Judge Miguel Ángel Gálvez is a bookish man with a reputation for probity who wears suits and carefully coordinated ties and shirts to work. He has, in Guatemala, a perilous job: he presides over what is known as High Risk Court B—one of several courts with increased security that were first established in 2009 to […]
Original source: https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2022/12/08/the-death-squad-dossier-guatemala-peter-canby/
Told from multiple points of view, Wayward by Chuck Wendig picks up five years after The Wanderers ended. An epic, dark, realistic and politically charged tale that you won’t be able to set down.
Wayward
by Chuck Wendig
Series: Wanderers #2
Genres: Post-Apocalyptic, Science Fiction
Source: Publisher
Purchase*: Amazon | Audible *affiliate
Rating: 
Five years ago, ordinary Americans fell under the grip of a strange new malady that caused them to sleepwalk across the country to a destination only they knew. They were followed on their quest by the shepherds: friends and family who gave up everything to protect them.
Their secret destination: Ouray, a small town in Colorado that would become one of the last outposts of civilization. Because the sleepwalking epidemic was only the first in a chain of events that led to the end of the world–and the birth of a new one.
The survivors, sleepwalkers and shepherds alike, have a dream of rebuilding human society. Among them are Benji, the scientist struggling through grief to lead the town; Marcy, the former police officer who wants only to look after the people she loves; and Shana, the teenage girl who became the first shepherd–and an unlikely hero whose courage will be needed again.
Because the people of Ouray are not the only survivors, and the world they are building is fragile. The forces of cruelty and brutality are amassing under the leadership of self-proclaimed president Ed Creel. And in the very heart of Ouray, the most powerful survivor of all is plotting its own vision for the new world: Black Swan, the A.I. who imagined the apocalypse.
Against these threats, Benji, Marcy, Shana, and the rest have only one hope: one another. Because the only way to survive the end of the world is together.
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The Wanderers and their shepherds have settled in Ouray. Benji, Shana, Murray and others have started a community and are rebuilding after the pandemic wiped out much of the world. Black Swarm is among them and has been speaking to Shana. Meanwhile, Creel is facing his own difficulties and Black Swarm is changing….
The tale that unfolds shares multiple points of view from all around the United States as the story moves us forward and shares the horrors that have and are unfolding. We see Pete again, hear Matthew’s inner thoughts, and learn both Shana and Black Storm’s secrets.
The world closely mirrors are own, particularly pre-apocalypse, from political stressors to a global pandemic to the breakthrough advances in nano & AI technologies. The shit sent shivers down my spine. You’ll discover heroes and villains along the way. Some you’ll admire, others you’ll despise, but you’ll also be in awe of man’s will to overcome and survive. Sure, there are still asshats who steal from those who work to rebuild and survive, but there are others who feed the city, lift others up and come together to create something new.
The events at Ouray and the thread with Creel are dark, suspenseful and laced with moments of full on horror. Then you have little towns in the middle of nowhere setting up hospitals and finding new ways for transportation. I loved the rebuilding aspects even if it was the thread surrounding Black Swarm and the technology that kept me flipping the pages in the wee hours.
Brilliant, epic and present. I highly recommend The Wanderers and Wayward. Not sure if we will get more of this world. Wendig did a stellar job of wrapping up threads, but the possibilities remains.
Be sure to read the author’s notes in the back of the book. Just wow. Perfect for fans of Stephen King.
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Wayward by Chuck Wendig takes us five years into the future after the conclusion of The Wanderers in the page-turing post apocalyptic science fiction fantasy. #bookreview #MustRead
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Chuck Wendig is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Star Wars: Aftermath, as well as the Miriam Black thrillers, the Atlanta Burns books, Zer0es/Invasive, Wanderers, and Book of Accidents. He’s also worked in a variety of other formats, including comics, games, film, and television. A finalist for the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer and the cowriter of the Emmy-nominated digital narrative Collapsus, he is also known for his books about writing. He lives in Pennsyltucky with his family. His agent is Stacia Decker, with Dunow, Carlson and Lerner.
