Book Reviews and More

Monday, 27 October 2025

System Collapse - Matha Wells - The Murderbot Diaries Book 7

System Collapse

Murderbot Diaries Book 7.0

Martha Wells

TOR

ISBN 9781250826978

eISBN 9781250826985

ASIN B0BQGJHG3Q

System Collapse - Matha Wells - The Murderbot Diaries Book 7

I have been working my way through this series. It has only been a few weeks since I read book 6, and a few months before that book 4 and 3, but it had been almost 2 years between it and each earlier volume. The series came highly recommended from an author I love. I read this volume over a single day. It was so hard to put down. To quote C.S. Lewis

“No tea cup is big enough nor book long enough for me to be satisfied.”

The earlier stories in this series were novellas then a full length novel and now back in the novel range for this one. All of the stories in this series are excellent reads. And I was excited find out after reading this that an eighth volume has been announced for release early in 2026. Prior to reading that first book I had never heard of Martha Wells, but author Arthur Slade mentioned his on social media. And specifically, he mentioned that first book, which he had just finished. I have read a few books over the years that Art has plugged and have never been disappointed. And that was the case that time as well.

I bought and read book 1 while sitting in PICU after my son had spinal surgery. When I picked it up, I did not realize that it was part of a series. Let alone this long, a series, but it gives me several more books to look forward to that year, or at least that was the plan. It is in many ways a classic science fiction tale. It reminds me of stories I read a lot of in my youth but only pick up from time to time now. The description of this sixth instalment is:

“Everyone's favorite lethal SecUnit is back in the next installment in Martha Wells's bestselling and award-winning Murderbot Diaries series.

Am I making it worse? I think I'm making it worse.

Following the events in Network Effect, the Barish-Estranza corporation has sent rescue ships to a newly-colonized planet in peril, as well as additional SecUnits. But if there’s an ethical corporation out there, Murderbot has yet to find it, and if Barish-Estranza can’t have the planet, they’re sure as hell not leaving without something. If that something just happens to be an entire colony of humans, well, a free workforce is a decent runner-up prize.

But there’s something wrong with Murderbot; it isn’t running within normal operational parameters. ART’s crew and the humans from Preservation are doing everything they can to protect the colonists, but with Barish-Estranza’s SecUnit-heavy persuasion teams, they’re going to have to hope Murderbot figures out what’s wrong with itself, and fast!

Yeah, this plan is... not going to work.”

Our hero or anti-hero depending on your perspective was formerly property. But not it has ties to certain humans. And this story continues directly from the previous offering. That volume took places sometime after the previous story. We were not given the time gap, but long enough there is no direct reference to recent events. Murderbot, his ship friend ART, and humans they both care about are stuck on a plant trying to keep the humans there free and given them a choice for planning their own future. The main story focuses around Murderbot and a small team having tried to make contact with a separatist group on the planet only to find out that the corporation was already there.

There is less action than the other stories in this series, and since Murderbot has learned and grown a lot since hacking its governor module. This is more of a story with Murderbot playing the lead in trying to find a way to prevent the colonist from signing themselves into slavery to a corporation. Murderbot and a mobile fragmentation of ART have a lot on their plate, and need to work together towards a shared goal.

I said it before but this book and series remind me of James Bolivar diGriz, Slippery Jim aka The Stainless Steel Rat. And as you can tell from the first, it is a thinking book. Not just fluff to entertain. That feeling was even stronger with each offering in the series. I especially love Murderbot’s conversations with ART, or at least a part of art and they way the team is working together.

The stories in this series in some ways reminds me of the Stainless Steel Rat Series by Harry Harrison. And in other ways it reminds me of Starship Troopers by Heinlein. The action and mystery reminds me of the Rat; and the deep reflective internal dialogue of Rico from Troopers. It is an excellent read in a great series. I can easily recommend this book and series.

Books by Martha Wells:

The Murderbot Diaries:

0.1 Obsolescence

0.5 Compulsory

1.0 All Systems Red

2.0 Artificial Condition

2.5 Rapport: Friendship, Solidarity, Communion, Empathy

3.0 Rogue Protocol

4.0 Exit Strategy

4.5 Home: Habitat, Range, Niche, Territory

5.0 Network Effect

6.0 Fugitive Telemetry

7.0 System Collapse

8.0 Platform Decay

...

All Systems Red - Martha Wells - Murderbot Diaries Book 1.0

Artificial Condition - Martha Wells - Murderbot Diaries Book 2.0

Sunday, 26 October 2025

Those Gorgeous Ghosts - Leo Madigan - Prize-Winning Stories with a Catholic Flavour

Those Gorgeous Ghosts:

Prize-Winning Stories with a Catholic Flavour.

Leo Madigan

Fatima-Ophel Books

ISBN

eISBN 9789898564078

ASIN B00EIGYNDW

Those Gorgeous Ghosts - Leo Madigan - Prize-Winning Stories with a Catholic Flavour

This is an interesting collection of stories; it was compiled by the author and features stories that won awards between 2010 and 2013. The Authors page at the end of the volume lists which awards each story won or was shortlisted for. One story was a finalist or winner in three different competitions. Though some were originally published under other titles. The amazon description of the book has summaries of each story but is truncated on the final offering.

The description of this volume states:

“Set in locales as diverse as Italy and the Falklands, Siberia and Golgotha, these fourteen stories teem with as much life as the oceans on which many of them were written. The author’s background as a merchant seaman and teacher provide the canvases for these absorbing, plot-based stories. Most have won prizes in international competitions.”

