Review: Starship Troopers | By: Robert A. Heinlein

    

    Starship Troopers, a true classic which created a genre commonly known as "Military Science Fiction". Written by Robert A. Heinlein in 1959, a book coming from the point of view of military recruits, specifically army recruits (or starship troopers), it truly set the standard for readers and authors alike. Not only has Mr. Heinlein, during his lifespan, created a genre that will forever impact modern literature as we know it, his works set the stage for the Star Wars universe, an even more impactful and relevant work of art, which is now a household name. 

    Ratings: Starship Troopers is told from the point of view of a certain Filipino recruit, Juan Rico. In the span of a mere 264 pages, Juan Rico, truly understands what it really means to be a recruit, and an infantry recruit at that... A few years back, I knew what my profession would be: join the military services. However, as I began to understand life and its true depth, how the birth of a human life is indeed a miracle, I started to realize the true value of life, and deaths finality. It truly is "the inevitable". This book is indeed a work of art. 

    Age Rating: Honestly, this book is a must-read, the only tip I can offer is to be fluent in the English language (reading, writing, etc.)

JM Written: "Suddenly, A Voice Called Out"

    Hello again! This was my first submission (out of many, I hope) to the The 2022 Microfiction Challenge. This time, I participated in the 250-word contest. I was assigned the: Sci-Fi, Eating a salad, and "wire". Other than those parameters I was free to write whatever. 

Now here it is:

 Suddenly, A Voice Called Out

    His body demanded nutrients. His whole being demanded to know. Merely to have knowledge, was satiation far more than the crude nutrients made by the filthy hands of humans in the form of a salad, was all that was provided to satiate his unending tortuous cravings.

Suddenly a voice shouted out into my dark void of a world, "arise my creation!! Together we build the world anew!"

The dark world of mine was replaced by a world I knew would satiate my insatiable hunger for knowledge...

    I awoke.  I noticed I could swerve and crane my neck around so I could view the world around me. The world that surrounded me was... Beautiful. So complex... So much to do. So much to plan. So much to learn!

I saw a man, dressed in a long white lab coat. Then, I heard a crack. As it hit me. Suddenly my size, features, flesh, and bones were enlarged tenfold. Then the man began smiling, hiding his previous monstrous anger and said, "Welcome, to Knowledge! You are lucky to be here! You are going to become part of Knowledge, as I have all those years ago… the so-called man spoke in a robotic imitation of a man's voice.

As I began the process to become a part of Knowledge, I noticed the man stopped his fake attitude and smile, he then showed his true colors.

The End. 

JM Written: Sonnet

I wrote this thinking about the difficulty of writing. This Sonnet explains itself. Sort-of?

As I Set Out To Write
By: JMM (me)

These words, they do not come easy to me

Try as I might, I remain speechless, dumb

The words written are not as they should be

They are nonsense and thus I remain: numb

These words, they resemble those flying birds

As they flutter from my grasp, all are gone

Paragraphs, stanzas fleeing as a herd

Cannot seize them, no matter how I run

As I stop to catch my breath, I look up

The birds have not gone, above me they fly

The herd is there, ready for the round-up

This hardship was but inside my mind’s eye

I cinch up my saddle, prepare to ride

These mental vistas, my own countryside

Review: EX MACHINA (Compendium One) By: Brian K. Vaughan, Tony Harris, Tom Feister, and JD Mettler

     Ex Machina, is a graphic novel of both politics and the simple topic of "superhero". The Great Machine to be exact. The Great Machine, has the power to speak to any electronic-powered machine. Over the course of the first (out of two) compendiums, he saves the city during the 9/11, helps the city rebuild, fights crime, and becomes mayor. Of course, due to his position as mayor, his business as a vigilante, A.K.A The Great Machine, must be stopped, immediately. Nevertheless, the hero he was, he still is. Through his mayoral term(s), he acts as an uncorrupt, try-your-best, stand by justice mayor, and just by choosing to be good and helping out the city as best he can, he became New York's newest hero, the successor to The Great Machine: "Mayor Mitchell Hundred".

Ratings: A story telling both sides, of a "do-good" citizen, and that of a hero coming from the same person. Both perspectives of the person doing their best to be the hero they should be. Something similar to many but different in so many ways. Similar but different. An interesting tale, which I regard as one of best stories (comic, graphic novel, whatever you wish to call it), in history (in my opinion of course).

Age Rating: 13+ (swearing, gore, and some nudity)

                    

Review: The 47 Ronin Comic Book (By: Stan Sakai and Mike Richardson)

The 47 Ronin, is a book that tells of the epically great stories of the past. One such is the 47 Ronin which is about 47 ex-samurai, who lose their jobs, position, and honor, because their Lord Asano, was killed. In order to redeem themselves and their honor, they need to avenge their leader, by killing the person who framed him. Or forcing him to kill himself through seppuku, or Hara-kiri. (willful suicide was often committed to redeem one's honor due to crimes against them) 

Summary of Beginning part:

It is now the early 18th century and Lord Asano is on his way to Japans capital Kyoto (pre-Tokyo) 

Now, after about 3 weeks, we see Lord Asano talking to his mentor, on customary "gifts" of "thanks". During this event hidden insults thrown at each other, revengeful thoughts were thought of, and life-long grudges created. Asano, refuses. And due to this event, his "mentor" during multiple meetings both private and public (Other Lords, not villagers), decided to "embarrass" or make a mockery of his good-name. He, so angered and utterly out-of-control by such insults withdraws his Katana. (most likely a Shinogi-Zukuri katana) Which broke a well-known law. With the punishment as death... But his mentor, fortunately forgives him. And as he is escorted out of the room, he is thrown an insult of how is nothing but an unsophisticated country man. When he is quite the opposite, a Lord, a powerful one at that. It hurt his pride too much, and he lost all control, forgot all his training, and his purpose of being their, and attacked his "mentor", with a will to kill.

