CHILDREN OF THE LIGHT - Book One - The Silver Haired Boy

CHILDREN OF THE LIGHT

Book One : The Silver-Haired Boy

By Aaron Powers

Create Space Platform

Available at Amazon

216 pgs

As we’ve said often enough in this column, self-published books are really hit or miss. The ability to publish one’s own work, without having to rely on a professional publisher is both a good thing and a bad thing. Obviously it’s a good thing for that talented writer who, for whatever obstacles, simply can’t get his or her work looked at by those big shot companies. It is certainly a bad thing when people without an ounce of writing skills think they are the next Stephen King and put their amateurish (we’re being kind here) ramblings out for the whole world to suffer through.

So here we have another self-published entry. Whereas we are delighted to say it falls totally in the former camp. Aaron Powers can write. And that is an understatement. He not only understands the technical skilled required to write, he’s also got the instincts of a true storyteller. From page one to the dramatic finale, “Children of the Light” is a roller-coaster ride that is so well conceived and delivered, we were amazed that this is his first novel.

Ticho is young boy living in Gainsborough. He is an orphan who doesn’t know his own history. He is mute and lots of very bad people are chasing him because he stole a museum statue. The statue he stole is of a shepherd holding recovered lost lamb. What its value is, Ticho doesn’t know but in the opening chapter his adoptive father is murdered by the very people wanting its return. During the chase, he encounters a very wise old man named Armin Kayetan who brings him to a magical cottage hidden on the outskirts of the city.

Here Armin, and a few of his trusted allies, inform Ticho that for centuries a secret war has been waged on Earth between the powers of good and evil; dark and light. Ticho is a direct descendant of the first Children of the Light and has inherited their amazing powers. It is Armin’s task to train the boy and teach him how to use these gifts as the demonic forces are closing in on them every day. The statue is one of six the minions of the Dark require to rule the world and usher in an age of true horror.

“Children of the Light – Book One – The Silver-Haired Boy” is one of the most enjoyable books we’ve read all year and one that is extremely hard to put down once you start reading. This is what solid, action adventure fantasy is all about. Aaron Powers…remember that name.  You will be hearing it a whole lot more in the future. Count on it.

Captain Cosmos - Spin a Web of Death.

CAPTAIN COSMOS

The Last Starveyer in

Spin a Web of Death

By Nicola Cuti

Nicolaentertainment.com

297 pgs

It would be safe to say most sci-fi readers first encountered writer Nicola Cuti’s work among the pages of comic books. At the now defunct Charlton Comics, Cuit created the hilarious E-Man with artist pal, Joe Staton. His list of credits is far too long to enumerate here. Still we were naturally surprised to see he’d ventured not only into prose writing but also the questionable world self-publishing.

He does so here in his first Captain Cosmos adventure; a character obviously based on himself, were he a bonafide space ranger. This is an out and out old school pulp space opera; the kind most of us encountered while in high school. It is pure fun from the first page to the last. Our hero is a sad-sack, former Starveyer who left the service to start his own freight hauling business. Aboard his ship, Belvedere, he is free to roam the spaceways with his crew among which are Cadet Starling and Zen-ya, an alien beauty.

During one very lucrative run, Cosmos learns that a galaxy wide rescue mission is being assembled to save the inhabitants of a planet about to perish. The world is called Arach and its people, Arachnians, are spider-like beings. Much to the ire of the business man who is employing him, Cosmos has the Belvedere  join the rescue fleet and through a series of odd mishaps ends up being the only ship to actually land on Arach. Once there, Cosmos encounters a Gillian, a lovely Earth Scientist, who agrees to assist them in getting the Arachnians ready for transporting.

Alas the populace of the capital city will not leave unless their Royal Family accompanies them, thus forcing Cosmos and Gillian on a hasty journey into the wild to find the governing clan. Along they way, to and from, they encounter one danger after another as they struggle to complete their mission. All the while Arach’s time grows ever shorter.

“Spin a Web of Death,” is a fresh, no-hold barred, rollicking adventure with tons of action and a wry, satirical humor that elevates it far beyond the average space opera. It is a gem of a story told by a man whose own creativity appears endless. Cuti is one of the best and this wonderful book proves to be another notch in his belt. Please, go out and buy it now. You can thank me later.

Bentley Goes To School

BENTLEY GOES TO SCHOOL

Story by Kellie Lambert

Art by Jeff Slemons

Paws Publishing

24 pgs

We love children’s books and though this is not the first such we’ve reviewed; it has been a long, long while since the last. What brought about this review is the amazing artwork of Jeff Slemons, a fellow Coloradan who we know mostly for his automobile cartoons and comics work. Quality children’s books are artistic gems, both for their succinct economy of storytelling and their imaginative illustrations. This book has them both.

The plot is simple enough. Bentley, our hero, is a big 200 pound brindle, English Mastiff. Brindle refers to the striped cologing on his body. He belongs to Kellie, a school principal and one day she takes Bentley to work with her. He immediately falls in love with all the kids. So much so that he wants to go to school every day. He learns that would be possible if he were a Therap Dog. Bentley immediately goes to training school to learn this very important job, working very had to achieve that goal and get his wish; to go to school every day.

“Bentley Goes To School” is a charming, delightful story that will entrance both young and old alike. Kellie Lambert and Jeff Slemons have given us a treat with this fun story about a pretty amazing dog. We loved this book and if you’re an animal lover, so will you.

CUBA : Sugar, Sex, and Slaughter.

CUBA : Sugar, Sex, and Scandal

Edited by Robert Deis & Wyatt Doyle

# new texture

159 pages

Once again Bob Deis & Wyatt Doyle have released a new anthology from their series; “The Men’s Adventure Library Journal” titles. As ever, they’ve dug into their amazing collection of vintage Men’s Adventure Magazines (MAMS for short) and put together a series of articles, fiction and illustrations all focused on the theme of Cuba and its bloody history.

It’s a truly weird approach telling the history of people via such articles, but in its own way the tropical island’s very make up seems soaked in pulpish gore and horror; never mind the action and adventure. The pieces are typical sensationalist exposes such as “Havana’s Amazing Flesh Market,” to “Castro’s Commie Blueprint to Take Over Latin America.”

Fiction wise there’s “Bayamo’s Night of Terror,” by Don Hogan. A ghastly account of life in one of Cuba’s worst prison hell-holes.  As for special features, the book offers up some truly wonderful examples of artist Norm Eastman’s work for the MAMS and then there is an all too short pictorial featuring the lovely model Eva Lynd recounting her own one time trip to Cuba.

Beautiful assembled and laid out, “CUBA : Sugar, Sex and Slaughter” is representative of a time when drugstores magazine racks were filled with some of the most lurid, explosive stories ever to grace a pulp page. This book is just another lesson delivered by two experts who really know their stuff.  A welcome addition to any pulp library.