Martin Berman-Gorvine

Crossing genres as far apart as 50s science fiction and holocaust remembrance, Martin Berman-Gorvine does what should be impossible and creates an enticing, zany, cool and intriguing action adventure out of it. Characters might be human or alien, caricatures or deeply real, mathematically clever (a truly delightful female protagonist) or powerhungry and mad (the dreaded Da Mayor). Worlds too might be present, future or past, real or imaginary. But it all comes together, drawing the reader in (even while informing us that there must have been an earlier book), and becoming impossibly real--a standalone novel that really makes me want to read the series...

...and that makes me want to ask questions. Because if an author is god of the created, and a book's about an author (a tragic author), why can’t the author stop bad things happening… Ah, and how the questions, so sweet and light, reflect the deep imaginings of our hearts. Shakespeare would be happy. So would Edgar Rice Burroughs. Scholars of Hebrew or Arabic might be intrigued. Scholars of faith and religion might ponder. And eager readers might simply enjoy a rollicking crazy good tale. I don't know how it works, but it does, and it's seriously cool!

Disclosure: I was given a copy and I was swiftly hooked – an amazing, and amazingly odd book!… (altro)

There’s a new librarian at Arnold’s school, and she doesn’t seem to mind if the books have the Society for Common Decency sticker on their title pages. She has a curious affinity for cats and dragons too, as a world that doesn’t quite seem as it should morphs into others that seem even less like home. Blue-dot swastikas, neural nets and diseases, alien High Ones and more abound in Martin Berman-Gorvine’s fascinating teen novel of alternate realities.

The author conveys the facts and machinations of his alternate histories with a very natural touch, offering authentic dialog through the trials of convincing teens. In this future world, “We Jews and Koreans, we have to stick together, don’t we?” and bullies rule. Technology, offered by benevolent aliens, runs rampant. Faith invites interesting contrasts of offence and belief. And the half-truths of benevolence might prove more dangerous than lies.

Heroes of the Earth is good old-fashioned science fiction in the best sense of the word—fiction that makes the reader think, fantasy that brings the real world into focus, and science that’s believable, if slightly beyond the scope of modern knowledge. Add history, written by a range of different victors; social studies that deny the truth of memory, great teenage characters and their family relationships, plus a fascinating plot. It’s a highly recommended, thought-provoking and exciting read.

Disclosure: I was given a copy and I offer my honest review.… (altro)