Land of the Lustrous, Vol. 1

Ichikawa, Haruko. Land of the Lustrous, Vol. 1. 2017. 192p. ISBN 9781632364975. Available in the graphic novels section of the library.

All of Earth’s intelligent life was wiped out eons ago, leaving the planet bare. Over time a crystal-based life form evolved and returned to inhabit the planet. Called the Lustrous, each crystal humanoid is a gem made of precious material. They can be chipped and broken, but not destroyed as long as enough pieces of them remain to be put back together and healed.

Descendents of the humans who escaped to the moon before the collapse of their civilization on Earth are bent on capturing the Lustrous to use them for decorations and as ornaments. The Lunarians launch successive attacks, hoping to catch the Lustrous unable to defend themselves, but roaming patrols of Lustrous protect their home against these attacks.

Phosphohyllite would really like to fight. She would love to be useful. But the most brittle of gems, Phos is instead tasked with creating a natural history of Earth. Ignoring where to even begin with writing such a story, Phos talks to all of the gems, and discovers that Cinnabar, due to her unique ability to focus light and function at night, has been effectively banished to the night to patrol, when the Lunarians never attack. What makes her different is also deadly to the other gems, tarnishing their brightness.

When she finally meets Cinnabar, Phos makes a promise she may not be able to keep: She will find her a new job, one that uses her talents and that don’t involve having to work the night shift.

The Lunarians are crafty, however. When they return to Earth to launch yet another attack, this time they bring a giant snail with them ...

Future Threat

Briggs, Elizabeth. Future Threat. 2017. 266p. ISBN 978-0-8075-2684-2. Available as eBook on Overdrive.

Six months ago, Elena, Adam, Chris and two others travelled forward in time to a life thirty years in the future. Sent to collect and bring back new technologies, they were instructed not to look into their future selves to avoid a sickness called “Future Shock.” Of course they did, and Elena discovered that she died shortly after her return from the future. She was able to modify it and avoided the fate that was waiting for her.

Now Aether Corporation is back, and they want Elena, Adam and Chris’ help again. A group has recently travelled to the future, but one of them did not return. The trio agrees to perform this action one more time, but only if Aether leave them alone afterwards, a condition the company readily agrees to. Once again in the future, Elena realizes that it is a lot better than the last one. Adam and her are married, they have a child, and together with Chris they run a multinational corporation designed to improve humanity. Things immediately go awry, however, when the group separates. Kevin, the missing man, is found dead alongside Chris.

Crushed by Chris’ death and what it means for the future, Elena and Adam are determined to return to the future yet one more time to see if they can fix things. That third future looks very bleak. And as things continue to go wrong, more complications arise and more lives are lost. Should they risk one more trip to help those they love or is the future already mapped out for them?

The Time Machine

Wells, H. G. The Time Machine. 2000. 118p. ISBN 0-03-056476-X. Available at 823 WEL on the library shelves and as an eBook on Overdrive.

Having invented a machine that allows travel through time, an English scientist informs his dinner guests of the fourth dimension of time and claims that he will prove it with his machine. The following week, when the guests return to the scientist’s estate, they are more than puzzled to find him dirty, bruised and haggard. He reveals to them that he has traveled over 800,000 years in the future.

Through an unbelievable tale, the Time Traveler describes his encounter with the children-like people of the Eloi, a society of indolent humans descendents who seem to have neither curiosity nor desire to improve their lot. At first the Time Traveler is enchanted by their lack of work and their diets based on fruit, yet he can’t escape the conclusion that this is what happens when humans no longer need strength and intelligence. When he discovers that his time machine has been move in a building with locked doors, the Time Traveler panics. He must retrieve the machine otherwise he will never be able to go home.

