fiction – Page 3 – Cynthia D. Griffin

Book Review: Lamb by Christopher Moore

Posted on January 23, 2015July 14, 2019 by Cynthia D. Griffin

Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal by Christopher Moore is available in Paperback and Kindle.

What kind of boyhood did Jesus Christ have? The cleverly adept Christopher Moore decided to put his own spin on the Son of God’s time on Earth and fill in the blanks where the four gospels and history left us all hanging.

The story is told through Levi who is called Biff. Christ’s childhood friend you never knew existed. Raised from the dead by a snarky angel Raziel (who also loves soap operas and pizza), Biff tells the story of his best friend Joshua (the name Jesus is actually a Greek translation of his Hebrew name Yeshua).

This delightful “fifth gospel” tells a striking tale as the two boys grow up in the farming town of Nazareth where Joshua is in turmoil over his destiny to become the Messiah. How does one become the Messiah anyway? Why doesn’t God just tell Joshua what he was sent to Earth to do? So at the age of thirteen, Joshua sets out from his small town to find his destiny with Biff in tow.

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Book Review: Severance by Chris Bucholz

Posted on January 16, 2015July 14, 2019 by Cynthia D. Griffin

Severance by Chris Bucholz is available on Kindle and in paperback.

This is exactly the kind of book I love––a science fiction that’s super fun to read. I laughed and laughed at the adventures of Stein and Bruce and was quite sad when the story ended. As in all great books, I wanted it to go on and on.

Set on a generation ship in the last stages of its trip to a new world for colonization, this novel dives deep into the pitfalls of what would happen if thousands upon thousands of people spent two hundred plus years crammed into a ship in space. Included is a most deliciously twisted government that goes head to head with a righteously convicted military and all the little people stuck in between.
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Book Review: The Lost Level by Brain Keene

Posted on January 9, 2015July 14, 2019 by Cynthia D. Griffin

The Lost Level by Brain Keene is available on Kindle and Paperback.
Aaron Pace is stuck in time and space in a place called the Lost Level. Anything can happen in this bizarre place where the sun never sets and the local vegetation can attack at a moments notice. A place where a battling robot and a Tyrannosaurus Rex can actually happen, and Nazi spaceships can be stumbled upon during a walk in a grassy field. And where strange snake men with human flesh to adorn their scaly hides are a nemesis to any wayward traveler.

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Short Story Review: Captive Girl By Jennifer Pelland

Posted on June 4, 2013July 14, 2019 by Cynthia D. Griffin

I don’t normally review short stories on my blog simply because I read so many of them that taking the time to do a review for each story would leave no time for writing my novel, but Captive Girl by Jennifer Pelland was such an amazing read, I couldn’t help taking the time to do this post. Yeah, the story is that good, and so felt the strong need to share.

Captive Girl is a science fiction short story, but not like most science fiction stories I’ve ever read. It has a fresh slant to the age old story of sacrifice, duty, and love. Alice makes great personal sacrifices in order to protect her world from an impending threat from the skies. Her life choice leaves her in physical pain and a mutilated distortion of what she once had been, but all for the greater good, or so she thinks. Even as Alice carries out her heavy burden of duty, she longs for the thing she can never have; Love, acceptance, and a physical connection with another human. Be prepared for an incredibly emotional journey of heart wrenching sacrifice that will leave you asking yourself… What would you do for love?

If you like well developed characters and emotionally charged stories, this is something to check out. You don’t even need to be a science fiction lover to enjoy it. The best part, Captive Girl is running a free promotion on Amazon, so now is the chance to get it. Check it out and see what you think. Based on this one story, I have personally fallen in love with Jennifer Pelland’s writing and look forward to reading more of her work.

Want to read more Jennifer Pelland too? Check out her website to find her work, or go to Apex Publications.

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Book Review: Dark Faith Invocations

Posted on January 20, 2013July 14, 2019 by Cynthia D. Griffin

I am currently reading an anthology that I’m just loving and thought I’d share. Dark Faith: Invocations an anthology of 26 stories with authors like Tim Waggoner, Max Allen Collins, Jennifer Pelland, and Tom Piccirilli. These stories test the faith and expose the soul as they delve into the world of giant Buddas, human machine robotnicks, a man renting an apartment in God’s head, the cost of expelling one’s soul, and so much more. Reading each story is like opening a brand new shiny treasure of deep characters, strong emotion, and beautifully crafted worlds.

You can also join me and others as we spending the next few weeks discussing each story on Goodreads. I’ve been enjoying the chance to chat with others about these remarkable stories. It’s been a fun and enlightening experience as I get a chance to hear other people’s impressions and have the opportunity to share mine.