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Original source: https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/2022/11/wayward-by-chuck-wendig.html
Any animal lover will tell you without hesitation- pets are indeed a part of the family. They bring love, joy, entertainment, and sometimes even lifesaving companionship to people’s lives each and every day. And if they can do that for us, imagine what we do for them, especially rescue animals. To go from uncertainty on the streets or in a shelter, to a loving, safe home with regular food and warmth, rescues must certainly appreciate us even if they can’t exactly express it in words. But what if they could? What if our fur babies could keep a record of their thoughts for us to read?
In Karl’s Diary: It’s a Dog’s Life author Sharon Winters imagines just a scenario, detailing the life of Karl, an adopted boykin Spaniel, as he navigates life in his new home. His life is not exotic, but full of everything a dog could want, most importantly an abundant amount of love and an abundant amount of food. Anyone who’s ever had a dog won’t be shocked by Karl’s focus on food as he details his days, recalling his own meals as well as those of his humans. It’s clearly a large part of his happiness! However, Karl knows without a doubt that the love he’s given on a daily basis is the most important part of his life and is appreciated consistently throughout the book. Winters gives Karl his own voice and personality that is easy to recognize in the pets in our own lives. One of the most masterful tools she uses to truly make him come to life is simplicity. We know a dog’s needs are simple- it stands to reason that their thoughts, if we could hear them, would be as well, and Winters never tries to make Karl or his life more complicated than it needs to be. It gives the story a level of authenticity that adds to its enjoyment.
It’s so easy to forget sometimes the impact we have on the animals in our lives, but Karl’s Diary tells his story in a way that helps drive the point home without resorting to saccharine soaked oversentimentality. Karl is every pet that has ever held a place in our hearts, reminding us of how easy it can be to change the life of an animal when given the chance. “To the world you are one person, but for one person, you are the world” is a quote that aptly sums up this story.
Pages: 81 | ASIN: B0B99NJXZL
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2022/11/15/karls-diary-its-a-dogs-life/
The Dog Who Wanted to be a Bird is a creative work of fiction in the form of a satirical beast fable. Written by Giuseppe Scarpine, this fable follows the incredibly tragic life of Dog, who desperately wanted to be free to experience life. The story opens seen through the lens of Dog, who is the runt of her litter. She is instinctively aware of her relationships with her mother and siblings and the dynamics that come with that knowledge. She is purchased by her owner and taken home. As time progresses, we see the deterioration of not just Dog’s environment but also her physical well-being.
Dog’s unrelenting hope literally kept me as a reader not only intrigued by the idea of her being able to forgive, in a sense, her owner’s neglect but that being the driving force of her living another day. She clings to the idea that her owner will one day express the temporary kindness she once showed Dog in the past. Dog is extremely lonely, but she is not without friends. She has befriended three different birds with varying personalities and perspectives on the world outside of Dog’s desolate backyard. They frequently visit her to clue her in on society’s workings and how humans choose to treat canines as well as the world they live in.
The author does an interesting job of including lots of societal aspects in this story. It includes animal rights in quite an abundance and hits emotionally on every page. As the reader, I couldn’t help but want to reach into the story and just bear hug Dog and steal her away from that backyard, mostly due to the author’s incredible visceral writing skills. Other topics such as history, racism, faith, and friendship also play integral roles in the telling of Dog’s story through her lens. I found Dog’s perspective to be so in line with how I would imagine a canine’s mind would work. The dialogue just worked for me, and the writing made the story easy to follow and made this chapter book a fast read. Definitely a fascinating read.
The Dog Who Wanted to be a Bird is a fascinating fable surrounding the life of Dog. Touching on many sensitive topics, this novelette will leave readers with much to think about and look at in their own lives. As fables do, this story will also teach a lesson that readers can hold onto long after they have finished this thought-provoking tale.
Pages: 40 | ISBN: 978-0-578-91525
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2022/11/15/the-dog-who-wanted-to-be-a-bird/
Sit Down and Have A Beer Again by Greg Wyss is an unfiltered publication of poems, short stories, narratives, and dream sequences portraying the life of individuals in the 1960s and 1970s. This collection is raw, realistic, and undoctored, showing life as it was through the eyes and emotions of the narrators for each piece. This anthology portrays the life and soul of creative America and the world through descriptions, honesty, and unabridged thoughts.
