Welcome to Gaia! ::

I'm PANIC! On The Enterprise, Potter by pen name. I'm new here, and looking to become immediately active.

I believe I've figured out what my little piece of space will be focused around: the writing and reviewing of science fiction stories, as well as movies, music, and television. I have ideas for an ongoing science fiction series of short stories focusing around a group of soldiers.

I'll hold off on that until next issue, though, as I already entered part of it in the Press Submissions thread. So, this month, I'll give a review. Now, I don't know if I can do this, but I'll try to use my own system. rank pips instead of ninjas. See post two for further specifics.

Disclaimer: I love ninjas to death. I am, in no way, discriminating against those cute little shadows of death. For me, it's ninjas versus pirates versus aliens, and right now aliens are winning.

Upcoming Projects

Featured Opinion: SONY Online Entertainment - Evil Incarnate?

Music Review: Best Of James Bond
Comic Review: The Sandman - Neil Gaiman
Book Review: Space Cadets - Robert Heinlein
Book Review: The Looking Glass Wars - Frank Beddor

Story: On The Cold Frontier Series - Part One - "Officer On Deck"

MOVIE TALK: Ender's Game
MOVIE TALK: Star Trek XI

GAME TALK: Star Trek: Online

whee

The only problem I can see with using the pipes instead of the ninjas is that our Ninja Code at the beginning of the La Revue section would become obsolete. It would be confusing to use more than one rating system.

You could, however, use the pipes within this thread, and we would just transpose it into the Ninja Code for publication. There'll be a link to this thread located somewhere in your review (not sure where yet; the other reviewers will have them too) so anyone who visits will see the pipes.

Into the Looking Glass
Written By John Ringo
Reviewed by PANIC! On The Enterprise

"If Tom Clancy were writing SF, it would read much like John Ringo." -Philadelphia Weekly Press

A 60 kiloton explosion obliterates the University of Florida. Terrorists are suspected, but when there's no EMP and no radiation, it obviously can't be a nuke. William Weaver, PhD, is called in. He's smart--really smart--but he's not your typical scientist. He's your typical G.I. Joe, with brains, looks, and skill. He's handsome, intelligent, athletic. What more could someone what in a hero?

Now, this book wasn't really that bad. It didn't hold my attention well, but I suffered through. He wrote the military parts well (not exactly the next Heinlein, but not bad) and threw in a very realistic touch to a very sci-fi book. I mean, look at the cover art. No, that's not a Jabberwocky, don't be fooled by the title (I was). That's a bug. A really, really big bug from a different universe.

Perhaps realism is one of the reasons I didn't like it. It was too realistic. I like my science fiction to be a little on the unrealistic side. His style would be good if it weren't dry. It was good English wise, but it isn't a style that grabs your interest. I only got through it because I wanted to get through it. Don't read this if you're looking for an attention grabber all the way through.

Overall, it was an alright book. It was something different from an author I hadn't read before. I would have liked a little more depth in character, but that can't be helped. I also would have liked a fresher style. Not the worst book ever by far, but not the best either.

Characters: 3 -
Storyline: 4 -
Style: 2 -
Substance: 4 -
Overall: 3 -