The stories in this collection are:

1. Those Gorgeous Ghosts

2. The Siberian Swimmer

3. The Will of Quintus Kirkwood

4. A Coven of Cowls

5. The Protest of Abel

6. The Seduction of Fausto Batista

7. Our Lady of the Icehouse

8. The Death of Father Appleston

9. Golden Gloves

10. The Exorcising of St. Anton

11. The Falkland Twins

12. The Other Two

13. The Kambala Buffaloes

14. The Bogus Confession

Prior to reading this volume I had only read one of Madigan’s non-fiction works on Fatima. I was really intrigued by this collection and other of his fiction and non-fiction books after reading that first volume. This collection did not disappoint.

There are many excellent stories in this collection. From stories of reading with strange wills. To a youngster that can see Mary and predicts his own death. There are stories about regret, and transformed lives, a ghost brother and a monastery with surprising new postulants.

I have to admit this collection has left a lasting impact. I find myself thinking about several of the stories. I will need to return to the collection and read it at a slower pace, maybe a story a day. It also left me desperate to read more of Madigan’s works, both his fiction and his non-fiction.

This is a great collection of short stories, I can easily recommend it.

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2025 Catholic Reading Plan!

Books by Leo Madigan:

Alexandrina da Costa: The Mystical Martyr of Fatima

Armchair Fatima: An Illustrated Tour of the Marian Shrine and Nearby Sites

Exquisite Miniature: Little Nellie of Holy God 1903-1908

Fatima Prayer Book

Fatima: Highway of Hope

Handbook to Fatima: The Altar of the World

Princesses of the Kingdom

Random Jottings for Young Seafarers

Safe or Sorry

The 2nd Catholic Quiz Book

The Catholic Quiz Book

The Children of Fatima

The Devil is a Jackass

The Fatima Guide

The Golden Book of Fatima

The Irish Monstrance

What Happened at Fatima

Why Fatima? The True Secret

…

Fiction:

Crystal Ball Cameos

Highway of Hope

Jackrandy

The Bank of Infinite Reserves

The Five Stones

The Weka-Feather Cloak

Those Gorgeous Ghosts

Who Told You You Were Naked?

…

Saturday, 25 October 2025

Alien Family Traditions - edited by Sandra L. Medlock - Raconteur Press Anthologies Book 58

Alien Family Traditions

Edited by Sandra L. Medlock

Illustrated by Cedar Sanderson

Raconteur Press Anthologies Book 58

Raconteur Press

ISBN 9798296907530

ASIN B0FLFZQPMB

Alien Family Traditions - edited by Sandra L. Medlock - Raconteur Press Anthologies Book 58

I enjoy reading anthologies for many reasons. First, short form fiction is a very different art form than the novel. The writing needs to be tighter. The intent more purposeful, and the skill and craft needed very different, at least for good short stories. Second, I read a few anthologies a year to get introduced to new authors. In this case I was only familiar with two authors prior to picking up the volume. I also love seeing short works by authors whose series I have already read. I have picked up several of the anthologies from Raconteur Press, but have to date only read four of them. I have had Alien Family Values for a while and after reading this know it will be towards the top of my ‘to be read’ pile. Once I found out that Corinna Turner had a story in this volume, I really wanted to read it, having read everything else she has published. And when I discovered Caroline Furlong had a piece I was intrigued having greatly enjoyed her one novel I have read. I was intrigued by the collection title and purpose, I always love me a good space science fiction story and as big fans of various Addams Family iterations including currently watching the black and white TV show with my 14 year old daughter the cover has immediate appeal. As does the theme of chosen family as well. And there are some great stories in this volume.

The description of this book states:

“In a galaxy torn by war, where battles shatter civilizations, the heart of family endures. From adoptions that bridge species to foster homes offering refuge to aliens and humans alike, love becomes the ultimate rebellion against conflict. Discover uplifting tales of unlikely kin—blood, chosen, or found—building havens of hope amidst chaos. In this heartwarming collection, explore the lives of those who choose compassion over strife, the consequences that reshape worlds, and the reasons why family, in all its forms, is the brightest light in the darkest times. A feel-good celebration of unity and resilience that will leave you inspired.”

The contributors are:

Sarah Arnette

Malory

Robert E. Hampson

Marie-Hélène Lebeault

Caroline Furlong

Z. M. Renick

Xavier Anderson

Ross Hathaway

Corinna Turner

Dean Stone

The stories are:

Introduction

1. Alien Education

2. The Map Is Not the Territory

3. Not By Blood

4. The Nest Protocol

5. Louder than Words

6. Sea Child

7. Lunar Engineer

8. Captain Crumbs

9. Twins of Flesh and Feather

10. Herdsman

In the introduction we are informed:

“Last year, I edited the first anthology of Alien Family Values by Raconteur Press, in which writers addressed families taking in war-torn orphans, fosters, and even infants of despised enemies, learning about other cultures and societies. For this volume, titled Alien Family Traditions, we chose the theme of “Chosen Kindred.” I asked for stories about parents and fosters learning about and embracing each other’s traditions and cultures. I wanted readers’ hearts to swell with hope and perhaps they’d mutter to themselves, “Gee, it’s dusty in here” as they read the stories.

I was amazed at the submissions. Choosing only ten for this anthology was a challenge. Saying “no” to some beautifully written stories that just didn’t fit the theme or variety in family values was a tough task. But here you are, with the anthology in your hand (or on your reader).

