Toy Review: LEGO Creator Blue Power Jet (31039)

LEGO Creator Blue Power Jet (31039)

Piece count: 608 - MSRP: $69.99 - Build Time: 1-3 hours

https://shop.lego.com/en-US/Blue-Power-Jet-31039

LEGO's Creator line of construction toys is a little different from the toymaker's typical offerings. Where most of its original-content and licensed sets focus heavily on minifig play, Creator is more focused on general modelling, interesting building techniques, and clever part usage. Many of the Creator sets have multiple building instructions as well, allowing for 2 or 3 models to be built from the same set of parts.

Over the years, LEGO has released a few different plane-helicopter-boat Creator sets (which have been pretty awesome), and the Blue Power Jet is the latest iteration of this theme. Is it a winner? Hit the jump to find out more.

Book Review: Monster Hunter International

Monster Hunter International, by Larry Correia

Modern Monster/Sci-Fi/Horror

4 out of 5 stars

Monster Hunter International (MHI) is the first book in a series of novels that blend monster horror with modern technology and tactics. Add a dash (ok, more like a ton) of hoplophilia, and you've got the makings of an adventure.

Toy Review: LEGO Star Wars Imperial Shuttle Tyderium (75094)

LEGO Star Wars Imperial Shuttle Tyderium (75094)

Piece count: 937 - MSRP: $99.99 - Build Time: 2-3 hours

http://www.lego.com/en-us/starwars/products/imperial-shuttle-tydirium-75094

Tydirium was a Imperial Lambda-class T-4a shuttle stolen by Sullustan Nien Nunb from the Imperial Star Destroyer Shieldmaiden during a diversionary mission called Operation Yellow Moon leading up to he events of the Battle of Endor (apparently). It was also one of my favorite Star Wars ships as a child, and one of the most iconic. As such, it has been modeled in several different LEGO versions in a variety of sizes. How does this one stack up? Hit the jump to find out.

Book Review: Calamity

Calamity, by Brandon Sanderson

Superhero Sci-fi/Fantasy

5 out of 5 stars

http://brandonsanderson.com/books/steelheart/calamity/

Rich. That's a word that I think describes Brandon Sanderson's writings incredibly well, and if he were a chef, I would have died of gluttony long ago.

Thank you for not being a literal chef, Brandon Sanderson.

Book Review: Hidden Empire

Hidden Empire, by Orson Scott Card

Contemporary Fiction, Political/Military Thriller

3 out of 5 stars

http://www.amazon.com/Hidden-Empire-Orson-Scott-Card/dp/0765359715

You see that cover up there? Yeah, the one with Card's name emblazoned on it? Deceptive advertising at its worst!

Tabletop Game Review: Risk: Star Wars Edition

Risk: Star Wars Edition

Number of Players: 2 or 4*

Recommended Age: 10+

A long time ago (1957), in a galaxy far, far away (France), Risk was invented! A classic game on par with chess, Risk has aged well. Its simple cards and dice mechanics combined with complex strategy have inspired numerous variations and countless clones, many of them official. With everything from Halo Risk to Plants vs. Zombies Risk (I'm not joking), I guess I really shouldn't be surprised that this game, which I received as a Christmas gift, is actually the 4th Star Wars version of Risk.

I have played tabletop and mobile Risk for years, but this is my first variant. I was pretty skeptical about just how different you can get with cards and dice, but after playing a few rounds with my family, I find my initial lack of faith (in Hasbro) disturbing.

Book Review: The Bands of Mourning

The Bands of Mourning, by Brandon Sanderson

Fantasy (with a dash of steampunk/sci-fi)

5 out of 5 stars

http://brandonsanderson.com/books/mistborn/the-bands-of-mourning/

I greatly admire contemporary fiction authors. Writing within the constraints they have has to be a challenging exercise at times. Writing sci-fi/fantasy, on the other hand, doesn't have many constraints, per se. The sci-fi/fantasy author has to be mindful of this freedom as it can affect the credibility of his story.

When a sci-fi/fantasy author has taken the time to thoughtfully and logically develop his world(s), his systems of technology and/or magic, and his characters, the result is something wonderful. Brandon Sanderson has done this (again) in book six of the Mistborn series, The Bands of Mourning.

Novella Review: The Emperor's Soul

The Emperor's Soul, by Brandon Sanderson

Fantasy

5 out of 5 stars

http://brandonsanderson.com/books/elantris/the-emperors-soul/

A short review for a short book.

So much good in so few words. Detailed and highly-developed magic, good characters doing bad, bad characters doing good, a gloriously messy and unique fantasy story that hits all the right notes.

The world is so much richer thanks to Brandon Sanderson's fiction, and this little gem is worth your time.

Book Review: Earth Awakens

Earth Awakens, by Orson Scott Card and Aaron Johnston

Science Fiction, prequel to Ender's Game

4 out of 5 stars

http://www.amazon.com/Earth-Awakens-First-Formic-War/dp/0765367386/

The final book in the First Formic War trilogy, Earth Awakens continues the story of humanity's struggle against not only the Formics, but also against itself. "Earth Awakens" is a great read, but if you're looking for surprises, you won't find many. This is a problem with prequels in general: you know the most important outcomes already. On the one hand, this allows you to focus more on the whos, hows, whats, and whys of the story. On the other hand, you also know that the story has to come to a satisfying close before the trilogy ends.

Book Review: Earth Afire

Earth Afire, by Orson Scott Card and Aaron Johnston

Science Fiction, prequel to Ender's Game

4 out of 5 stars

http://www.amazon.com/Earth-Afire-The-First-Formic/dp/0765367378

Coming hot on the heels of one of the best books I'd read in a long time, Earth Afire had a lot to live up to. Unfortunately, it's not quite as good as Earth Unaware, but that's not to say it's bad. Far from it.

Book Review: Earth Unaware

Earth Unaware, By Orson Scott Card and Aaron Johnston

Science Fiction, Prequel to Ender's Game

5 out of 5 stars

http://www.amazon.com/Earth-Unaware-First-Formic-War/dp/076536736X

When you pick up a book and finish it in 4 days, you know it's good. It might start out a little slow, there might be some almost cartoonishly cliched (but honestly still believable) characters, and the book might end in a really frustrating place (for a reader), but anytime a book can hook you into reading it for hours on end on a Saturday, you know it's good.

MARKER is now live on iBooks and Kindle!

Chapters 1-8 are available in the iBooks sample. Chapters 1-4 are available in the Kindle sample.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1083970417

http://www.amazon.com/Marker-Geoffrey-I-Baxter-ebook/dp/B01BPBUFW0/

Marker gets a cover

Coming soon to iBooks and Kindle!