John Staughton, Senior Reviewer

Review: Recall by R. Lawson

The Vietnam War remains one of the most controversial and tumultuous times in American history, leaving a shadowy legacy that affects politics, culture, entertainment and art to this day. Author R. Lawson takes readers back into those confusing times in his new novel, Recall, which falls into the historical fiction genre, but is also deeply influenced by his own experiences in the war.

As with many novels and films about this period in history, the human element is the most engaging and heartbreaking aspect of the story, as readers are shown the devastating effects that war can have on […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2020-02-21T06:17:56+02:00May 4th, 2018|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Historical Fiction Book Reviews, Military Book Reviews|

Review: Panther Across the Stars by Lon Brett Coon

The travesty of Native American history in the United States is well known, and is a common topic for authors and artists who seek literary – if not literal – justice for the past. In Panther Across the Stars, the debut novel by author Lon Brett Coon, this shadowy and shameful chunk of American history is depicted in a decidedly new way.

While Native American culture and lore overflows with mysticism and spirituality, Coon’s angle leans deeper into the science fiction genre. This novel tells the tale of one young Red Indian brave befriending three otherworldly visitors, and their […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2018-05-09T10:46:28+02:00April 17th, 2018|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Science Fiction Book Reviews|

Masculinity is Our Future by Tim Patten

In his new book, Masculinity is our Future, Tim Patten argues that the most fundamental ideas of being “a real man” remain critical to the future of society, but must also be dynamic and progressive. This book digs into the cultural and traditional definitions of masculinity, pointing out the toxic elements, but also reminding readers of its importance, for a well-rounded and provocative examination of gender dynamics.

Patten is not ashamed to be a man – far from it – and appreciates that many masculine traits have driven progress and success for thousands of years. That being said, he […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2018-04-16T11:38:55+02:00April 15th, 2018|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Social Science Book Reviews|

The First Conception: Rise of Eris by Nesly Clerge

Envisioning the end of the world seems like a common pastime for modern writers, but Nesly Clerge takes a very different approach in his new novel, The First Conception: Rise of Eris. Humanity hasn’t been subjected to a zombie outbreak or devastating climate change, but rather the inability to reproduce – not so much as a mysterious malady, but as an act of revenge.

After a lifetime of being abused and disrespected – physically, emotionally, mentally, and professionally – and seeing it happen to other women across the world, Dr. Katherine Eris Barnes decides to take matters into her […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2018-04-16T10:08:37+02:00April 14th, 2018|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Dystopian Fiction Book Reviews|

Review: Lunacy and Death by Tom Dombrock

Outside of a personal tragedy or affliction, the average person rarely gets a deep look into the complexities of mortality and mental illness. However, in Lunacy and Death, the insightful new book Tom Dombrock, readers are welcomed into the author’s world, which has been defined by these challenging topics for decades.

As both a Psych Aide in a locked psychiatric ward and a technician in a Medical Examiner’s Office, Dombrock has seen more shattered realities than most people could ever imagine. This book is not a flashy or dramatic vision of a psych ward, à la One Flew Over […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2019-01-22T15:12:54+02:00April 13th, 2018|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Psychology Book Reviews, Social Science Book Reviews|

Review: Miguel Traveler: The Man from Texas by Daniel McFatter

Navigating the modern world is hard enough, but waking up and finding yourself in a bizarre and unforgiving future is a much greater challenge. In Miguel Traveler: The Man From Texas, author Daniel McFatter ambitiously takes readers into the future – a vision where society as we know it has broken down, the wasteland has overtaken the promised land, and survival is not promised to anyone.

When the Woman in Black wakes Miguel from his stasis slumber, he embarks on a journey to discover his own purpose – why was he put in stasis? What happened at the end […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2018-04-13T13:20:13+02:00April 13th, 2018|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Science Fiction Book Reviews, Western Book Reviews|

Review: Elevator Quest by Emmanuel M Arriaga

Office life is the bane of many existences, and who hasn’t wished for the universe to throw them a magical curveball to save them from boredom? In Elevator Quest, a whimsical and creative novel by Emmanuel M. Arriaga, those wishes for an exciting escape are granted to a ragtag collection of corporate professionals who are transported from an elevator into a completely new and harrowing world.

Within the first few pages, readers are introduced to a dozen people facing the most terrifying experience of their lives – plummeting to their deaths in an elevator failure. However, the book doesn’t […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2021-02-09T05:24:42+02:00April 12th, 2018|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Fantasy Book Reviews|

Review: Rise and Run (A Broken Man Novel #1) by RJ Plant

From the first few pages of Operation Rise and Run, readers know they are in for a grim, mysterious, and well-crafted novel. Author RJ Plant has delivered a stunning introduction to her vision of the future, not one of atomic destruction or a zombie apocalypse, but rather a fate that seems disturbingly probable, where science fiction and geopolitical realities have brutally collided.

Following the destructive end to the war on terror, the world has turned a new page, one in which power is more centralized – in the Government Directive International (GDI). The reason this book sends shivers, however, […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2018-06-14T06:44:13+02:00April 3rd, 2018|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Science Fiction Book Reviews|