Mario A. Escamilla

Slightly off-topic but nice ending for the series

Revisado: 06-03-23

"Travel by Bullet" is the third book in John Scalzi's "The Dispatcher" series, a sci-fi premise where people murdered by another human simply disappear and reappear, naked and unharmed, in the place they consider home. Previous books explore how even with humanity no longer able to murder themselves, creative (for evil) people can find loopholes and torture themselves to death.

This time the novella, a printed version of the original audiobook narrated by Zachary Quinto, is more a corporate detective mystery than a sci-fi. Several high-profile denizens of Chicago are embroiled in the murder (although if you can't murder people, how did it happen?) of a tech genius.

Two law enforcement agencies, competing businesspeople and even a former mobster have interests in the case, which involves a crypto key, the theft of a body and more.

The novella is good as usual, although the change of plot might put you off.

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The least polished entry in the Star Wars dramas

Revisado: 02-09-23

The Battle of Jedha is a great audiodrama that continues the story of The High Republic in its second phase that went farther back in time to provide context for the great disaster and the destruction of Starlight Beacon.

After the events of "Convergence" (which are summarized as part of the characters conversations), the sign of the peace treaty between Eiram and E'ronoh is scheduled to take place in the holy moon of Jedha, under scrutiny of the Republic and the Jedi.

However, a bomb during the ceremony stalls the procedure and starts the search for another mediator after Morton, from the San Tekka family, dies. A member of their competitors, Tilson Graf, steps in and is proposed, as well as a member of the Path of the Open Hand, the mysterious cult that has arrived to Jedha with incendiary words against the Jedi.

And in that respect, the Mother, the leader of the Path of the Open Hand is always watching for her interests while hiding their true intentions. In all this mess, the Jedi, represented by Master Creighton Sun and the Nikto knight, Aida Forte, are joined by Silandra Cho, who expected a meditative visit, but will find herself inserted in all kinds of problems.

A great story, and another solid audio production, although not as polished as the previous Star Wars audiodramas, but it might be due to the fact that there are several conflicts and battles, leading to many explosions and noise.

In all, extremely recommended as an integral part of The High Republic.

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A short and interesting read with a different take

Revisado: 05-11-22

A failed invasion has left a network of connected space stations and a strange way of living, navigating between them. In a ship, where every resource counts, your meals will be even more subject to scrutiny... and it's worse if you expend your calories performing magic that has no purpose for the community. In this context, a girl will escape and find a new life among two people that will complement her and show her all that she was missing, where the partnership will bear all kinds of fruits.

Tragedy, as usual, will strike, and the girl's family will do all in its power to recover her...

A fantastic reading by Ashley Eckstein!

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The next step in the High Republic timeline

Revisado: 10-08-21

Finally I finished "Tempest Runner" and boy what a treat!

Cavan Scott continues with his excellent outpost, following the magnificent "Dooku: Jedi Lost".

In "Tempest Runner", we have a full audio cast, led by Jessica Almasy as Lourna Dee and Marc Thompson as Pan Eyta and Marchion Ro among many others. The story follows the capture of a prisoner called Sal, who really is Lourna Dee, this time not hiding behind her mask. Through extensive use of flashbacks, we find her story and the many times fate was against her.

Do not miss on this one, as you will find not only a great story, but more info of the Nihil, especially their former leader Asgar Ro.

Definitely recommended!

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An excelent novel, the end of a galactic era.

Revisado: 05-07-21

Set a thousand years before the movies, Path of Destruction introduces us to Des, an indentured cortosis miner in a remote planet, whose latent Force blossoms in a fistfight. Much like Anakin, the Force guides him in unexpected ways, showing him glimpses of the future, which he uses to his advantage by winning a sabacc game. Chased by the Old Republic soldiers he cheated, he becomes a fugitive after killing one in self-defense.

He joins the Sith army and slowly climbs ranks until he's discovered by one of the Sith Lords. Sent to Korriban's Sith Academy, he embarks on a course that will put an end to the long standing conflict between Jedi and Sith. Arrogance, betrayal, lust, fear and ambition will become part of his life, maneuvering the Academy life, his interactions with the masters and finally his part in the final confrontation above the surface of Ruusan.

