Book Review: Jubilee, by Stephan K. Stanford

Fiction: FICTION / Science Fiction / Space
Opera
ISBN: 978-1-78758-886-8
Pages: 288 pp
Imprint: FLAME TREE PRESS

It was meant to be an in and out mission…

Jubilee is a lawless, artificial world existing within its own parallel universe; a seething cesspool of vice ruled by an eccentric AI.

So they say.

Detectives Col and Danee are sent to Jubilee on a hastily organised mission
to recover the body of a leading conservative politician (someone it seems,
has been a naughty boy). But the corpse has been switched and the
imperilled partners are drawn together. They might be falling in love, or they might be saving the galaxy– either way the authorities will not be pleased.


FLAME TREE PRESS is the imprint of long-standing Independent Flame Tree
Publishing, dedicated to full-length original fiction in the horror and
suspense, science fiction and fantasy. The list brings together fantastic new
authors and the more established; the award winners, and exciting, original
voices. Learn more about Flame Tree Press at http://www.flametreepress.com and
connect on social media @FlameTreePress

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Review: Sunny, by Colin O’Sullivan

ISBN: 978-0-06-337335-8
7 Dec 2023
£ 10.99

Blurb

SOON TO BE A MAJOR STREAMING SERIES

A riveting technological thriller following a woman whose life is upended when her husband and son disappear in a mysterious plane crash and she is left alone with an unnerving home robot, only to get caught up in an AI-related conspiracy.

In near-future Japan, Susie Sakamoto is mourning the loss of her husband and son to a plane crash. Alone in her big modern house, which feels like more of a prison, Susie spends her days drinking heavily and taking her anger out at the only “sentient” thing left in her life: Sunny, the annoying home robot her husband designed. Susie despises Sunny, and sometimes even gets a sinking feeling that Sunny is out to hurt her.

To escape her paranoia and depression, Susie frequents the seedy, drug-fuelled bars of the city, where she hears rumours of The Dark Manual, a set of guidelines that allow you to reprogram your robot for nefarious purposes. In the hopes of finding a way to turn off Sunny for good, Susie begins to search for the manual, only to learn it’s too late: the machines are becoming more sentient and dangerous. Thrust into the centre of a dark, corporate war, Susie realizes there’s someone behind the code, pulling the strings. And they want her dead.

With a darkly humorous yet propulsive voice, O’Sullivan presents us with an unsettling look at a future that feels all too real. Gripping and thought-provoking, Sunny is a haunting character study of an anxious woman teetering in an anxious time.

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Review: Mr Gearheart, by Emily Owen

Book Information
 
Genre: steampunk historical fiction
Publication Date 27 November 2023
ISBN 978-1-3999-5773-1
Dimensions 229 x 152mm
Extent 306 pages
RRP £9.99
BIC FL, FV
Rights Worldwide
 
Published by Open Door Books. Page design and typesetting by SilverWood Books.

Key Selling Points

  • From the author of The Mechanical Maestro and The Copper Chevalier, a new story following the Abernathy siblings as they face an enigmatic adversary.
  • Character-driven story centred around three genius siblings.
  • A steampunk-tinged tale with Gothic overtones sure to enthral fans of clockwork, androids and the Victorian era alike.
  • Immersive world filled with colourful characters.

Blurb

1863

Six years have passed at Ravenfeld Hall. The Abernathy siblings’ fortunes continue to improve as George and Douglas’s android-building business thrives. But change looms on the horizon. Douglas’s engagement to the sweet, charming Clara Marsden threatens to take him from his family, while sister Molly contemplates whether a future with the man she loves means sacrificing her independence and academic pursuits.

Then the family face more pressing concerns…

One night, George’s latest invention escapes the Hall. Four months later, a charismatic inventor by the name of Gearhart appears in London, with an intellect to rival that of the Abernathys’. George senses there’s something sinister about the mysterious Mr Gearhart, who’s planning to unveil an invention that could change the world. But does he have far grander ambitions? And can George uncover the truth about him in time?

Continue reading “Review: Mr Gearheart, by Emily Owen”

Review: The Wit & Wisdom of David Attenborough, by Chas Newkey-Burden

Publication date Thursday, October 26, 2023
Price £14.99
EAN\ISBN-13 9781856755269

Blurb

Description
A fascinating and entertaining collection of facts, quotes and stories,
celebrating Sir David Attenborough’s wicked sense of humour and astute
wisdom.
David Attenborough is a national treasure, known for his soothing voice, calming presence, passion for the natural world, and his humble, easy-going nature. Despite his incredible talent and influence, he tends to play it all down, one time stating that, ‘I can’t believe I’m still employed’.

So if he won’t celebrate himself, we’ll have to do it for him. Filled with facts, tributes and anecdotes, as well as beautiful illustrations, this enormously
positive book celebrates Sir David, providing a fascinating insight into his life as well as showcasing his brilliant sense of humour. Running chronologically, this book begins with his early days, to his first job at the BBC, to eventually becoming the most esteemed naturalist on the planet, as he is today.

Such revelations include:

  • There are 18 plants and animals named after him
  • When asked by a reporter how many degrees he had, he said it would be ‘rude to
    count’*
  • The single thing that would improve his quality of life is ‘good, workable knees’.
    Blending his quips galore with his powerful messages on the environment and future of
    the planet, this timely book showcases everything we love about Sir David, making it the
    perfect gift for any fan.
  • *He has over thirty!
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Review: Bright Starts of Black British History, by J.T. Williams, illustrated by Angela Vives

3rd September 2023
Ages 9+ | £16.99
Hardback | 60 illus
160pp | 24.0 x 17.2cm


A dazzlingly illustrated collection presenting the extraordinary life
stories of fourteen bright stars from Black British history, from Tudor
England to modern Britain.

Brought to life through hand-painted illustrations by award-winning illustrator Angela Vives, this important and timely book from author and educator J. T. Williams brings the lives of fourteen shining stars from Black British History into the spotlight, celebrating their remarkable achievements and contributions to the arts, medicine, politics, sport and beyond.

Featuring a constellation of iconic individuals – including storytelling freedom fighter Mary Prince, football star and World War I soldier Walter Tull, and Notting Hill Carnival founder Claudia Jones – ‘Bright Stars of Black British History’ shines a light on the courage, resilience and talent of remarkable individuals who have left a lasting mark on our collective history.

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Review: Seventy Times Seven, by Alex Mar

Bedford Square Publishers
09 November 2023
£20.00
978-1-9157-9896-1

A masterful, revelatory work of literary non-fiction about a teenage girl’s
shocking crime — and its extraordinary aftermath.

On a spring afternoon in 1985 in Gary, Indiana, a fifteen-year-old black girl kills a white elderly bible teacher in a violent home invasion. In a city with a history of racial tension the press swoops in.

Paula is sentenced to death, no one decries the impending execution of a tenth grader. But the tide begins to shift when the victim’s grandson Bill forgives the girl, against the wishes of his family, and campaigns to spare her life. This tragedy in a midwestern steel town soon reverberates across the United States and around the world — reaching as far away as the Vatican — as newspapers cover the story on their front pages and millions sign petitions in support of Paula.

As Paula waits on death row, her fate sparks a debate that not only animates legal circles but raises vital questions about the value of human life. This story asks us to consider the nature of justice, and what radical acts of empathy we might be capable of.

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