I hope you enjoy reading these stories as much as I enjoyed selecting them. I ask only two things of you: if you enjoyed the anthology, please leave a brief review with the bookseller. (Even if it’s a short “I liked it very much”; reviews included with a rating help boost the book in the public eye.) If you know or interact with any of these writers, please share your appreciation of their story with them. Having someone say, “Hey, I read your story, and I liked…” is an incredible boost and encouragement to new and veteran writers.

I hope you enjoy these stories. I loved them all.”

I too greatly enjoyed them all. There is really not a bad story in the bunch.

Sea Child by Z.M. Renick feels like a space fairy tale, a story of knights and sea creatures. It is a powerful story about honour and integrity. And sticking to one’s word even if the cost could be really high.

Not By Blood by Robert E. Hampson is a story of family by choice, and continuing that choice. In some ways it is the story of a foundling creating family and community. And through that family impacting the whole world!

Captain Crumbs by Ross Hathaway is a moving story about rescue, and support. It is about using baking and food for healing and to build community, about resilience and change. A wonderful read.

Alien Education by Sarah Arnette I loved the educational setting for most of this story; different species, different cultures, 4 adopted youth who work well together and are different than their classmates. After expulsion from one class, they find a new place, and one where they just might fit in. Raising teens is never easy, and in this story the parents find a way to foster both personal and family growth.

Herdsman by Dean Stone was one of my favourite stories. I see a lot of myself in the main character. And I hope I can see the growth and change he experienced. A stunning tale of an alien herdsman on an 18 month migration rescuing a human from an emergency pod that was malfunctioning, and how that child changes his life and the surprising events that follow.

Louder Than Words by Caroline Furlong an intriguing story sent post war, but hostilities are not completely stopped. A young girl wishing she was human, and living with a human family. One in her birth clan wants her as a human loves her. After a kidnapping goes sideways things come to a head. A wonderfully written story.

The Nest Protocol by Marie-Hélène Lebeault a fascinating story, a queen of a hive adopting a human child and raising it within the hive structure. Discovering differences, similarities and changes on the theme and pattern. An excellent offering.

Lunar Engineer by Xavier Anderson A great story about one who prefers solitude even to an extreme level for a race who prefer it finding a new place and taking responsibility for two orphaned young men both appear in their teens. Feeling compelled to help, to step in, to step up and keep the boys together. Using his life as an engineer to help rebuild their life and the life in their greater community.

The Map Is Not The Territory by Malory in this work Gideon is a lone surveyor. He stumbles upon something that shouldn’t exist, a creature he develops a companionship with. This leads to some changed plans and a new direction for Gideon and the Telth calf. A wonderful story and great start to the collection.

Twins Of Flesh And Feather by Corinna Turner I have read novels and contributions to anthologies by Turner almost 100 times now. I knew I was in for a good story. But this one took me by surprise. This story is very different from anything else she has written, and one of the best in the series. Two youths raised as siblings, one human one winged catlike. The Parents never knew what they were really getting into. And the kids who just see each other’s as brothers might play a huge role in bringing peace to the planet. An excellent story, and I hope the beginning of a new series from her gifted pen.

I would be remiss to not mention the numerous excellent illustrations by the wonderful Cedar Sanderson. I really enjoy her artwork, but love her stories even more.

My father and step mom had fostered for almost 30 years. They adopted a sister who is 30 years my younger. Others legally changed their name to match ours after aging out of the system. Even in my own life I have had chosen other parents who have provided immense support and taught different wisdom throughout my life. And as a Catholic, having Mary as the ultimate mother has seen me through periods away from the church and through some very bleak and trying times. This collection captures the importance of that chosen family, family by need, family by circumstance and how important they can be. And the lasting impact they can have. It is a great collection.

The stories are in a wide range of interpretations on the theme of family and specifically family traditions in this collection. I do plan to read the other family volume from Raconteur, but first I will be dipping into Hairballs, Hiccups and Hope next. I enjoyed each story, and can easily recommend the anthology. It is a great collection of stories to read. And I am looking to track down other works from a couple of the contributors I had not encountered previously. This is a collection that is guaranteed to entertain and likely even warm your heart, no matter which colour the blood that pumps through it is. So from this family to your pick it up and give it a read, I strongly encourage you!

Raconteur Press Anthologies Series:

Ghosts of Malta

Knights of Malta

Saints of Malta

Space Cowboys

Space Cowboys 2: Electric Rodeo

Space Marines

Falcons of Malta

Pinup Noir

Space Marines 2

Moggies In Space

Your Honor, I Can Explain

Space Cowboys 3: Return of the Bookaroo

Or All Will Burn

Moggies Back in Space

PinUp Noir 2

You See, What Happened Was...

Space Cowboys 404: Cow Not Found

He Was Dead When I Got There

Or All Will Burn: Fierce Love

Full Steam Ahead!

Giant! Freakin'! Robots!

