A great read all around By Alicia Mikel on March 3, 2015Format: Paperback A great read all around. Not the type of book I usually read but I couldn't put it down. The characters face hardships and loss while trying to maintain their morality and create a safe haven. The reality of war is brought to civilians and some can't stomach it but press on anyway to protect those they love.
LORD OF THE FLIES Meets The Great American Mid-West By Ron Collins on March 16, 2015Format: Kindle Edition William Golding ends the his iconic dystopian story LORD OF THE FLIES with a member of the British Royal Navy commenting upon the children his ship is saving. These children have been alone on a deserted island for a very long time, and have made a pretty fine mess of running things during that time. The navy man says that he thought young British boys could have put on a better showing than they did. Of course, we readers are left to know that Golding himself sees the broader truth of human nature, and that it is unlikely that any other boys (or men and women for that matter) would do any better, British or not.
Gregg Macklin shows us that Golding is probably right.
WHITE HOT SKIES is Macklin’s second book, and as such shows solid progression. Read more at the Amazon and Kindle Links
LORD OF THE FLIES Meets The Great American Mid-West By Ron Collins on March 16, 2015Format: Kindle Edition William Golding ends the his iconic dystopian story LORD OF THE FLIES with a member of the British Royal Navy commenting upon the children his ship is saving. These children have been alone on a deserted island for a very long time, and have made a pretty fine mess of running things during that time. The navy man says that he thought young British boys could have put on a better showing than they did. Of course, we readers are left to know that Golding himself sees the broader truth of human nature, and that it is unlikely that any other boys (or men and women for that matter) would do any better, British or not.
Gregg Macklin shows us that Golding is probably right.
WHITE HOT SKIES is Macklin’s second book, and as such shows solid progression. Read more at the Amazon and Kindle Links
Promising author's first novel By ecgordon at on November 9, 2014Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase I've known Gregg for several years, but only through online connections. I have a site where I post reviews, so naturally he asked if I would read and review his first novel. My rating is as honest as I can be. I read the initial printing, which contained quite a few grammatical and spelling errors, or just the wrong word used (innocence instead of innocents, for example, or maybe it was the opposite). I have yet to read the revised version. The opening chapters need more tightening up, but about halfway through it picks up narrative speed. Even though I can't condone every action the protagonists take when they start altering history, the different events they focus on are standard fare for time travel alterations; Hitler/World War 2, JFK's assassination, 9/11, etc. The concluding chapters are the best, and if he been able to write at that level from the beginning I would likely rate it higher. Full review is at http://templetongate.net/timescrossroads.htm
Material matter for thought By larry baker on August 9, 2014Format: Paperback Verified Purchase Bought one day - had all read the next! Listed as science fiction - it goes beyond that realm. Imaginative, perceptiveness, events we now perceive as in the realm of possibility. His references of quantum physics, the need for knowlege, his unoffensive way of describing some of the world problems such as his concept of there ain't no thing as a free lunch, the inclusion of government subsidies etc. make it so much more than just science fiction. Puts you in mind of my favorite tv show when I was a kid - "Lost In Space". The then far-reaching for it's time has become actual spaceships, men on the moon, space travel.The intelligence of this author is evident through his writings. Could be made into a movie.Hope there are more to follow! Lura Baker
Heavy-duty Time Travel Story, December 15, 2014 By Ron Collins - See all my reviewsThis review is from: Time's Crossroads (Kindle Edition) At it's heart, this is a love story. A bit of a slow and meandering love story intertwined in a deep time-travel cloak, but a love story nonetheless. It's also a story geared to those who are pre-disposed to stories who pay with lots of looping through time and the ethics and issues associated with changing several classic events in history. Though, the mechanism here seems to include more creation and perfection of new timelines than anything else. The concept is interesting, though, even though the resolution of some timeline changes are more strongly presented than others. So it goes in heavy time travel stories, I suppose. That said, if you can keep time loops in line and deal with some of the issues noted below, this story has it's charm.
The storyline follows Caden and Nicole, the love of his life, as they find themselves in possession of a time travel device. Over many cycles of experimentation and thought processes they essentially set themselves up as ultra-educated timeline improvers, as well as defenders of the entire concept of time-travel itself. They work on molding the timelines by removing or honing down several classic events, which are interesting but not overly new to the sub-genre. To me the more interesting thing here is the interaction between Caden and Nicole and how such a "burden" results in the bond between the two becoming deeper. The stakes raise, though, when they discover a timeline wherein the Earth itself has exploded. I'll go no further here in order to avoid spoilers.
The author is clearly a follower of several golden-age writers, and has included many tips of the hat to the pantheon of those writers--the Heinleins and Clarkes and Asimovs come to mind. I personally enjoyed those, though others may find them a little over the top.
This is a first novel, and the storytelling itself meanders at times. In addition, the dialog is sometimes a more formal than I would have expected, and the social dynamic it conveys are sometimes a bit traditional for a group who lives for thousands of time cycles. The presentation of the story in its present tense, omniscient point of view puts distance between us and the characters, and can sometimes require attention to keep involved in the story. These bits add up to make the story a bit difficult to absorb at points.
Material matter for thought By larry baker on August 9, 2014Format: Paperback Verified Purchase Bought one day - had all read the next! Listed as science fiction - it goes beyond that realm. Imaginative, perceptiveness, events we now perceive as in the realm of possibility. His references of quantum physics, the need for knowlege, his unoffensive way of describing some of the world problems such as his concept of there ain't no thing as a free lunch, the inclusion of government subsidies etc. make it so much more than just science fiction. Puts you in mind of my favorite tv show when I was a kid - "Lost In Space". The then far-reaching for it's time has become actual spaceships, men on the moon, space travel.The intelligence of this author is evident through his writings. Could be made into a movie.Hope there are more to follow! Lura Baker
Heavy-duty Time Travel Story, December 15, 2014 By Ron Collins - See all my reviewsThis review is from: Time's Crossroads (Kindle Edition) At it's heart, this is a love story. A bit of a slow and meandering love story intertwined in a deep time-travel cloak, but a love story nonetheless. It's also a story geared to those who are pre-disposed to stories who pay with lots of looping through time and the ethics and issues associated with changing several classic events in history. Though, the mechanism here seems to include more creation and perfection of new timelines than anything else. The concept is interesting, though, even though the resolution of some timeline changes are more strongly presented than others. So it goes in heavy time travel stories, I suppose. That said, if you can keep time loops in line and deal with some of the issues noted below, this story has it's charm.
The storyline follows Caden and Nicole, the love of his life, as they find themselves in possession of a time travel device. Over many cycles of experimentation and thought processes they essentially set themselves up as ultra-educated timeline improvers, as well as defenders of the entire concept of time-travel itself. They work on molding the timelines by removing or honing down several classic events, which are interesting but not overly new to the sub-genre. To me the more interesting thing here is the interaction between Caden and Nicole and how such a "burden" results in the bond between the two becoming deeper. The stakes raise, though, when they discover a timeline wherein the Earth itself has exploded. I'll go no further here in order to avoid spoilers.
The author is clearly a follower of several golden-age writers, and has included many tips of the hat to the pantheon of those writers--the Heinleins and Clarkes and Asimovs come to mind. I personally enjoyed those, though others may find them a little over the top.
This is a first novel, and the storytelling itself meanders at times. In addition, the dialog is sometimes a more formal than I would have expected, and the social dynamic it conveys are sometimes a bit traditional for a group who lives for thousands of time cycles. The presentation of the story in its present tense, omniscient point of view puts distance between us and the characters, and can sometimes require attention to keep involved in the story. These bits add up to make the story a bit difficult to absorb at points.