Discovering the presence of another race of human descendents he dubs the Morlocks living in the depths of the world, the Time Traveler realizes that they are responsible for removing his machine. Having saved the life of Weena, an Eloi who was drowning, the Time Traveler and the girl travel through the forest to visit ancient sites, but are attacked on their way back. Now armed with matches and a weapon, the Time Traveler fights the Morlocks back, but Weena disappears in the process. Ready to return home, he realizes that the doors to the building where his machine is kept are opened, but it most likely is a Morlock trap.

The first novel to make extensive use of the concept of time travel, The Time Traveler opened the door to a new genre of science fiction still popular to this day.

Nimona

Stevenson, Noelle. Nimona. 2015. 266p. ISBN 978-0-06-227824-1. Available as an eBook on Overdrive.

The kingdom has been kept safe from supervillains by the Institution of Law Enforcement and Heroics, who enforces actions against vigilantes and villains alike. Sir Ambrosius Goldenloin is the posterboy for the Institution, beloved by all and always ready to serve and protect. Lord Ballister Blackheart trained with Goldenloin many years ago, but following a joust he lost an arm to the good knight. Ever since then he has vowed revenge on Goldenloin and on the Institution.

When Nimona shows up on his doorstep, Blackheart doesn’t know what to do with her. She looks way too young to be a sidekick. Soon, however, he realizes that Nimona is a shapeshifter who’s very interested in villainy. He takes her on, and together they plan to bring down the Institution, for it is in fact not so much concerned to protect the kingdom as to rather control it. Nimona is useful and determined, but her lack of villainous etiquette means many civilians are getting hurt. As Blackheart’s plan moves forward, casualties are mounting and he learns more about Nimona and her dark past, he realizes that Nimona powers and abilities come at a cost that might exceed what he’s willing to pay.

Originally a web comic, Nimona and Blackheart’s tale is engaging and provides a different look at villains being the “heroes” of the tale. Blackheart’s dark castle is balanced by the colorful sceneries of the town. Blackheart, Goldenloin and Nimona share similar characteristics and their relationships become complicated as the story progresses. Fans of fantasy and of villains will appreciate this tale of destruction and redemption.

Wires and Nerve

Meyer, Marissa. Wires and Nerve. Part of the Lunar Chronicles series. 2017. 238p. ISBN 9781250078261. Available at FIC MEY on the library shelves.

With Cinder now the rightful queen of Luna, there is high hope that peace can finally be restored. However, many of Queen Levana’s wolf-hybrid soldiers have gone rogue and refuse to accept the order to return to Luna. They instead have disappeared, and they are striking Earth targets at random, keeping fear and terror alive.

With Lunar personnel suspect on Earth, Cinder decides to send Iko to chase down the wolf soldiers. In many respects, she’s the best person for the job. She’s as quick as a human, and is nearly indestructible. Plus, she can’t be mentally manipulated. Iko relishes the opportunity to prove that robots can be more than helpful servants.

The wolves are not as disorganized as they were. Alpha Steele, a former Operative, seeks to unite all wolves and take the war back to Cinder and Luna. Seeking a cure for their wolfness, the former Lunar soldiers come up with a simple plan: Capture Cinder and Kai at the upcoming Commonwealth ball.

Meanwhile Cinder’s other friends all have missions to accomplish on Earth, from delivering the Letimosis vaccine to negotiating agreements. But the wolf problem could throw everything in disarray.

This graphic novel explores Iko’s quest for humanity and her desire to escape the limitations of her programming. Cinder’s friends all appear in this book, but the story focuses on Iko and her development into a major character. Fans of the Lunar Chronicles will thoroughly enjoy watching their favorite characters move on the pages of this fast-paced book.

The Hitch Hiker Guide’s to the Galaxy

Adam, Douglas. The Hitch Hiker Guide’s to the Galaxy. 2002. 216p. ISBN 0-345-45374-3. Available at FIC ADA on the library shelves.

Arthur Dent lives a miserable life. His house, he has just found out, is about to be demolished so that a road can be built. As the bulldozers start to crawl towards his house, he shaves, dresses, then leaves and lays down on the ground. The foreman attempts to convince him to get up, but Arthur refuses, holding up the project’s timetable. Passing by, his friend, Fort Prefect, convinces Arthur to follow him to the pub while the foreman lays down in the mud, taking his place.