Pinup Noir 3

Space Marines III

Moggies in Space: A Galaxy Fur. Fur Away

What! You Again?: The Spurgle Chronicles

Wyrd West

Space Cowboys 5: Cattle Drive

Goblin Market

Hooves, Tracks and Sabers!: Tales of Alternate History

Alien Family Values

Moggie Noir

Or All Will Burn: At All Costs

Coffee Adventures: Quests for the Perfect Cuppa Joe

The Super Generation

Steam Rising: Tales of Steampunk and Wondrous Inventions

The Big Ones

Moggie Noir: Alley Cat Alibi

Road Trippin'

Cursed Canyon: Wyrd West

Giant Stompin' Robots

Coffee Capers: 10 Tales of Coffee and Adventure

Fission Chips: Space Cowboys 6

Goblin Bazaar

Pogue One

From the Brim to the Dregs

Giant Squeeing Robots

Sultry Murder Jazz: Pinup Noir

Plasma Pulp

Wyrd Warfare

Band of Monsters Wyrd Warfare

Magic Malfunction

Dames, Derringers and Detectives: Moggie Noir

Rawhide Revenants: Wyrd West

Goblin Souk

Vice Noir

Artifact Origins

Alien Family Traditions

Blades and Black Magic

Moggies of Mars

Planks and Plunder

Glitched Grimm: Twisted Fairy Tales with Terror

Creature Feature

Mercs and Mayhem

Bourbon and Lead

Corsairs and Cutlasses

Daggers and Dark Powers

High Class Muscle

Uncanny Valet

Insert Coin

Plasma Pulp: Lost Worlds

Pogue Too

Mad Science: Bits and Pieces

…

Raconteur Press Postcard Stories:

Postcards From Mars

Steam-Powered Postcards

Fanta-Fly Postcards

Postcards from Foolz

Single Servings of Liberty

Imagine THAT!

Last Call

…

Other Raconteur Press Anthologies:

Best of 2024

Hairballs, Hiccups and Hope

…

Friday, 24 October 2025

Hope Always Our Anchor in Life’s Storms - Kris Frank

Hope Always

Our Anchor in Life’s Storms

Kris Frank

Pauline Books and Media

ISBN 9780819834638

eISBN 9780819834645

ASIN B0CH4CYY8Q

Hope Always Our Anchor in Life’s Storms - Kris Frank

I picked this volume up several months before I got around to reading it. It was not specifically written for the Jubilee of Hope in 2025 but it was being marketed as a great volume on that theme. It is one of a number of volumes I planned to read this Jubilee year. It was a little more work to get through than some of the others I read, but it it is an excellent volume. I took it slower and read about a Chapter a day when I was reading it.

The description of the volume states:

“In Hope Always, Kris Frank, a popular Catholic speaker and youth minister, offers his down-to-earth and personal reflections on hope and how this crucial but often-misunderstood virtue can change our perspective on life’s difficulties. Sharing stories from his own life, along with Scripture passages and theological commentary solidly grounded in Church teaching, Frank teaches by example, demonstrating how the practice of hope can help any person, in any state of life, and in any situation.”

The description on the Pauline Books & Media Site has these lines at the beginning of the description:

“Of the three cardinal virtues of faith, hope, and charity, hope may be the hardest to define. A deceptively simple virtue, people often reduce hope to a mere optimism about the future, or they may see it as synonymous with trust in God.”

About the author we are informed:

“Kris Frank graduated from Franciscan University with a degree in catechetics and theology with a concentration in youth ministry. With over ten years of parish youth ministry experience, Kris and his family now live as missionaries serving the poor and inner-city youth with Vagabond Missions. Kris has been privileged to travel frequently to share the Gospel with teens and young adults at various parishes, camps, and conferences. Kris spends his free time with his beautiful wife, Grace, and their five children.”

The chapters in the volume are:

Foreword

One: Hope

Two: Hope for the Sinner

Three: Hope for the Discouraged

Four: Hope for the Doubters

Five: Hope for the Anxious

Six: Hope for the Weary

Seven: Hope for the Addict

Eight: Hope for the Suffering

Nine: Hope for the Grieving

Ten: Hope for Others

Eleven: Hope for Our Families

Twelve: Hope for the Church

Conclusion: Hope for the Future

Afterword

I highlight several passages while reading this volume, some of them are:

“But, believe it or not, there’s something even more essential to human life than food, water, or oxygen—hope. We can’t live a moment without hope. Not one moment.”

“The human heart demands and longs for hope. We need hope to be fully alive and to live a life full of purpose, promise, peace, and joy. Sadly, however, many people live without this balm for the soul, which is so unfortunate because it doesn’t have to be that way.”

“We all long for this kind of hope, the hope that brings light and reminds us that God is who he says he is; the hope that confirms that our present struggle is not the end.”

“Hope is not a feel-good optimism that helps people get through tough times. Rather, hope is a theological virtue, a gift from God given to us in Baptism. When properly understood and lived, the virtue of hope can save our lives. It can anchor us both when life is calm and effortless and also when it feels difficult and impossible.”

“Living in Christian hope is not always easy, especially when the disruptions and distresses of life pile up, but it’s possible. And it’s worth it. In fact, it’s exactly what helps us to not only survive but to thrive.”

“The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) tells us, “Hope is the theological virtue by which we desire the kingdom of heaven and eternal life as our happiness, placing our trust in Christ’s promises and relying not on our own strength, but on the help of the grace of the Holy Spirit” (1817).”

“The virtue gives us the supernatural strength to rely on Christ’s grace when our own strength fails. Hope is what prompted Saint Catherine of Siena to proclaim, “All the way to heaven, is heaven.” 2 Hope points our faith to eternal life and brings heaven, in some sense, into the present moment.”

“Too often we turn our focus away from the source of our hope—Jesus—and shift our gaze to earthly things. This shift may go unnoticed for a time. But when life takes a turn for the worse, a lack of hope can cripple us, which is why it’s so important to actively ask God for the grace to grow in hope every day.”

“Life’s great sufferings put other sufferings in perspective. When we ask God for the grace to hope amid small sufferings, it prepares us to hope when we face more substantial sorrows. If we aren’t intentional and disciplined about living hope, however, the small and large issues can compound.”

