Christian Cantrell

All posts tagged Christian Cantrell

Serial Expectations

Posted by tjhapney on June 11, 2013
Posted in: Random Thoughts. Tagged: , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

I was talking/writing with someone I know today about how we develop expectations about what we see or read, especially when it comes to a series. With a book blog, even though it’s a voluntary labor of love that you have put upon yourself, once you get going you have people contacting you for reviews, blog tours and the like and you end up with things on your schedule (so to speak) to read that you didn’t necessarily search out for yourself. It’s actually cool and I have read some really good books that way. Presently, I’m doing my best to work my way through the commitments I have made, but I bought/pre-ordered Dust by Hugh Howey the other day and I swear I can hear it calling to me as I read the other books on my list.

I loved Wool and cannot wait to read Dust, though perhaps the waiting is good for me because once I have read it and it’s over I’ll have to wait a while to find another book that truly draws me to it. I have a few fairly new authors right now that really draw me in and I can’t wait for them to put out new books.  Hugh Howey is one of them because I was just blown away by the Wool series. Michael R. Hicks is another and the last time I read one of his books from the In Her Name series, I ended up re-reading the whole series and reading the current book again before I could even get around to reviewing it. I’m hoping Dust will be like that too. I also keep an eye out for Christian Cantrell’s stuff because Containment was a good read and Peter Cawdron’s stuff because of the unique perspectives he offers in his books with Monsters being the most recent one I have enjoyed reading. So I’m currently reading a book I was requested to read and it’s really pretty good. The author might even be one I start looking out for, but when I’m standing at the sink washing dishes and such I still find myself wondering what will be there when I open Dust.

I hope the distraction is worth the wait, but the book I’m reading is good enough to not put down as an orphan and I can’t read Dust until it comes out in August so I’ll have to wait. However, I wait with happy expectations of what I will find when I open Dust.

Brainbox by Christian Cantrell

Posted by tjhapney on May 31, 2013
Posted in: Science Fiction. Tagged: , , . Leave a comment

brainboxOriginal review posted Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Description: When the Earth begins cooling unexpectedly, humanity is left with only a few degrees of habitable latitude along the planet’s equator. After establishing themselves as the three remaining powers in the world, the Americans, Chinese, and Russians eventually turn on each other in hopes of securing the last of the Earth’s resources for themselves.

In an attempt to break the decades-long stalemate, the American military turns to Miguel dos Santos — a brilliant Brazilian roboticist — for help in creating the ASRA, or Autonomous Self Replicating Asset. The secret to the ASRAs is their neurological processors, also known as the brainbox, which enables the machines to “combine the logic and reasoning of a computer with the desperation and hate of the human soul.” But as Miguel reluctantly carries out his orders, it becomes clear that he has other plans for what remains of humanity.

This short story (about 7,500 words) is both a technological and psychological thriller which unfolds across a landscape as exotic and unpredictable as it is dystopian and barren.

Review 3.5 of 5 Stars

Brainbox is a short story that I had actually picked up quite a while back. Life has been crazy, but I had a few free moments and decided to plunge on in. The author’s description of the story gives a pretty good basic overview. In the end it was a story that took a really intense set of circumstances to try to teach us that we should all play nice together as humans. It was interesting, but I think it could have been fleshed out in some places. Anyway, keep in mind that it is a short story so if you have a few minutes and enjoy Mr. Cantrell’s work you might want to give it a read. As for me I’m giving it 3.5 stars because though it was interesting in places, it was somewhat predictable and I didn’t really feel I was surprised by any of it. I read and loved Containment, but to me this just wasn’t the same caliber of story.

Containment by Christian Cantrell

Posted by tjhapney on May 31, 2013
Posted in: Science Fiction. Tagged: , , . Leave a comment

ContainmentOriginal Review posted February 18, 2012

Description: As the Earth’s ability to support human life begins to diminish at an alarming rate, the Global Space Agency is formed with a single mandate: protect humanity from extinction by colonizing the solar system as quickly as possible. Venus, being almost the same mass as Earth, is chosen over Mars as humanity’s first permanent steppingstone into the universe.

Arik Ockley is part of the first generation to be born and raised off-Earth. After a puzzling accident, Arik wakes up to find that his wife is almost three months pregnant. Since the colony’s environmental systems cannot safely support any increases in population, Arik immediately resumes his work on AP, or artificial photosynthesis, in order to save the life of his unborn child. Arik’s new and frantic research uncovers startling truths about the planet, and about the distorted reality the founders of the colony have constructed for Arik’s entire generation. Everything Arik has ever known is called into question, and he must figure out the right path for himself, his wife, and his unborn daughter.

Review 5 of 5 Stars:

Wow! Let me start by saying that I know I’m a science geek. My greatest challenge in writing this review is not to gush on what I’ve just finished reading and give it away with spoilers. So, I’m going to try to keep it simple. The main character was easy to relate to, the science was intriguing, and I loved the problem-solving aspect of the book as a whole. It was witty, had twists, mystery, deception and intrigue all wrapped into a great story. About 3/4 of the way through the book, I was hoping that my assumptions were correct about what was really happening as I sped forward to the conclusion. I can’t tell you how disappointed I was when I tapped the screen the last time and there were no more pages. I tapped it twice more just to make sure. All in all this was a great read if you enjoy science fiction that is really based on science.