I'll Be Back Soon

Okay, so quick update on the status of this blog. First, over the past week I've been in the process of moving. It's amazing how much stuff fits in a two bedroom apartment. The next week will be spent unpacking and setting up the new place. The computers are already set up, of course, but at the moment I have no internet connection at home. That will be set up soon.

Second, I've gotten a few freelance programming jobs. It's been fun, give me a little spending money, but takes up alot of time. Don't get me wrong, I've enjoyed it, but it's still been a major factor to my lack of free time. Lack of free time limits how much I can listen to these podiobooks I'm supposed to be reviewing.

Third, I've been in the search for a new, better paying, hopefully less stressful job. Several opportunities have arisen, and look promising.

I can, however, give a quick review of the podiobook "Playing for Keeps", by Mur Lafferty. I've only gotten to the third episode, but it quickly grabbed my interest. As a summary, Seventh City is the home of the Academy, a school for superheroes. The city is full of people with superpowers, which some use for good, some for 'evil', and some, the 'Third-Wavers', have powers that aren't exactly useful for either side. Now, just from that, it almost sounds like this a cheesy rip-off of X-Men. But, even after the first chapter, the protagonist, Keepsie, and her cynical view on the Academy, the superheroes and supervillains, and her 'unique' power make this a podiobook worth following. The listener is drawn into life with Keepsie and her friends. From the pointof view of those rejected from the Academy, the line between hero and villain becomes blurred, as does the role of the Third-Wave power wielding citizens of Seventh City. Like I said, I'm only into the third episode, but I'm greatly looking forward to where this book is going.

Finally a quick plug for Mur. Playing for Keeps is coming out in print on August 25. Mur and her fans are calling to everyone to purchase the book on Amazon.com on that day. Since it's coming out from a small publisher, it isn't going to get much press or attention. If everyone goes to Amazon.com, and gets the book on release day, we can push it up the charts and then everyone can see it, buy it, and Mur and the book will be noticed by those outside the podiobook world. Check out www.playingforkeepsnovel.com for more info, and to subscribe and download this great podiobook.

Finally, thanks to anyone who has read this blog at all, and especially to those who are watching to see when I come back. Previous plans have not been canceled, just postponed. Hoefully, within 2 weeks or less, I'll be back to weekly postings reviewing great podiobooks, and the surprises mentioned before will come. I promise.

Update on Blog Status

Well, this blog was originally started as a random rant blog, about everything going on in my life. But since then, I've started moving towards more podcast reviews, starting with J.C. Hutchins 7th Son Trilogy and Scott Sigler's Infected. I'm going to turn this into a podcast review blog, and perhaps make my own podcast form it in the future. I've got plenty of podcasts to listen to, and provide opinions on in the upcoming weeks, and I'll try to keep updates to Friday or Saturday nights.

That said, let's move on to the good stuff. I just finished the 7th Son Trilogy, and must say it was quite a ride. After the trilogy concluded, Hutchins gave the green light to other authors, both print and podiobooks, as well as listeners to participate in Obsidian, an anthology of shorts, as well as voice mails and videos sent in by listeners about their "experience" in the 7th Son fictional universe, shortly after the attack on America's power grid.




Still in progress is Scott Sigler's Infected, which has slowed down a bit due to Sigler's Super-Secret Mission of Death, a writing project he is trying to finish before the deadline. Infected is already out in print, if you don't want to wait.

On the table right now, I'm trying to find time to listen to Infected, Obsidian, Ancestor, A Different Point of View, Stranger Things, Prophecy of Swords, The Rookie, Singularity, and Wormwood. So lots of updates in the coming weeks, and if everything works out, perhaps a few surprises.

Don't Forget the Sigler

Alas, JC Hutchins and Scott Sigler seem to be having a feud. The last few posts have made clear I'm a fan of JC Hutchins and his 7th Son trilogy. But I'm also listening to the podiobook Infected by Scott Sigler. I couldn't leave Sigler out of the postings, so here is a post just for him (you're still mentioned Hutchins, don't worry).

Infected is a novel about an outbreak of an never before seen, voracious disease. But unlike other outbreak novels, this disease if different. It starts innocently enough as an itch and a rash, but then becomes something more. I've never heard of a concept like this in any other sci-fi works, and I don't want to give anything away, but this novel has blown my socks off, and I'm only half-way through. Like 7th Son, Infected is the beginning of a trilogy, and I can't wait to see what Sigler has in store for the other two books.

I've heard Infected is in the very early stages of becoming a movie, which would be awesome! It will be years yet, but hopefully worth the wait. I just hope they pick a good crew. Feel free to comment on ideas on who he director and actors should be. Maybe we can influence General Siglerismo to hear the little people.

PS: I should have pointed this out before, but both 7th Son and Infected are intended for mature audiences only. 7th Son has swearing, lots of action, and some suggestive themes, and Infected has, in the words of Sigler himself, "lots, and lots of violence." Yes, gore. Just thought you should be warned.

John Alpha 08!

My John Alpha for President bumper stickers. Sent by JC Hutchins himself! The notes read
"Hey Jason! Thanks for supporting John Alpha! Best J.C. Hutchins"
"Hey buddy! Thanks for all the support! J.C. Hutchins"

Sweet!

Diversions

I just wanted to make a quick post about an audiobook I've been listening to. It's called 7th Son, by J. C. Hutchins, and is actually a trilogy. So far, I'm halfway through the second book, and it's been amazing so far. It can be found on podiobooks.com, and jchutchins.net. It's sci-fi, and full of action, plot twists, ethics, philosophy. 7th Son has gained a large, almost cult-like following. My advice, check out this book, now. Click below to go to the 7th Son homepage



I'll have what is turning out to be the regular Friday post later today. Find 7th Son before then, or else!

PS Also check out another great author, Scott Sigler. Search for him at podiobooks.com, or go to scottsigler.com.