“The Compound,” by S. A. Bodeen

“The Compound,” by S. A. Bodeen is a chilling science fiction story about a rich family living in a specialized bomb shelter designed to help them survive a nuclear war.

Eli Yanakakis and his family entered the Compound six year ago, when they learned that a full scale nuclear war was about to begin.  When your father is a billionaire he can afford anything, even a multi-million dollar bomb shelter with enough supplies to outlast a nuclear winter.  The bomb shelter has rooms full of supplies, a kitchen, a gym, a music room, and even a small church.  But what it is missing is Eli’s twin brother Eddy and his grandmother.  They didn’t make it into the shelter in time. Read the rest »

“Counter Clockwise,” by Jason Cockcroft

“Counter Clockwise,” by Jason Cockcroft is a slightly psychedelic, mind-bending time travel fantasy about a boy who must travel back in time to the fateful day when his mother was killed.

One year ago Nathan Cobbe and his father Henry suffered the tragic loss of Nathan’s mother.  She accidentally stepped out in front of a bus and was hit before anyone could stop her.  Ever since then Nathan’s father has been acting rather strange, and seems a little bit out of it.  Nathan is greatly affected as well but he puts on a facade for his father, because he knows that Henry has enough to worry about. Read the rest »

“Cyberia,” by Chris Lynch

“Cyberia,” by Chris Lynch is a science fiction adventure about a boy living in the not-to-distant future, in a time when everything is connected electronically, even humans and animals.

Both of Zane’s parents are popular personalities. His mother is a famous news anchor often seen on TV, while his father is the famous voice behind the national radioweb. Zane rarely sees his parents, even though they all spend their time in the same house. Each of them lives in a separate room, connected by electronics and video screens.

Zane’s parents check in periodically over the video screens to tell him that they love him, but Zane isn’t satisfied. Read the rest »

“Starcross,” by Philip Reeve

“Starcross,” by Philip Reeve is a fantastic adventure story set in an alternate reality Victorian world in which airships sail the “aether,” taking passengers to the most distant parts of the solar system.

Art Mumby and his sister Myrtle live a rather exciting and unusual life. Indeed that is to be expected when your mother is a “five thousand million year old entity from another star” and creator of your solar system. Art and Myrtle discovered their mother’s secret past in “Larklight,” book one of the Larklight series. When their mother stepped in to save the universe from an invasion of giant spiders, she did it with her usual grace and careful calmness. Read the rest »

“Starclimber,” by Kenneth Oppel

“Starclimber,” by Kenneth Oppel is a phenomenal science fiction novel that is third in a series that began with “Airborn” and “Skybreaker.”

The “Airborn” series is set in a unique alternate reality world with a distinct Victorian feel. In some ways it is very similar to our world in the 1800’s to early 1900’s. However, in the “Airborn” world lighter than air transportation has reached a much higher degree of development. A special gas called hydrium makes huge airliners and heavy duty airtugs possible. These airships share the skies with heavier-than-air Leonardo da Vinci style ornithopters, and strange high altitude creatures that are usually dangerous to the brave human aeronauts. Read the rest »