“Thankfully, God gave us hope that anchors us to him. With hope as our anchor, nothing can shake us. Our God is trustworthy. He will never leave, abandon, or forget us in times of need.”

“Sin never gives life; it just takes it. Like a shiny, new lure, sin has a way of appearing appetizing to us. If it weren’t enticing, we would never fall for the trap. And that’s what makes avoiding sin so tricky; it’s a snare that humans have fallen for since the beginning of time.”

“Saint Thomas Aquinas called prayer “an expression of hope.” It’s an expression of hope because when we pray, we acknowledge God’s sovereignty and care for us despite any anxiety. During stressful times, therefore, it helps to silently say a short prayer or a Scripture verse asking God to help us to trust in him.”

“God has promised to take care of us. And when God says something, it means he’s going to do it. Will we worry or worship? Will we panic or praise? Will we be led by our fears or by our faith? When life is unnerving, God will give us the grace to choose hope. Our anxieties won’t necessarily disappear, but in the midst of them, all we need do is turn our eyes to Christ. God will come through. It may not always be in the ways we want, know, or understand, but he is dependable, good, and never-changing.”

“Father of the Church and third-century martyr, Saint Cyprian of Carthage, has a forceful reply to these notions, “He can no longer have God for his Father, who has not the Church for his mother.” 7 The saint understood what many today have forgotten: the Church was founded by Christ to sustain and guide a community of believers. Knowing that we would not be able to live out the faith alone, God established the Church. Our relationship with God is meant to be cultivated through communal worship.”

“Being fully present and active in a local Church community is an essential aspect of being a part of the Church. As a member of your local parish, you can find community, accountability, catechetical programs, and Bible studies. But most importantly, in the Church we find the sacraments to assist in our spiritual growth.”

I hope those quotes give you a feel for this volume. It was not always an easy read. Frank delves into some hard topics. He explores them in a clear manner, and with a thorough look at how our faith should inspire, motivate and strengthen us in some of those very tough situations. He also shares openly and in a very transparent way about his own struggles and failures. The volume is filled with stories from his own experiences or those he has ministered to and with.

This is an excellent volume, It is written geared towards young adults and even teens. It is great for any Catholic or any Christian. It is an excellent resource for this year of hope, but also for those who stumble upon it at any time in the future. I have recommended it to both my 14 and 17 year olds, but also recommended it to co-workers in their thirties and forties. And I myself being in my fifties greatly benefited from it and already play to read Kris’s forthcoming volume Embracing Hope in Christ, and will likely circle back and read this volume again.

An excellent volume I can easily recommend!

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2025 Catholic Reading Plan!

Click here for reviews of all books related to the Jubilee of Hope in 2025.

Jubilee of Hope 2025 Book List:

Hope An Anchor for the Soul 30 Daily Devotions - Amy Welborn

Pocket Book of Hope: Words of Inspiration - Living with Christ

Stations of Hope: Praying the Stations of the Cross for Today - Father David M. Knight

Faith is a Journey, Meditations for Pilgrims and Wayfarers - Pope Francis

A Light in the Night Meditations on Hope - Pope Francis

Jesus and the Jubilee - John Bergsma

Our Life, Our Sweetness, and Our Hope! - Donna-Marie Cooper O'Boyle

Hope Always Our Anchor in Life’s Storms - Kris Frank

Dare to Hope - Father James McTavish, FMVD - CTS Books

...

A Prayer of the Day The Jubilee Prayer

...

Notes on Prayer Series:

1. Prayer Today: A Challenge to Overcome - Cardinal Angelo Comastri

2. Praying with the Psalms - Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi

3. The Prayer of Jesus – Juan Lopez Vergara

4. Praying with Saints and Sinners - Fr Paul Brendan Murray, OP

5. The Parables of Prayer – Msgr Antonio Pitta

6. The Church in Prayer - Carthusian Monks

7. The Prayer of Mary and the Saints Who Met Her - Sr Catherine Aubin, OP

8. The Prayer Jesus Taught Us: Our Father - Fr Ugo Vanni

…

Overview of the Notes on Prayer Series

...

Books by Kris Frank:

Hope Always Our Anchor in Life’s Storms

Embracing Hope in Christ

...

Thursday, 23 October 2025

Gordon Korman Author Profile and Interview

Gordon Korman Author Profile and Interview

Gordon Korman is a Canadian born author who resides in New York since moving there for university. He has published 109 book not counting omnibus editions of some of his series. His works have been translated into over 30 languages. I have a dual form of dyslexia and did not read when I was young. I have now read and reviewed all of Korman’s works, and only one of them do I recall, Our Man Weston, I believe it was read to us in school at some point shortly after it published. As a family we started reading Korman’s works in 2019, a teacher has gifted a copy of Restart to the whole class at the end of the school year. As a family the kids and I started a Reading Challenge in 2016, and after reading Restart both my son and I wanted to work through all of Korman’s works. My son is now 17, and my youngest daughter 14 and they both still love Korman’s works. I reached out to see if Mr. Korman would answer 20 questions for the readers here at Books Reviews and More, so here in his own words, Gordon!

1. You wrote your first novel at age 12 and published it at age 14; at the time did you know that it was a beginning of a series?

I didn’t even know it was a novel. It was my grade 7 English assignment, and a pretty daunting one at that – to work on the same story for 4-5 months of school. I began to see it as a series pretty soon, though, since GO JUMP IN THE POOL and BEWARE THE FISH were both sequels. It wasn’t until I WANT TO GO HOME that I even considered a book that wasn’t about Bruno and Boots at Macdonald Hall.

