Review of Alan Black's YA Sci/Fi novel, "Titanium Texicans"

No techno babble in this YA Sci/Fi. Titanium Texicans is a story driven by its characters and the society in which they live. Although there are high tech machines in which our hero Tasso gets involved with the emphasis is on what those machines can do and how they advance the social structure in which he has been thrust against his will.

True to any hero Tasso adjusts, but not without some conflict, some of which is self imposed. Teenage angst and Tasso's strong character development by his grandparents provide the example any parent would wish for their children.

Although the plot is rather predictable and there are some issues of pace with the story it is a very good read.

My initial reluctance to read a YA story was quickly overcome by Alan Black's ability to display Tasso's backwater simplicity and country wisdom.

A recommended read for Young Adults.

Reviews of "The Singing Stones of Rendor"

To have friends and family read a book you've labored over for several years and then give glowing reviews is a wonderful experience. Of course, there's always the element they're just being kind. If you knew these people you'd know they mean it.

Then comes the day when someone completely outside your world validates your work. There were two days over the past two years when that happened. In my previous postings you saw the awards for first place in the "First Chapter Category" and second place for "Novel Category" which gave me quite a high.

Now I have the honor of receiving a 5 star review not only from someone outside my world, but a best selling YA and Sci/Fi author by the name of Alan Black. My first contact with Alan was on LinkedIn when he did a random search for authors. We exchanged emails a few times and I learned of his books. My favorite genre is Military Sci/Fi, which he writes. I'm currently reading his YA Sci/Fi novel, "Titanium Texicans."

I would be sorely remiss if I didn't mention the 5 star review by one of my favorite people in the world, C.W. Johnson. He is a writer who has had a huge influence on my writing, though he may not know it. He taught himself to write creative fiction and has sold thousands of books and has a wide audience around the world. His example and experiences have taught me that revisions are endless and that at some point you just have to let your child go. He read a draft of "The Singing Stones of Rendor" and called me late that night. He was so excited about it I had to delay publishing and enter another contest. That's why I received that second place award.

My thanks to all those who buy and read the book. An extra "Thank You" to all those who post a review.

The Tenebrous Witch

The Tenebrous Witch is a prequel to the series. At this point, despite the urging of my muse, I do not plan on publishing it until the series is done. However, she can be tenacious.

The story revolves around the main character in the first chapter of "The Singing Stones." Haegatess is a unique kind of witch with a dark, hard to understand type of magic not common in the world she lives in. She can suck the magic and life right out of normal people.

How she got to where she is in "The Singing Stones of Rendor" is detailed in "The Tenebrous Witch." She is bullied by her own sister and in the end they become enemies.

So far, the book is planned to be a novelette. However, some beta readers are saying it needs to expand to a full novel. We'll see. That's a long way from the intended short story I envisioned. Also, I wanted to flesh her out more so I could develop her unique abilities. To that end it has done its job.

I am setting the project aside for now and focusing on book 2, "The Loom of Kanarrah." The book is behind schedule. There's a new "brat" in my life who insists on diverting my attention. Blasted grandkids will do that to yeh.