I have a recommendation for a new read. Its an Amazon free book right now and is written by a friend of mine. Its a post apocalyptic but not monsters or zombies, just good old fashioned survival. I got this first free book (1 of the trilogy) and loved it so much I bought the next 2 and read them immediately. I also beta read for him for his newer stuff.

http://www.amazon.com/Months-First-Born-...her+hunter

Hope you enjoy!

I really like post-apocalyptic stuff, so I just downloaded Kindle and also your friend's story. I'll let you know what I think of it after I'm done reading it.

Just out of curiosity, why isn't he charging $$ for his work?

He's trying to get his foot in the door. He offers the first book for free. People like it and then they buy the 2nd and 3rd. I've discovered lots of new authors this way (its the same way I discovered Jack Reacher - a freebie got me hooked). His current story is an online chapter by chapter that he's trying out. Its more sci-fi than fantasy; its about the birth of a new world and the re-birth of a new people. I love that kind of stuff but I know that not everyone does. Its on his website:

http://www.christopherhunterfiction.com/...lumis.html

I really like post-apocalyptic stuff, so I just downloaded Kindle and also your friend's story. I'll let you know what I think of it after I'm done reading it.

Just out of curiosity, why isn't he charging $$ for his work?

Was this any good? I've always liked Koontz's older stuff, but haven't read much of his newer works, although I really liked The Taking from 2004.

It was...alright. It started out well and I was really in to it, however it took great effort to get through it. Koontz spent so much time on chapters involving the two children and in the end...well, it didn't really matter what those two characters did or did not do. Also, the ending seemed rushed...like there was all this great build up and then it fell flat.

Overall, I don't regret spending the time to read it, but its definitely a book that is going to be taken to 2nd and Charles before I deploy in order to sell it because I'm not going to read it again.

Thanks for the heads-up guys; I probably would have never noticed this book to be part of a trilogy. It's fairly good writing for a new novelist. I'm already looking forward to reading books 2 & 3.

Funny thing is Justin Cronin isn't a new author. He was a "literary" author and had published two very well received novels in literary world, won a bunch of awards and was very highly thought of. When he and his agent were shopping The Passage around it was a feeding frenzy and he received a ton of money up front for the right to publish it. But the "literary" world turned their backs on him.

Pretty funny stuff actually. I got into an argument with a creative writing professor (MFA, blah blah) who refused to read the two new books because he just didn't like the content. So I argued that somehow Cronin's writing ability changes depending on the content of what he is writing? Makes no sense to me.

Funny thing is Justin Cronin isn't a new author. He was a "literary" author and had published two very well received novels in literary world, won a bunch of awards and was very highly thought of. When he and his agent were shopping The Passage around it was a feeding frenzy and he received a ton of money up front for the right to publish it. But the "literary" world turned their backs on him.

Pretty funny stuff actually. I got into an argument with a creative writing professor (MFA, blah blah) who refused to read the two new books because he just didn't like the content. So I argued that somehow Cronin's writing ability changes depending on the content of what he is writing? Makes no sense to me.

Is it possible that the skeptics might be a little envious of Cronin's newest novels making a butt-load of money? Or does the literary world think he sold out?

Luckily for him most of us 'common' folk don't care about the dramatics of the situation as long as we get a good story for our money.

Is it possible that the skeptics might be a little envious of Cronin's newest novels making a butt-load of money? Or does the literary world think he sold out?

Luckily for him most of us 'common' folk don't care about the dramatics of the situation as long as we get a good story for our money.

I think (sometimes I do that, I know it is hard to believe ) that a lot of people who think of themselves as "literary" or whatever are just too full of BS to even consider reading something that doesn't fit into their view of what something should be. That is a generalization of course, but specifically the person I had the discussion with has an opinion that if something is popular it can't be worthy as well. He has never put that into words, but just from comments and discussions I can tell he views success as something akin to selling out or providing crap for the masses. That can certainly be the case but I absolutely do not think it is the case for Cronin.

For those of you who like the Douglas Preston/Lincoln Child writing team, this is a great read (if you haven't read it already):

The Ice Limit

Brief exerpt:

The largest known meteorite has been discovered, entombed in the earth for millions of years on a frigid, desolate island off the southern tip of Chile. At four thousand tons, this treasure seems impossible to move. New York billionaire Palmer Lloyd is determined to have this incredible find for his new museum. Stocking a cargo ship with the finest scientists and engineers, he builds a flawless expedition. But from the first approach to the meteorite, people begin to die. A frightening truth is about to unfold: The men and women of the Rolvaag are not taking this ancient, enigmatic object anywhere. It is taking them.

Not to give too much away but the meteorite that they find in the book is so dense, that a teaspoon-sized amount weighs in at several tons.

He's trying to get his foot in the door. He offers the first book for free. People like it and then they buy the 2nd and 3rd. I've discovered lots of new authors this way (its the same way I discovered Jack Reacher - a freebie got me hooked). His current story is an online chapter by chapter that he's trying out. Its more sci-fi than fantasy; its about the birth of a new world and the re-birth of a new people. I love that kind of stuff but I know that not everyone does. Its on his website:

http://www.christopherhunterfiction.com/...lumis.html

Read the first book (novelette?) and liked it; I'm going to purchase the next two stories as soon as I'm done reading everything else I've got on my dinner plate.

I'm thinking about changing my siggie to "Too much to read, too little time..."

My first read on my new Sony tablet on the Kindle App is C.S. Lewis' Out of the Silent Planet. I read it as a kid, but wanted to read it again after seeing it at a friend's house. Its very good and enjoyable, but I've only got about 60 pages left, so I'm looking for something new to download.

Blades Of Winter by G.T. Almasi kicks major ass(which I figure could work for you...given your rank and all). It tosses in a bit of everything and does it with aplomb. http://www.amazon.com/dp/0440423546