Broken up into three parts, this anthology contains the original works printed in various magazines and publications. Part 1 is reprinting the works published in Sit Down and Have A Beer from 1977. Parts 2 and 3 are works that Greg Wyss collected as a means of sharing life for what it was through the eyes of individuals who wrote each poem, story, dream, and narrative. Some are sad, while some are happy. Others shed light on vulnerability, mental illness, the journey to self-discovery, and struggles people battle. Many of these pieces were written to express creativity and inspire the nation’s heart during the particular time frame in which they were orchestrated.
The works showcased in this anthology come from many small press magazines and publishers in the late 1960s and 1970s. This was a way for the average person to have an outlet to express themselves and have their voice heard. These years were a unique time in American history, and the poetry and writing presented to share with readers a snapshot of life in this era.
I found some of the poems depressing at times, and at other times they were eye-opening. This publication brings to light topics and situations that people during the era struggled with. I would recommend this book as a way of viewing life through the eyes of others and receiving some inspiration in the creative world of poetry. Due to the poetic nature and content, I found this read interesting. This anthology can be a great source of wisdom and encouragement for those in hardship. I believe this work has something for everyone because humanity’s raw nature is at its heart.
Pages: 160 | ASIN : B0B4S8657Z
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2022/11/15/sit-down-and-have-a-beer-again/
Send Down the Master in Person: Reflections on Adolf Eichmann is a poem written by A. Keith Carreiro. The first pages contain the poem entitled “Send Down the Master.” This poem is a great read that describes the details of Nazi Germany, as well as the actions of Adolf Eichmann. It delves into the great sacrifice that was made by the Allies who were involved. It is told from the point of view of an agent who worked to capture Adolf Eichmann, a Nazi who played a large role in the Holocaust. The poem at the beginning of the book is one long annotated poem. It is accompanied by end notes that help reveal the terms and references made in the poem, as well as provide more information and background about the time, environment, and people portrayed in this reflection on Eichmann.
This is an engrossing read from start to finish. The poem is enjoyable and I appreciated the descriptions of Adolf Eichmann. Send Down the Master in Person is a thought-provoking work that explores the horrors of war, as well as the courageousness of the ‘good guys’.
I found this book to be captivating due to the descriptions of the actions of the characters. This poem reads just like a novel and is easy to understand. I point this out because some poetry can be abstract, and this book does a fantastic job of ensuring readers are fully engaged with what’s happening. It starts with a description of Adolf Eichmann, and how he looks just like a normal person as the agent looks for him. I found this compelling; such an evil man looking so pedestrian. It then shifts into the role he played in the horrors of Nazi Germany.
I enjoyed the unique way that this poem reads much like a story. This makes it simple for people who aren’t necessarily fans of poetry to read it. As a result, I think Send Down the Master in Person would be perfect for fans of war fiction, poetry or history.
Pages: 72 | ASIN: B0B5254RLV
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2022/11/15/send-down-the-master-in-person/
2080:The world is dying. Travel into the future to a time when nothing is certain. Where terrorist groups have joined forces with biohackers developing a deadly bio-engineered disease that marches across the continents like a conquering army, leaving millions dead in its murderous swathe. Where drought and famine plague an already overpopulated globe and massive waves of refugees stream across the planet, seeking sanctuary.
Meanwhile, some of the best and brightest minds on the planet are feverishly at work – constructing mega-gigantic Space Arks to shuttle hundreds of thousands of people to a colony on Mars. And it seems like there’s more good news: world leaders announce that a vaccine is ready – so roll up your sleeves and get on with your lives. It’s all good; it’s all returning to normal.
But the truth is very different. In The Flight of the Mayflower, the first novel in The Deneb Chronicles, Dr. Daniel Radu – project manager for NASA’s Space Ark Mayflower – uncovers a global conspiracy of immense proportions. World leaders and the elite are readying themselves for a one-way ticket to Mars, leaving the masses clutching at empty promises. Defiant and unwilling to become another casualty, Daniel cooks up a scheme of his own. Joined by a team of global experts, Daniel and his colleagues brace themselves for a journey of a lifetime as they trek across the galaxy in a quest for survival.
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2022/11/15/the-flight-of-the-mayflower-book-trailer/