At the pub, Ford announces loudly that the end of the world will happen in twelve minutes. He plies Arthur with drinks, telling him that he’ll feel better. Arthur is not sure what is happening, and when he hears the sounds of demolition he realizes his house has just been knocked down. Not of that matters, however, as the Earth itself is about to be destroyed by a Vogon construction fleet so that a galactic highway can be built in this sector.

Transported from Earth to the inside of a Vogon ship, Arthur and Ford barely escape the planet’s destruction.. Ford reveals that he’s an alien from Betelgeuse who has been conducting research for the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, the most comprehensive space encyclopedia. He’s been stuck on Earth for fifteen years, and now he’s pretty happy to be off.

Meanwhile, Zaphod Beeblebrox, Galactic President, steals the Heart of Gold, a ship that travels on improbabilities. When Ford and Arthur are ejected from the Vogon spaceship, they are, improbably, collected 1 second away from death by Zaphod, who turns out to be Ford’s cousin. Along with Trillian, a human female Arthur had met before, and Marvin, a depressed android, they set off on the quest to rediscover the planet Magrathea, which originally designed Earth. Riotous adventures take place as the crew learns to deal with one another.

Originally a radio show, the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy has been produced as a novel and as a movie, and continues to be popular both as a comedy and as a space opera novel.

I Am Number Four

Lore, Pittacus. I Am Number Four. Book 1 of the Lorien Legacies series. 2010. 440p. ISBN 0061969559. Available at FIC LOR on the library shelves.

Eleven years ago, the planet Lorien was invaded by the Mogadorians. Though the population was scientifically advanced and possessed enormous powers called legacies, the surprise attack all but obliterated what was a beautiful planet, turning it into a wasteland.

Nine children, each accompanied by a tutor, were able to board a spaceship and escape to Earth, where they have been hiding ever since. The group split up and now each pair of trainer and child disappeared into the population, slowly training and awaiting the emergence of their legacies. Their hope is to re-establish life on Lorien and rebuild its prosperous civilization.

The Mogadorians followed them to Earth, however, and each of the nine is hunted down by these sadistic soldiers. Fortunately, they are under Lorien’s protection and can only be killed in numerical order. When Number Four, going by the name John Smith, is alerted through a painful tattoo that Number Three has just perished, he knows the Mogadorians are coming after him next.

Now established in the small town of Paradise, Ohio, John and his trainer Henri attempt to lay low. Unfortunately, John falls for beautiful Sarah and runs afoul of Mark James, captain of the football team and a bully. He also becomes friends with Sam Goode, an alien conspiracy theorist.

As the school year passes, John is forced to evade questions about his origins, while Henri continues to push his training and work on his legacies, which include resisting fire and minor telekinesis. Unfortunately, a party at Mark James results in the house burning down, and John is observed saving Sarah and Mark’s dogs from the second floor room where they were stuck. Now John’s picture and name is out on the Internet. With no time to spare, John and his friends must get ready for the Mogadorians’ assault and their dreaded monsters. Can a motley group of aliens and humans survive one of the savagest races in the galaxy?

Air Gear, Vol. 4

Oh! Great. Air Gear, Vol. 4. 2007. 224p. ISBN 9780345492814. Available in the Graphic Novels section of the library.

Having triumphed over Buccha in Air Gear, Vol. 3, Izzi now has the parts he needs to repair and upgrade his Air Trecks. His antics outside the classroom have been noted by his guidance counselor, however, and Izzi and his best friends are in danger of repeating his school year, and he has to bring his grades up. Helped by a young teacher, Ikki hears about another Parts War, this time between A-rank teams.