2. Who were some of the biggest early supporters of your writing?

My parents, definitely. We were like a family business at the beginning. They had to co-sign my first contracts and drive me to my meetings and interviews.

3. What authors influenced your writing style and format?

I’m a big fan of the classic middle-grade genre that started in the 50s and 60s – Beverly Cleary, “The Great Brain,” “The Mad Scientists Club,” early Judy Blume. But I was also influenced by the antic 70s Disney-esque comedies I loved as a kid. Think of Don Knotts hanging from a flagpole above the town square.

4. What does your writing process look like? Takes us through the steps from idea to publishing?

I’ve been lucky to have been working with the same two editors for more than 25 years. I take every idea to one of them first and we hash out whether we think it can be a novel. From there, I create an outline and then it’s off to the races.

5. Some of your series are published over several years (Swindle); or almost 2 decades (Bruno and Boots aka Macdonald Hall), And some the whole series publishes in a single year (Titanic, Everest, Dive, or Island) What drives these differences?

“Island,” “Dive,” “Masterminds,” and the other trilogies – as well as “On The Run” (6 books) – were conceived of and planned as series from the very beginning. On the other hand, SWINDLE and THIS CAN’T BE HAPPENING AT MACDONALD HALL were stand-alone novels that became series as I wrote sequels. UNGIFTED will be the next example of that. It will become a trilogy when HYPERGIFTED comes out in January.

6. Is there any series you have written that you would just never return to?

Never say never, but I think it would be tough to return to Macdonald Hall today. I’m just so different than I was back then.

7. If you could bring one of your out of print books or series back into print for new audiences today which would it be? Why?

I’d love to see WHO IS BUGS POTTER? make a triumphant return. I feel like I was really learning to be a great plotter when I wrote that one.

8. In 1981 your won the Canadian Authors Association (CAA) award for most promising writer under 35. How did it feel at the time?

I was only 17, and I had this idea that 35 didn’t seem like a very young author to me. (I’ve changed my mind since then.)

9. I have read that you are a big football fan and have even been a season ticket holder for the New York Giants. Are you a fan of the Canadian Variety as well? Do you have a Canadian team your cheer for?

I’m a survivor of many Argos games, but I don’t really follow the CFL anymore. Mostly, I’m a long-suffering Leafs fan (although I’ve semi-adopted the Rangers, since it’s hard to root against your kids).

10. Several of your books have been optioned over the years, including No Coins, Please, I Want to Go Home, the Island trilogy and The Twinkie Squad. Born to Rock and Ungifted are listed on IMDB as in development. If you could pick any book or series to come to the big or small screen, which would it be.

I’m a huge fan of Aircraft Pictures’ “Go Jump In The Pool” – I thought they nailed the tone of Macdonald Hall perfectly. And Nickelodeon’s “Swindle” co-starred a very young Arianna Grande, which means I get to pretend I discovered her. But it’s hard to predict what film/TV projects have a chance. I have a wide range of books in development right now, from newer books like OLD SCHOOL back to NO COINS PLEASE from 1984. Personally, I’d love to see something happen with MASTERMINDS.

11. You co-wrote two volumes of poetry with your mother. Having read them I think they would be excellent for the classroom. What was it like writing with your mother? How was that process different than writing on your own?

My Mom was always the Poet Laureate of the family and the neighborhood. She’s still got a real knack for poetry and humor. So with the Jeremy Bloom books, we were a great team, since she was the poet and I was good with the kid/school-oriented topics I knew would interest young readers.

12. What was it like working on the 39 Clues Series and contributing pieces to at first a larger story then a series of stories?

I continue to value that as one of my coolest experiences as a writer. Rather than restricting me creatively, it taught me so much about finding my voice within the constraints of a pre-existing story.

13. Many of your books are available in electronic formats but with that comes bootleg distribution. What are your impressions of eBooks and the distribution of them through torrents and other illegal means?

It’s unfortunate, but I don’t worry about it too much. We in publishing have been very fortunate that electronic piracy hasn’t affected us the way it has turned the music industry on its head.

14. Some authors monitor torrent sites and contact them to remove their content. Do you do so are have someone do so for you?

No.

15. What were some of your favourite authors in your youth who helped shape you?

I’m a fan of the middle grade authors who created the genre in the 50s and 60s, like Beverly Cleary, John D. Fitzgerald, and a little later, Judy Blume. I also loved Farley Mowatt’s work for young readers in both the humor and adventure genres.

16. What are some of your favorite books and authors now?

I’ve always been a Kurt Vonnegut fan, but more recently, I’ve been really into Michael Chabon, James McBride, Jonathan Franzen, Barbara Kingsolver, and the mysteries written by J.K. Rowling under the pen name Robert Galbraith.

17. I once heard Madeleine L'Engle state that her characters were real to her and almost an extended part of her family, she said once that at the dinner table she sat up and stated "Meg just finished her PhD." Are your characters real to you, do you ever get glimpses of what they are up to now, or once you finish a book is that it?

I agree that characters can be incredibly real to an author, but I don’t usually take it farther than the timeline of the book. I wouldn’t speculate on whether Noah Youkilis or Elmer Drimsdale will be first to win a Nobel Prize, or if George Wexford Smythe III will ever be indicted for tax fraud.

18. I once had a university professor state that the true goal of a university education should be to teach one to learn how to think. What would you state should be the goal of higher education and why?

