but his peers find it hard to believe due to the inconsistency of the messages and he finds himself having to fight to prove the messages to be true.

This is an interesting idea, but the notion could have been explained in a more efficient way. Benford does an admirable job of describing the exact methods of scientists in all the time periods he describes, and keeps the story alive through its realism rather than using fantastic plot devices to further the story. Well worth reading, but only if you have the patients as the pacing is slow.

FATAL VOYAGE By Kathy Reichs

Published : 2001
Pages : 432
Overall Mark : 8/10

Forensic anthropologist Dr Temperance Brennan is called on to help when a plane crash lands in the North Carolina mountains, killing everyone on board, but when some of the bodies raise questions in her mind she finds herself taken off the case and her career on the line.

This is probably one of Kathy Reichs stronger stories as there is a definite focus rather than moving back and forth between the investigations and Brennan's personal life. Here Brennan is faced with her biggest challenge as she is forced from her investigations and has to go over her superiors heads to find out the truth about the plane crash.

UBIK By Philip K Dick

Published : 1969
Pages : 224
Overall Mark : 8/10

When Glen Runciter is killed in an explosion his colleagues start to receive strange messages about their own reality. As they investigate, they discover that they are slowly regressing through time, travelling back as far as the 1930s, and that the only solution to their predicament is a strange substance known simply as Ubik.

This is a completely confusing book, but once you get to the part where things start to get explained it becomes very enjoyable. There are a few set ups at the beginning which don't immediately make sense but, as with most Dick novels, things eventually come together for a very rewarding conclusion.

FLOWERS FOR ALGERNON By Daniel Keyes

Published : 1966
Pages : 216
Overall Mark : 9/10

A mentally retarded man named Charlie Gordon takes part in a radical experiment to increase the intelligence of human beings. At first things go well but when Algernon, the original mouse that marked the success of the experiment, begins to exhibit strange symptoms and eventually dies, Charlie realises that his intelligence may be short lived.

The idea of this book being written as a journal - gradually making the voice of Charlie Gordon increase in intelligence - is a fantastic idea and, as you reach the conclusion it becomes a very touching and upsetting tale of a man who couldn't fit in no matter if he were intelligent or simple because people couldn't accept him when he tried to improve himself.

DUMA KEY By Stephen King

Published : 2007
Pages : 689
Overall Mark : 9/10

Following an accident that leaves him with partial brain damage, Edgar Freemantle moves to the remote island of Duma Key to try and recover, but once there he's there he starts to hear strange whispered voices which inspire him to take up painting, a skill he never knew he had, and he begins to create the most extraordinary paintings, some of which have a drastic effect on reality. What he then discovers about the island's history leaves him in a terrified state which could mean the deaths of those he holds most dear.

This is one of Stephen King's best books in a long time. The characters are vivid and real, the pacing is dramatic, and the inevitable beast at the end doesn't feel as disappointing as they often can with King. Clearly he has lost none of his skills, and this book is a must for any fan, as well as anyone who's never so much as picked up one of his books.

THE TIME MACHINE AND THE WAR OF THE WORLDS By H G Wells

Published : 1895 & 1898
Pages : 274
Overall Mark : 7/10

A scientist creates a time machine so that he can see what the future holds in store for humankind, but finds himself in a strange world where humanity has been split into two camps; the utopian Eloi and the cannibalistic Morlocks. And a man runs for his life when Martian tripods land in England and begin to wipe out all humans with their deadly advanced weaponry.

In spite of being well ahead of their time, and paving the way for all science fiction literature in the years following, these stories aren't that impressively written and can at times get a little repetitive and boring. Despite this weakness Wells does still manage to drag out what could otherwise be a few pages of scenery into an entire novella and comes up with some ingenious visuals.

THE BOOK OF SKULLS By Robert Silverberg

Published : 1972
Pages : 222
Overall Mark : 7/10

Four students travel into the Arizona desert in search of a lost group of acolytes who possess the power of immortality, but in order to become immortal one of the four has to be killed by the others whilst another must volunteer to take their own life. As the group begin their training amongst the followers of The Book Of Skulls, they begin to decide who they think should die and which two should live forever.

Although this is an intersting book, I didn't like any of the characters and didn't think any of them deserved to live forever. However, this said, their avaricious tendencies and need for immortality to achieve all of their greedy goals soon proves to be something they may never achieve, even if they do become immortal. This is well worth reading, but be warned, there isn't anything redeaming about the characters therein.