When the Iron Bulls are confronted by Agito, they realize that this small boy is the best rider they have ever seen. Agito violently defeats them all, but Ikki manages to diffuse the situation. That’s when the Air Trek Strike Force shows up, led by Agito’s older brother. Known as the Circle of Win, their job is to monitor and arrest Air Trekkers who violate laws. Ikki and the gang run away, but are chased by Agito whose furry has once again been released. Can Ikki convince Agito of the error of his ways before it is too late?

The Fever Code

Dashner, James. The Fever Code. Book 0.6 of the Maze Runners series. 2016. 347p. ISBN 9780553513097. Available at FIC DAS on the library shelves.

The story told in The Kill Order set up the flares and the history behind the Maze Runner, and introduces DeeDee, who becomes Teresa. In The Fever Code, a young boy named Stephen is captured by soldiers of W.I.C.K.E.D. and taken to a facility in remote Alaska. There he is inflicted severe physical pain until he accepts his new name of Thomas. As Thomas grows up he is introduced to Theresa, a girl of about his own age. Both of them are being carefully studied by W.I.C.K.E.D. scientists who are determined to discover how the flare affects the brain and why some people, like Thomas and Teresa, are immune.

As the two grow up, they progressively become more involved in planning the Maze, a large labyrinth that will be filled with other children so that scientists can study them as well. These kids are already at the facility, and Thomas and Teresa manage to sneak away to meet Newt, Minho, Alby and Chuck. A friendship emerges, but must be concealed. A plan is devised. The group will attempt to escape from the facility, despite the odds of being captured or harmed by the Cranks outside.

When the attempt fails, Minho is severely punished. As teens get sent to the Maze, Thomas grows increasingly weary at W.I.C.K.E.D.’s attempts in solving the flares. Their methods are draconians and harsh, and as teenagers begin to die, Thomas must decide whether his loyalties lie with his friends or with the organization that captured him these many years ago.

Air Gear, Vol. 3

Oh! Great. Air Gear, Vol. 3. 2007. 224p. ISBN 9780345492807. Available in the Graphic Novels section of the library.

In Air Gear, Vol. 2, Izzi has challenged Buccha to a Parts War so he can rebuild his Air Trecks, but Buccha is rated E, whereas Izzi is only an F rider. To win over Buccha, he will have to push beyond his abilities. Luckily for him, the battlefield is his and Buccha’s own school, and Izzy knows it intimately. But when his best friends end up in the hospital after trying to fight Buccha on their own, Izzi realizes that the stakes are higher than just parts.

With rebuilt Air Trecks, Izzi will attempt to perform the most dangerous race of his life. The prize? Control of East Side Junior High. With so much at stake, it’s no wonder that other Air Treckers are watching this event closely, including Simca … much to Ringo’s dismay!

The story continues in Air Gear, Vol. 4.

Illuminae

Kaufman, Amie and Jay Kristoff. Illuminae. Book 1 of the Illuminae Files. 2015. 599p. ISBN  978-0-553-49911-7. Available at FIC KAU on the library shelves.

The world ends today. Literally. Kady is breaking up with Ezra over their plans post graduation. She wants to leave this rock of a planet on the far corner of the galaxy, and he wishes to stay here. He’s got his reasons, but he won’t tell her what those are. But as if breaking up wasn’t hard enough, the planet is invaded by Beitech troops ready to kill the illegal settlers of this mining colony. Beitech fighters roar overhead and drop bombs while ground soldiers fire on civilians. Ezra and Kady manage to escape the planet and are brought about a United Terrean Alliance fleet, consisting of a battle cruiser, the Alexander, a science vessel, the Hypatia,  and a cargo ship, the Copernicus. Several thousands colonists are rescued. Unfortunately, the colony was bombed with a prototype biogenetic weapon, and many of the colonists are infected.

The evacuation of Kerenza proceeded while the Alexander was busy defending the fleet from four Beitech warships. The Alexander suffered significant damage, and its artificial intelligence, Aidan, is damaged and is making erratic decisions. With the ship unable to jump in hyperspace, the entire fleet must travel to Heimdall space station where a permanent jumpgate awaits. Unfortunately, one of the Beitech warships, the Lincoln, survived and is in pursuit.