I agree, but I’d expand it beyond university to any learning experience. So much of my thinking was honed over the course of my almost 50 years of writing for kids.

19. If you were stuck on a desert island and could only have 10 books to read again and again, what books would you want with you?

The Dog Who Wouldn’t Be – Farley Mowatt

Tales Of A Fourth Grade Nothing – Judy Blume

The Giver – Lois Lowry

Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets – J.K. Rowling

The Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy – Douglas Adams

Slaughterhouse Five – Kurt Vonnegut

Catch 22 – Joseph Heller

The Amazing Adventures Of Cavalier And Clay – Michael Chabon

The Heaven And Earth Grocery Store – Jame McBride

Demon Copperhead – Barbara Kingsolver

20. What advice would you give to young aspiring authors and artists?

Make writing a part of your life – something you do pretty much every day.

21. Bonus question: you do a lot to promote up and coming authors, who are some of your favorite Canadian authors who write in the children’s and young adult space?

Montreal-born Sarah Mlynowski has been a very successful writer in the kids’ field for decades, but, strangely, Canada doesn’t often claim her as our own. (She’s based out of LA these days.) And I’d hardly call him up-and-coming, but I’m a big fan of Kenneth Oppel. We first met when he was in his first year at U of T and I’d just graduated NYU.

Thank you Gordon for taking the time to answer those question, and for allowing me to post this on your 62 birthday. As you can see from the answers Korman is passionate about Books and has built his life around something he loves.

Note: Korman is the only author who I have read over 100 works from. An author friend calls me a completionist in that I find authors I love and read everything the published. Now I just need to track down all the works Korman Contributed to and add reviews of those to the list.

Books by Gordon Korman:

MacDonald Hall Series:

This Can't Be Happening at Macdonald Hall (1978)

Go Jump in the Pool (1979)

Beware the Fish! (1980)

The Wizzle War (1982)

(formerly The War With Mr. Wizzle)

The Zucchini Warriors (1988)

Light’s Camera, Disaster (1991)

(aka Macdonald Hall Goes Hollywood)

The Jokes on Us (1995)

(formerly Something Fishy at Macdonald Hall)

…

Bugs Potter Series:

Who is Bugs Potter? (1980)

Bugs Potter LIVE at Nickaninny (1983)

…

Jeremy Bloom Series:

The D−Poems of Jeremy Bloom (1992)

The Last-Place Sports Poems of Jeremy Bloom (1996)

…

Monday Night Football Series:

The Quarterback Exchange (1997)

Running Back Conversion (1997)

Super Bowl Switch (1997)

Heavy Artillery (1997)

Ultimate Scoring Machine (1998)

NFL Rules! Bloopers, Pranks, Upsets, and Touchdowns (1998)

…

Masterminds Series:

Masterminds (2015)

Masterminds: Criminal Destiny (2016)

Masterminds: Payback (2017)

…

Slapshots Series:

The Stars From Mars (1999)

All-Mars All-Stars/The Dream Team (1999)

The Face-off Phony (2000)

Cup Crazy (2000)

…

4-in-1 Slapshots: The Complete Collection (2008)

…

Nose Pickers Series:

Nose Pickers from Outer Space! (1999)

Planet of the Nose Pickers (2000)

Your Mummy Is a Nose Picker (2000)

Invasion of the Nose Pickers (2001)

…

4-in-1 The Ultimate Nose-Picker Collection (2006)

…

Island Series:

Shipwreck (2001)

Survival (2001)

Escape (2001)

…

3-in-1 Island Trilogy Collection (2006)

…

Son of the Mob Series:

Son of the Mob (2002)

Son of the Mob 2: Hollywood Hustle (2004)

…

Everest Series:

The Contest (2002)

The Climb (2002)

The Summit (2002)

…

Everest Trilogy Box Set (2002)

Dive Series:

The Discovery (2003)

The Deep (2003)

The Danger (2003)

…

On the Run Series:

Chasing the Falconers (2005)

The Fugitive Factor (2005)

Now You See Them, Now You Don't (2005)

The Stowaway Solution (2005)

Public Enemies (2005)

Hunting the Hunter (2006)

…

Kidnapped Series:

The Abduction (2006)

The Search (2006)

The Rescue (2006)

…

Swindle Series:

Swindle (2008)

Zoobreak (2009)

Framed (2010)

Showoff (2012)

Hideout (2013)

Jackpot (2014)

Unleashed (2015)

Jingle (2016)

…

Titanic Series:

Unsinkable (2011)

Collision Course (2011)

S.O.S (2011)

…

The 39 Clues Series:

One False Note (2008)

The Emperor's Code (2010)

Vespers Rising (2011)

The Medusa Plot (2011)

Flashpoint (2014)

…

Hypnotists Series:

The Hypnotists (2013)

Memory Maze (2014)

The Dragonfly Effect (2015)

…

Ungifted Series:

Ungifted (2012)

Supergifted (2018)

Hypergifted (2026)

…

Slacker Series:

Slacker (2016)
Level 13 (2019)

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Non Series Books:

I Want to Go Home! (1981)

Our Man Weston (1982)

No Coins, Please (1984)

Don't Care High (1985)

Son of Interflux (1986)

A Semester in the Life of a Garbage Bag (1987)

Radio 5th Grade (1989)

Losing Joe's Place (1990)

The Twinkie Squad (1992)

The Toilet Paper Tigers (1993)

Why Did the Underwear Cross the Road (1994)

The Chicken Doesn't Skate (1996)

Liar, Liar Pants on Fire (1997)

The Sixth Grade Nickname Game (1998)