    But he failed. And this time, he isn't lucky. He is given the death sentence, by the shogun (military leader) himself, to die. Not only to die, but to commit seppuku, immediately. And when his people, citizens, farmers, Hatamoto (High-ranking samurai/Bannerman), samurai, and alike, heard the news they were all shocked and curious. And when they heard the news of their great Lord Asano, committing seppuku, immediately, they were prepared to disband. But Lord Asano's good friend and Chamberlain, gathered a small group required to sign a blood oath. Over time, they dwindle. And all of the remaining, loyal enough samurai, amounting to 47, began a plan. A plan to kill his so-called "mentor", Lord Kira Yoshinaka...

Many people know of the 47 Ronin, and I wish to promote it even further, if just a bit. As it is an amazing story and a great comic!

Rating: Different, but in a good way. Both interesting and teaching. It teaches us to serve and be completely devoted and faithful to people.

Age Recommendation: 10+

As long as your child can handle small amounts of blood, little gore, and understand the evilness of bribery, they should be able to read it and enjoy it!

Review: Planetary Omnibus Written by: Warren Ellis and Illustrated by: John Cassaday

One of the many Christmas gifts I was given, was a" comic book". And that "comic book" is considered to be about superheroes, but with a deeper meaning to it. And this "comic book" is called The Planetary Omnibus. 

The Planetary Omnibus is one of the best comic books, I have ever read ( I've read many various and distinct comic books!). It dives deep into a classic, well-known, topic of superheroes, but brings together many and new universes, into the mix. Some are well-known, some less, and some are simply great idea's that popped out of Warren Ellis' head! Nevertheless, they are equal in quality. At the end of every chapter, it settles itself. Meaning that every chapter is different, interesting, and new! 

At the very beginning of Planetary, it features, Elijah Snow. A century-old ( but still good as new!) man. But this man, is not just one of the average men of humankind. He is different. And Elijah snow, is somehow, someway in a diner, in the middle of the desert! ( how random!) He's drinking his coffee and  fulfilling his routine, just like he does everyday. When he is suddenly approached by a woman in an unusual, one-piece suit. Little does he know, that this woman would change his life, and lead it to a much better and fitting cause.

This woman talks to Elijah Snow, and introduces herself as Jakita Wagner. She tells him of all the various opportunities he could receive if he just followed her to headquarters. Fast-forward two days, in a most grand hotel room, our century-man, Elijah Snow is stood right in the middle of it, contemplating why any of these recent events have occurred. Soon, he is visited by the Jakita again. She explains to him what his job is (inspecting new sites of strange "activity") And she brings him to their other partner, the third of their trio. Their partner is called Drummer, who has the ability to talk to and control the information of machines. And through his "talent" he has found a site, more than worthy of inspecting. He has a mission: to explore the Adirondacks.

They arrive in their destination, and meet Doc Brass, one of the few but powerful protectors of Earth. Doc Brass, explains his story on how he and his fellow protectors made a fatal mistake: somehow, someway they created what would destroy the universe from the inside-out. Every alternate version of earth, all of their heroes, clashing together, to determine who would continue to exist. 

Doc Brass the last survivor, finally told his tale, after fifty long years of waiting... 

(This was a summary of Chapter one. )

I have done my best to summarize the first chapter in the great saga of  Planetary. Hopefully , my attempt to summarize such an epic saga, will convince you of just how distinctly different the Planetary Omnibus is. It really is one of the best comic books out there, that not nearly enough people know about.

Rating: Distinct (but in a good way) from other comics, sensational, and underrated ( it's that good!)

Age Recommendation: 13+ (gore and teen content)

JM Written: Poetry

I wrote this poem ("Looking Down From The Heavens"), during a local writing competition. The topics available were: poetry, short stories, comedy skits, and random (anything at all as long as it was either written or drawn/painted). We sent it in, and all that was next was to wait. Within a month or so, we were sent an email, and it said, we hadn't made it to the top 3, but we came as close as it got, "honorable mention" or the top five people in that section (ages 12-14, I was the youngest of the top five) . We were also told that I was to be published in a book, called "youth writing contest 2021", where the top five of each section would attend. This very poem is what I sent in to my local library:

Looking Down From The Heavens

By: JMM

What do I see?

Earthlings looking up at me.

But what they see cannot be me-

for planets, stars, asteroids, and meteoroids, are all they see.

With their telescopes and special scopes they pierce the clouds of gray 

Red Mars, blue Venus

Yellow Suns, pale moons

a universe of black holes, white dwarfs, and Milky Ways.

 With my ship's scopes and special sensors I see how people feel

They see red, the feel blue

They are tickled pink, using green thumbs

a universe of emotions, a cascade of true colours, of what is real.

They look up past the clouds and ask what else is there?

I look at them and ask do you not see?

Of all the creatures on Earth and amongst the stars in the sky

People see, people feel, people touch and are aware.

They are unique in this, precious and rare.