At the end of the day, two people who did not want to talk to each other are now together on a spaceship being chased. With the death of military personnel in the battle colonists are conscripted in the military, and Ezra is sent to the Alexander to become a pilot. Though a great computer hacker, Kady is judged to be too volatile and remains on the Hypatia. But as the plague spreads throughout the fleet, as the Lincoln slowly catches up, and as Aidan’s health and processing deteriorates, the prognostic for survival is low. Kady hacks into the computer grid and realizes that the fleet’s chances to successfully reach Heimdall are dwindling, and that military command is not being honest with the troops. With the situation worsening and Aidan making autonomous deadly decisions, Kady has no choice but to reconnect with Ezra in an attempt to salvage what’s left of the Kerenza colonists. Can she forget Ezra long enough to help save the fleet?

The Kill Order

Dashner, James. The Kill Order. Book 0.5 of the Maze Runners series. 2012. 347p. ISBN 9780385742887. Available at FIC DAS on the library shelves.

When sun flares struck Earth, the climate became unbalanced, millions of people died, and the world changed forever. Following the flare came a disease so contagious and effective that even more people died, but not before becoming violent lunatics who have completely lost their humanity. Now it’s a race against time for survival.

Mark and Trina are two of these survivors trying to remain alive in a sea of diseased folks. First present in New York City when the flares struck, they managed to hole up in a building when the tsunami hits and wiped out most of the city. Captured by pirates, they escape and are hunted down by people in flying Bergs.

They discover that the flare, as the disease is becoming known, is not a naturally occurring disease but rather was engineered by someone to bring humanity to a more manageable population level. Unfortunately, the disease has mutated and now threatens to destroy all of humanity. When they come across a child name DeeDee who appears to be immune to the flare, they realize that they hold the fate of humanity. But how much is DeeDee’s life worth?

This book sets up nicely the universe of the Maze Runner and provides a brilliant introduction to the flare and its effects on people. Those who enjoyed Thomas’ adventures will love finding out how they came about. Meanwhile, Thomas' story before the Maze appears in The Fever Code.

Air Gear, Vol. 2

Oh! Great. Air Gear, Vol. 2. 2006. 224p. ISBN 9780345492791. Available in the Graphic Novels section of the library.

In Air Gear, Vol 1 Itsuki Minami found his true calling in Air Treck skates. equipped with new Air Treck skates, Itsuki feels on top of the world. Needing to repair his skates, Ikki follows Mikan takes him to the mall where he meets Simca, the most beautiful girl he has ever seen. He begins stalking the mall, hoping to catch another glimpse of her. When he sees her being chased by members of the Rez Boa Dogs gang, he doesn’t hesitate and he intervenes, defeating the gang members. Unfortunately for Ikki, this earns him the irk of the gang leader, Inuyama.

Ringo and the rest of the girls in the Sleeping Forest watch as Ikki begins to fight to protect the Red Boa Dog tag Simca had previously stolen from Inuyama. Suddenly, the confrontation becomes very real. Either Ikki will triumph and earn a special reward from Simca, or he will die in the attempt.

The story continues in Air Gear, Vol. 3.

Phoenix

Said, S. F. Phoenix. 2016. 496p. ISBN 978-0763688509. Available at FIC SAI on the library shelves.

Lucky has always been uncomfortable in his own body. It’s almost like it doesn’t fit right. His father, a major in the army, is missing somewhere in the galaxy. His mother possesses so many secrets it is impossible to know who she really is. Ever since he was a child, Lucky has been longing to go offworld and travel among the stars. In a dream, he swims towards a star, only to wake up covered with ashes. In his sleep, he incinerated both his clothes and his bedsheets sheets without harming himself. His mother recognizes the danger and they flee, for Shadow Guards, government agents, are now after them.