No More Dead Dogs (2000)

Maxx Comedy: The Funniest Kid in America (2003)

Jake, Reinvented (2003)

Born To Rock (2006)

Schooled (2007)

The Juvie Three (2008)

Pop (2009)

Restart (2017)

What's His Face? (2018)

The Unteachables (2019)

Notorious (2019)

War Stories (2020)

Game On (contains The Chicken Doesn’t Skate and The Toilet Paper Tigers (2021)

Unplugged (2021)

Linked (2021)

Operation Do-Over (2022)

The Fort (2022)

The Super Teacher Project (2023)

Mixed Up (2023)

Slugfest (2024)

Faker (2024)

Old School (2025)

Snoop (2025)

Sleepless (2026)

The Favorite (2027)

…

Gordon Korman - Sheelagh Matthews - Remarkable Writers

Gordon Korman Children’s Storytellers - Chris Bowman

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Author Profile and Interview with Gordon Korman

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Wednesday, 22 October 2025

The Higher We Go Pier Giorgio Frassati - Corinna Turner - Friends in High Places Book 5

The Higher We Go Pier Giorgio Frassati

Friends in High Places Book 5

Corinna Turner

Unseen Books

Zephyr Publishing

ISBN 9781917628020

eISBN 9781917628037

ASIN B0FPGM1XVS

The Higher We Go Pier Giorgio Frassati - Corinna Turner - Friends in High Places Book 5

This was a long awaited volume; it was greatly anticipated by both my son and me. We both have a personal devotion to Pier Giorgio, and my son has completed a year-long leadership program in our diocese named after Frassati. I love the writings of Corinna Turners and this latest in this series is another excellent offering. I have been a fan of her work since I first encountered I Am Margaret, 10 years ago. Since then I have read her books a total of 76 times, and her contributions in Catholic Teen Books Anthologies, and other short works at least another dozen times. I am a fan of everything I have read. She has many excellent books and great series. And this is the fifth novel in this series. The title of the series is Friends in High Places and is about friendship and devotion to specific saints and beatified. And this fifth volume is about Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati, it released just a day before his canonization. The description of the series is:

“Friends in High Places is a short fiction series that presents saints’ biographies in the context of imaginary teenagers’ lives. The stories are written primarily to entertain, with inspiration and education thrown in for free!”

And of this particular volume:

“"VERSO L'ALTO." TO THE HEIGHTS.

This was Pier Giorgio Frassati's motto. But what could an athletic, mountain-climbing saint have to say to wheelchair-bound Miri?

When Miri's friend Daniel and his friends get a chance to go on a Pier Giorgio Frassati pilgrimage, they decide to invite Miri along, and show him just how high he can go.

The fifth book in the Friends in High Places series, The Higher We Go can be read on its own. The series is Parental Guidance since it contains some mature themes.”

I will be honest with you. This was a volume that was very hard to put down. It is not only an excellent story in and of itself but it ties together characters from other volumes in the series. It is written as a crossover that I was not expecting but absolutely loved. In this volume we have Daniel and Razim who are characters in The Boy Who Knew: Carlo Acutis and A Lion for a Tomb: Ignatius of Antioch also Katie from Old Men Don’t Walk to Egypt: Saint Joseph and Miri from Child, Unwanted: Margaret of Castello. As such it draws from all the other volumes in the series. We also have Father Thomas who is helping to lead a pilgrimage to Italy. A group of youth with parents and Father Thomas are headed on pilgrimage to visit sites associated with Saint Pier Giorgio. But things do not go exactly as planned. They do not hit their fundraising goal, and they have to adjust their plan. Daniel and Razim work on a surprise for Miri. And many of the youth have their own prayers, hopes and desires. They also have lessons to learn. Read and follow this group as they are on pilgrimage and growing in their faith.

At the end of the volume are a few sections well worth working through:

Discussion Questions

More Information

Prayers To Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati

A Short Litany To Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati

Novena To Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati

Jesus, Mary, And Joseph Prayer

This story deals with some very serious issues; including faith, hope, and trusting God. We still have the element of a convert to Catholicism from Islam, and still keeping it a secret from his family. We have Miri struggling with accepting help, and learning to let go control of even the little he can. And we also have Daniel who has his own concerns and worries as the trip goes on. All wrapped into the pilgrimage, and the amazing places and experiences on that trip.

This is an awesome story in a wonderful series. I can easily recommend this volume. It is an amazing read. I already plan to go back and reread the whole series over advent this year. The highest praise I can give books is: 1. I want my children to read them, 2. I keep mentioning them to friends and family, and 3. I want to reread them. This book hits top marks on all three. Another masterfully written story from the pen of Corinna Turner!

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2024 Catholic Reading Plan!

Book about Pier Giorgio Frassati:

Pier Giorgio Frassati Inspiration for Students - Glynn MacNiven-Johnston

Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati: An Ordinary Christian by Maria Amata Di Lorenzo

Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati: Journey to the Summit - Ana María Vázquez

Finding Frassati: And Following His Path to Holiness - Christine M Wohar

A Book of Prayers in Honour of Pier Giorgio Frassati - Fr. Timothy E Deeter

The Frassati Field Guide: An 8-Day Ascent to Heroic Virtue - Bobby Angel

The Higher We Go Pier Giorgio Frassati - Corinna Turner - Friends in High Places Book 5

15 Days of Prayer with Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati - Père Charles Desjobert, OP

Book of Prayers with St. Pier Giorgio Frassati - Frassati Society Philippines

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