HOW TO BE GOOD By Nick Hornby

Published : 2001
Pages : 244
Overall Mark : 8/10

When Katie Carr's husband David visits a spiritual healer named DJ Goodnews, he suddenly takes on a new leaf in life and becomes a good person. Gone are the days of swearing and arguing and being basically miserable, and now Katie is faced with a David who is giving away her children's things and inviting homeless people to come and stay in their home.

This is a witty novel that shows that, even when someone tries to do good they will innevitably end up causing bad things to happen. From thieving homeless people to divorcing parents, this book gives us a great insight into the life of the Carr's and how they deal with their drastic changes from the norm.

BEHOLD THE MAN By Michael Moorcock

Published : 1969
Pages : 124
Overall Mark : 8/10

Karl Glogauer, having lived a meaningless existence, decides to travel back in time to witness the death of Jesus Christ so he can at least say he's done one big thing, but when he gets there he discovers that Jesus couldn't possibly have done the things the Bible said he did, so he takes it upon himself to take his place.

This is such a tongue in cheek idea, yet Moorcock approaches it in a deadly serious manner. I'm surprised the Church didn't get ahold of this and ban it, but I guess the innocuous title kept it below the radar, unlike the Satanic Verses. The very idea that Jesus was a jibbering idiot might offend some, but this novella, which can easily be read in one sitting, is a must read that proves that even a nobody can do something wonderful with their lives.

STAR MAKER By Olaf Stapledon

Published : 1937
Pages : 254
Overall Mark : 7/10

An ordinary man finds himself whisked into the depths of space, where he travels to various distant worlds to experience how the alien beings that inhabit thos worlds live. As he continues through space, continually making new friends and having new experiences, he finds himself being drawn closer and closer to the mythical godlike creature, The Starmaker.

This is an imaginative novel, something of an expansion of Last And First Men that moves on from the planet Earth and ventures into the realms of space. Stapledon manages to use his mind to envisage whole new species of beings, yet only looks at them for a couple of pages before moving into to more of the same. This has plenty of wonderful imagination and enough thought provoking ideas to keep even the most doubtful SF fan intrigued.

ODD HOURS By Dean Koontz

Published : 2008
Pages : 404
Overall Mark : 6/10

Odd Thomas has travelled to Magic Beach in California to help a woman named Annamaria who has been in his dreams, as well as scenes of death and destruction. As Odd joins forces with the mysterious woman, he discovers that his visions were of a nuclear explosion, and the there are people in the area planning on stealing some nuclear weaponry and using it to their own evil ends.

This is very similar to Koontz's other recent novel, The Good Guy, and doesn't really progress well with The Odd Thomas series. I enjoy these novels, but this was the least interesting and least memorable so far, and if there are any more I hope Koontz has some sparkling ideas up his sleeve.

A SCANNER DARKLY By Philip K Dick

Published : 1977
Pages : 217
Overall Mark : 8/10

Bob Arctor has been sent deep undercover to infiltrate a small group of drug dealers so that he can find the source of their product, but soon he finds himself addicted to Substance D, a drug that causes disorientation and irreversible brain damage, and his odd behaviour leads his bosses, who aren't actually aware of which of the group is their agent, to think that Arctor himself may be the brains behind the operation.

This is a great novel, and the movie didn't really do it justice. There are some great ideas embedded in the plot, and the characters are lively and full of humour and imagination. Clearly this is something of an important story for Dick to tell, and this was written shortly after he discovered that he himself had done his body serious damage through drug abuse and he dedicates it to the memory of many of his dead friends. This book is a must, which although it doesn't really have an actual ending, it does end on a note that indicates that the makers of Substance D will soon meet with their comeuppance.

EMPHYRIO By Jack Vance

Published : 1969
Pages : 208
Overall Mark : 6/10

In the distant future it has become illegal on the planet Halma to mass produce any object, and to do so is punishable by death. When his father Amiante is executed for using a camera to process ancient documents detailing the legend of Emphyrio, Ghyl Tarvoke decides to find out the full story about the legend and try to use it to bring down the elite of his planet and bring an end to the oppressive system that controls everyone's lives.