An excellent novel by Karpyshyn, with fantastic narration from Jonathan Davis. Extremely recommended!

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A great collection of scary stories!

Revisado: 03-27-21

Some exceptional short stories which are perfectly adapted for audio form with a full cast. The atmosphere and feeling was fantastic!

Runic curses, inconceivable monsters and secret societies are described among the stories, I loved the variety of stories and made me interested more in M.R. James work, which I'll review in the future.

Extremely recommended for horror fans!

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A fantastic start for a new Star Wars era!

Revisado: 03-27-21

Finally the seeds of Project Luminous have arrived in the form of the first full novel of the High Republic era. Situated around 200 years before the Star Wars movies, this is an age of exploration and wonders, where the Outer Rim is being integrated into the burgeoning Republic in an unprecedented era of peace.

But a mysterious accident is threatening billions of people in a remote system and only a delegation of Jedi that was nearby can do something to mitigate the damage. Even so, the repercussions are felt in all the galaxy and there is always someone who tries to take advantage of the situation.

These are the Nihil, a group of pirates and marauders who possess invaluable hyperspace information that allows them to strike surgically into their targets.

So when the Republic/Jedi joint investigation arrives at their door, they will stop at nothing to escape the consequences, setting the stage for a galactic scale conflict.

Charles Soule is at his best, detailing a galaxy that feels like Star Wars but it's not there yet, sort of a 19th century equivalent of our history, where there are still unknown places and conflicts. All this while introducing us to several new characters with a few known names here and there.

If you are remotely interested in this new multimedia project, this is absolutely a requirement before reading any of the other material.

Extremely recommended!

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Get informed about climate change, now!

Revisado: 03-27-21

Set up as a fact-filled dissertation on the origin, the cause and the methods to deal with climate change, Wil Wheaton narrates this incredibly important work by Bill Gates. Acknowledging his past and own contributions to climate change, he shows what are the principal contributors of greenhouse gases, their economic, sociopolitical impact and how we can try to overcome the current situation.

Broken in clear chapters, he speaks about what technology and innovations could do, but even so it will never be enough. Help from every layer of human society, from our own consumption habits, up to the industry and government, this is a task that if unnoticed can wipe our civilization in a century.

As mind numbing as it is, there is still hope and we must do our part, and put pressure on our governments (where Mexico is failing miserably) to work towards a solution that can benefit all parts of society.

Do yourself a favor and read about climate change, even if it's not this book, every current and all future generations deserve your attention.

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The best campfire stories!

Revisado: 03-27-21

An interesting group of scary stories about a fictional summer camp which are very good.

We have a great range from spirits that haunt the premises; robots who threaten to take over the world; face-shifting monsters and ghosts that claim revenge.

Very entertaining and spooky indeed, recommended for those who crave some scares.

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An interesting experiment

Revisado: 02-17-21

A very interesting experiment on telling a story via voice notes, but in my opinion it falls flat.

We have stories about three characters, with huge jumps in time back and forth between them.

First we have Nathan in 2010-2020's making audio notes to his therapist about his inability to connect with his newborn child, Ziggy. I appreciated the way we can hear him grow as a person and then we move on to the next character.

Second, we have Ziggy, in the future, possibly 2030s, where a global internet community and AIs supposedly make it a better world. He struggles between his conviction to make money with his music and the beliefs of her mother to work for a better future. We can also hear a character growth and it made me really excited for the final part.

Rachel, Ziggy's mother and Nathan's wife records tapes for his boyfriend, a soldier in a post 9/11 world, who we already know is destined to die soon. While she also has character growth and we can witness her transition from wide-eyed country girl to a reluctant person eager to help, the story simply ends and we get no idea of what will become eventually of them, if they continued being better persons and their inter-family relationship improved.

It simply ends, leaving you wondering what to make of the three stories. Is it worth listening to? Maybe, it has some cool ideas, but as a whole story, I was not convinced.

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