Lucky and his mother secure passage offworld aboard an Axxa ship, not a small feat given that there is now a complete grounding of the entire space fleet following a terrorist attack. The alien Axxa have cloven hooves and tall horns, and are considered devils. Axxa and humans are at war, and the Axxa who live in human-controlled space are displaced refugees with no rights. Lucky meets Frollix and Bixa, an Axxa brother and sister team ready to escape the planet. As Shadow Guards desperately chase Lucky, he must control his strange fire curse before the fire consumes him, while finding his missing father at the far end of the galaxy to finally get the answers he so deeply crave. With enemies on both sides, can Lucky count on Bixa and Frollix?

Readers of this book will also enjoy Game Slaves about videogame characters who seek to escape their virtual environment.

Future Shock

Briggs, Elizabeth. Future Shock. 2016. 265p. ISBN 0-8075-2682-7. Available as an eBook on Overdrive.

Elena Martinez has bounced from foster home to foster home ever since her alcoholic father killed her mother in a fit of rage when she was seven. Now two months away from turning eighteen, Elena knows she needs to find work and quick, otherwise there will be no future for her. Elena possesses an eidetic memory, which means she remembers everything she sees, does, or read. This capability scares others, however, so she rarely reveals it.

Life in the foster system is rough, so when she is approached by Aether Corporation to participate in a secret project that will pay her handsomely, she is thorn. On one hand the money would set her up to do pretty much anything she wanted, including going to college. On the other hand, the risks involved are very high. Aether wants her and four other foster kids to travel to the future, retrieve any technology and information they can, then travel back. They will be travel 10 years ahead, and stay there for 24 hours. The only restriction? They can’t contact themselves otherwise  it could cause future shock and break their present selves.

Now Elena must depend on four other kids, including gorgeous and mysterious Adam, to keep safe for 24 hours. But many things can change in one day, and knowledge of the future will forever alter her perception of the present.

Fans of time traveling stories will enjoy the tight storyline and hints that are dropped throughout the book but only comprehensible in hindsight. Traveling to the future is an interesting twist on the time travel theme. Recommend this book to readers who liked Ruby Red.

Moving Target: A Princess Leia Adventure

Castellucci, Cecil and Jason Fry. Moving Target: A Princess Leia Adventure. Part of the Journey to Star Wars: The Force Awakens series. 2015. 231p. ISBN 978-1-4847-2497-2. Available at FIC CAS on the library shelves.

The Empire destroyed the rebel base on the ice planet of Hoth and the Alliance fleet has scattered across the galaxy, trying to avoid the relentless hunt pursued by Imperial agents. As one of the Alliance leaders, Princess Leia is a special target worthy of every effort on the part of the Empire.

When the rebels discover that a second death star is being built, a desperate strategy is hatched to gather the fleet and attack before it becomes operational. But to accomplish this in secret, the Empire must be thrown off the scent. Princess Leia proposes a plan that will put her in danger by being bait for the Empire and taking their focus clear across the galaxy.

She embarks on a this mission in the guise of gathering more forces for the Alliance. Using rebe codes that are known to have been breached by the Empire, she and a small crew travel by space yacht to three planets, planting transmitters indicating where ships hoping to join the rebellion should meet. But the Empire is also listening, and a Star Destroyer is soon on their tracks, hoping to capture the elusive Princess. With the failure to complete her mission likely to lead to the Alliance fleet’s discovery and destruction, Leia and her crew must complete their objective at all costs … even if this means that innocent people will get hurt.

A short but satisfying read, this book fills in some of the questions left in suspense between the movies The Empire Strikes Back and The Return of the Jedi. If you ever wondered how the Alliance discovered that another Death Star was being built by the Empire and how they gathered their fleet without the Empire knowing, this book will answer that question.

Other books in this series include The Weapon of a Jedi: A Luke Skywalker Adventure and Smuggler's Run: A Han Solo & Chewbacca Adventure.