This is a nice idea, but the execution is a little sketchy. The first half of the book seems quite confused, but thankfully everything seems to come together at the end with some much needed explanation. Once you can see passed the confusing start, and the habit of leaping about in the anrrative, this is an enjoyable novel which could easily be used as Communist propoganda.

DEADLY DECISIONS By Kathy Reichs

Published : 2000
Pages : 382
Overall Mark : 8/10

Dr Temperance Brennan, an expert on identifying bones, is brought in to investigate the deaths of a set of twins whose murder may be connected to a local biker gang. She discovers that the deaths are related to the death of a young girl, a death she investigated years before. Things take a turn for the worse when her nephew Kit comes to visit and becomes obsessed with the world of biking gangs and put his own life in danger by befriending members of the gangs.

Kathy Reichs has the uncanny ability of writing what is essentially a soap opera like story and giving it a forensic twist that makes it twice as entertaining. She gives us insights into the life of Tempe that prevent her from turning into a lifeless character and instead make her all the more real, and her situation all the more dangerous. This series of novels seems to be going from strength to strength, and I hope that they get even better over time.

THE SIRENS OF TITAN By Kurt Vonnegut

Published : 1959
Pages : 224
Overall Mark : 9/10

Winston Niles Rumfoord is the victim of a bizarre accident which has transformed him into pure energy that can exist atmany different points in both time and space. He is only able to travel home for one hour every 59 days, and during once of these visists he tells a man named Malachi Constant what his future holds. Soon, Malachi finds his whole world turned around as he is manipulated into various situations just so that Rumfoord's predictions can be fulfilled.

This is a great sci-fi novel by a writer who seems to have greatly inspired the writings of Douglas Adams. His characters have the strange quirk of being both sympathetic and hateful, and Vonnegut's ability to manipulate his characters in such a way that, in spite of any initial feelings of dislike you may have for any of them, we can instantly take a liking to them simply based on the terrible situations they find themselves in. This is a must for any fan of The Hitchhiker's Guide who may actually find themselves preferring this tale of Godless religion pointless destiny.

THE DROWNED WORLD By J G Ballard

Published : 1962
Pages : 175
Overall Mark : 7/10

Kerans has spent most if not all of his life living on a version of the planet Earth where ecological disaster has lead to the tides rising, and the majority of the world's continents are now under water. A solution to this problem would be ideal, but when a possible solution arises in the form of a man named Strangman, Kerans starts to wonder if he wants his world to change or if he's happy with the way things are.

This is a fascinating novel, on a par with Lord Of The Flies in its ability to give us a terrible scenario that somehow feels right for the people involved. Although many of the characters are flat and lifeless, the character of Strangman has enough character to make up for this, and his manic egomaniacal ways soon have us thinking whether or not he is in fact in the right in his assertions.

FAT By Rob Grant

Published : 2006
Pages : 318
Overall Mark : 8/10

When Jeremy Slank is called to see the Prime Minister, he soon discovers that he is wanted to work on a government project that intends to help overweight people to lose weight. The setting for the camp is like something out of Aushwitz, and Jeremy is expected to try to market this project to the general public, members of the public like celebrity chef Grenville Roberts, who has recently lost his job due to getting arrested for dangerous driving, and Hayleigh, a young school girl who can't so much as look in a mirror without being disgusted by what she sees.

This is a great little page turner from one of the co-creators of Red Dwarf, filled with colourful characters that the reader will soon grow to love. In spite of all their faults, the characters are appealing and make us as readers want to find out what will happen to them as we become ebgaged by their life stories. Hopefully Rob Grant will have another novel out soon, they are a little few and far between.

THE DISPOSSESSED By Ursula Le Guin

Published : 1974
Pages : 319
Overall Mark : 5/10

Shevek is a scientist from the planet of Anarres, a planet without a government or any real leadership, who believes he has discovered the secret to instantaneous communication and space flight. His colleagues on his home world are trying to block Shevek from publishing his work as they believe they directly contradict their planets anarchistic beliefs, so he travels to the nearby planet of Urras, an orderly world of rules and regulations, in the hope of finding the freedom to continue his work.

This is a very confusing novel, which goes back and forth through time without really explaining what's happening and leaving it to the reader to figure out for themselves. Once this is figured out, the book does improve, andhas some interesting theories about communism and dictatorism, but the overall confusing tone does tend to get in the way of any potential enjoyment.