Wednesday, February 17, 2010

The Black Hole by Alan Dean Foster

ISBN: 0345285387 published 1979

An exploratory team of scientists and a reporter are returning from deep space. They discover a black hole. Not just any black hole but the biggest ever found. At the edge of it sitting next to the event horizon not moving is a ship, the first deep space exploration ship ever launched by earth (the Cygnus). Is the ship still inhabited? Why is the ship not being torn apart by the gravitational forces of the black hole is is so close to? Why is it not moving towards the black hole? After trying to get close to the Cygnus and almost being destroyed, this team of scientists must land to try to salvage parts to continue their own journey home.

Good scifi, different ending not typical of the late seventies. This book was made into a Disney movie in the eighties.

Worth it for people who want science fiction without aliens, trust me humanity is sometimes horrific enough.

Circle of magic, Sandry's Book by Tamora Pierce

isbn:0590554085

The circle of magic series is comprised of four books, each telling the story of a young magician with unique abilities. Their lives are intertwined so their stories are as well.
Book one is really an introduction to about how the four of them ended up at Winding Circle to be trained.
They are all from different lives; street thief, noble woman, sea trader child, and a girl abandoned by her relatives. Their unique magics in a world of magicians are; weather magic, metalworking, spirit weaving and plant magic.

They are all characters designed to be easily sympathized with. Any early teenage child will find their thoughts and hopes similar to their own. They deal with all of the normal issues of life in ways we would never have the opportunity to.

The thing that makes this book more interesting than the other children's fantasy books out there is the way the story is told. There are twists and turns that are actually not expected.
Word of advice though if you plan to read it or give this book to a child get all four books the stories do not end at the end of the book.