Category Archives: Sci-Fi

Review – Divergent

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Author:  Veronica Roth

Genre:  Sci-Fi

Ratings

Enjoyability/Awesomeness:  4

  • Action:  5
  • Suspense:  4
  • Boredom:  5
  • Romance:  7
  • Magic:  2
  • Thrills:  4

Recommended Age Range:  13+

  • Violence/Fear:  6
  • Mature Content:  7
  • Language:  2
  • Alcohol/Drugs:  2
  • Advertising:  1
  • Positive Messages:  4
  • Role Models:  4

While Divergent has received rave reviews, it does not meet one’s expectations.  While the concept of divisions of humanity into factions based on virtues is clever and original, this is not used to the extent desired.  Only three of the five factions are discussed with any detail, and only two from an inside view.  The primary conflict of the story is one-sided and poorly justified.  Ultimately, one of the primary message of the story seems to be that humanity cannot resist its vices and will ultimately become evil, and that pursuit of knowledge is the doorway to evil.  Finally, reading is dull as attempts at foreshadowing are heavy-handed and reveal future events prematurely, and plot is already predictable.

Review – The Ice Limit

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Authors:  Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child

Genre:  Sci-Fi and Thriller

Ratings

Enjoyability/Awesomeness:  10

  • Action:  6
  • Suspense:  10
  • Boredom:  1
  • Romance:  7
  • Magic:  4
  • Thrills:  10

Recommended Age Range:  15+

  • Violence/Fear:  4
  • Mature Content:  8
  • Language:  7
  • Alcohol/Drugs:  3
  • Advertising:  4
  • Positive Messages:  4
  • Role Models:  3

Overview

This is the thrilling story following meteorite hunter Sam McFarlane, who is hired by an eccentric billionaire who is opening a museum of colossal  proportions.  Sam is sent on the trail of his old partner who discovered something big on an island not far from Antarctica.  When he reaches the island, assisted by a mysterious but effective engineering firm known as EES (Effective Engineering Solutions),  He discovers a massive meteorite, larger than anything discovered before by humans.  Its size is not its only distinguishing factor.  As they try to move the space rock, people begin to die.  They aren’t taking the asteroid anywhere.  (To quote the back cover) It’s taking them.

Review – Artemis Fowl

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Author:  Eoin Colfer

Genre:  Sci-Fi and Fantasy

Ratings

Enjoyability/Awesomeness:  8

  • Action:  7
  • Suspense:  6
  • Boredom:  2
  • Romance:  1
  • Magic:  6
  • Thrills:  4

Recommended Age Range:  12+

  • Violence/Fear:  3
  • Mature Content:  1
  • Language:  1
  • Alcohol/Drugs:  2
  • Advertising:  1
  • Positive Messages:  6
  • Role Models:  7

Overview

Artemis Fowl is your average child genius.  His father went missing when he was little, his mother fell deep into depression because of it, so he basically was raised by his bodyguard named Butler.  Yes, Butler.  Artemis’s family was one of those which made it big illegally, and Artemis is well on his way to continuing the family industry.  His plan: to kidnap and ransom a fairy.  Yes, a fairy.  Unfortunately for Artemis, the fairies aren’t without defenses….

The books in the Artemis Fowl series are: Artemis Fowl, The Arctic Incident, The Eternity Code, The Opal Deception, The Lost Colony, The Time Paradox, The Atlantis Complex, and The Last Guardian.